Hundreds help CALM celebrate

calmJeffLee071:
Sisters Kaylie and Vanessa Reese and Gigi Killebrew (right) enjoyed posing with Jeff Lee and his Capuchin monkey from Steve Martin’s Working Wildlife during CALM’s birthday celebration.
Hundreds of Kern County residents helped the California Living Museum (CALM) celebrate its 24th "Birthday Bash" on May 19, and, as a special treat, all children (ages 3-17 years) were admitted free. Birthday celebrations are not uncommon at CALM but with the theft of long-time petting zoo pony Thomas in February and the death of veteran black bear Dart, a couple of weeks ago, the huge outpouring of more than 1,000 visitors was a joyful sight.

"Our animals and staff are like family, and when we suffer a loss such as Dart's it's difficult but brings us all closer together," said Zoo Manager/Curator Lana Fain. "And to see this support by the community - it's tremendous. One five-year-old girl drew a picture of a black bear and wrote, 'I loved Dart.' It just makes you puddle up."

The 24th birthday celebration had plenty of fun activities for everyone. The Central Valley Children's Railroad provided $1 rides, and the "can't miss" attraction was Steve Martin's Working Wildlife from Frazier Park. Wildlife's Jeff Lee gave presentations with eight animals from around the world. Working Wildlife has more than 100 animal actors that have appeared in movies, television and commercials and an extensive educational outreach program.

Education and Volunteer Manager Debby Kroeger, who has been with CALM since the beginning, remembered how it all got started under founder Mike Hopkins.

"He was on safari in Africa when he noticed the closeness of the people to the animals who live in their surroundings," Kroeger said. "He was inspired by Bakersfield because it was the only city of its size in the nation that did not have a zoo, botanical garden or natural history museum. There were ideas for a regular zoo or a drive-through safari-type. But because of the diversity of the geology and topography and the number of abundant plants and animals native to Kern County it was a perfect fit for the people who live here to learn about the environment around them. Its first animal was an abandoned mountain lion that (Department of ) Fish and Game brought to us. That set the precedent that CALM would be a residence for injured or abandoned animals that cannot survive on their own."

Throughout the day on the 19th, CALM's docents provided wildlife presentations with the facility's own ambassador animals. That was supplemented with interesting and fun-filled presentations by CALM's education department. Docent Delores Hoffman was one of those who was captivated by Hopkins' dream 24 years ago.

"Mike came to the Junior League and made a presentation asking us to help start up CALM's education program, and I signed up right away," Hoffman said. "From the start, we donated money to construct the reptile house, set up a training program for docents and ran the education program for three years. I remember CALM was just an empty field back then, but for us it was a field of dreams. We worked awfully hard to get CALM going. All of the plants were only about two feet tall then. Just look at the how beautiful the landscape is now. I still get a kick out of how excited the children get. I am awfully proud."

Nationally-acclaimed jazz saxophonist Isaiah Morfin entertained as did the Thompson Junior High Jazz Band. And no birthday would have been complete without face painting, children's crafts, a Jammin' Jumpers bounce house, costumed characters, food and beverage booths and an opportunity drawing table filled with great prizes.

Many organizations, some that have been associated with CALM since the beginning and others that have come along in the years since, joined in the celebration including Community Connection for Child Care, Kern County Chapter of the California Turtle and Tortoise Club, Kern National Wildlife Refuge, Rio Del Norte 4-H Petting Zoo, Tree Foundation of Kern and Kern County Mineral Mites, just to name a few.

And the fun is not over. On May 28, Memorial Day, CALM will be open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., offering $1 off the admission price for active, reserve and retired military and children ages 3-17. CALM is located at 10500 Alfred Harrell Hwy (between Lake Ming and Hart Park) and is open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. You can find more information by checking the CALM Web site, http://www.calmzoo.org or by calling (661) 872-2256.


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