Wed, 03/12/2025 - 12:00pm

Archie the Puppy from Midcoast Humane Animal Shelter steals the show with BRES 3rd graders. ISABELLE CURTIS/Boothbay Register

First grader Amelia Noyes shows off her bee-keeping gear, courtesy of Barter Island Bees. ISABELLE CURTIS/Boothbay Register

Michelle Rancourt of Midcoast Humane reads to students about Maggie the shelter dog. ISABELLE CURTIS/Boothbay Register

ISABELLE CURTIS/Boothbay Register

Denny Denniston of Barter Island Bee shows off the "wiggle dance" bees use to communicate. ISABELLE CURTIS/Boothbay Register

ISABELLE CURTIS/Boothbay Register

Archie the Puppy from Midcoast Humane Animal Shelter steals the show with BRES 3rd graders. ISABELLE CURTIS/Boothbay Register

First grader Amelia Noyes shows off her bee-keeping gear, courtesy of Barter Island Bees. ISABELLE CURTIS/Boothbay Register

Michelle Rancourt of Midcoast Humane reads to students about Maggie the shelter dog. ISABELLE CURTIS/Boothbay Register

ISABELLE CURTIS/Boothbay Register

Denny Denniston of Barter Island Bee shows off the "wiggle dance" bees use to communicate. ISABELLE CURTIS/Boothbay Register

ISABELLE CURTIS/Boothbay Register

Beagles, bees and turtles, oh my! Boothbay Region Elementary School (BRES) took a walk on the wild side this week with the “Wild About Reading” event for pre-K – fourth grade students.

Volunteers from animal-based professions across the state stopped into classrooms to read aloud and share what they do with students, accompanied by their furry and not so furry friends.

BRES Literacy Specialist Lisa Sharp said kids are naturally interested in animals, so that topic was the perfect jumping-off point for an activity-based literacy event. Pairing a book with a visual aspect—whether it was honeycombs and animal bones, or Tide the Turtle and Archie the Puppy—can help build positive connections and foster curiosity in students. Sharp also found the kids were eager to ask the speakers about their career paths.

“When we do things like this, it helps bring (reading) to life for kids and makes it seem purposeful. They have an exciting reason to want to read and learn, and to see how that can come alive in their everyday world, in their community.”

Participating organizations included Marine Mammals of Maine, Maine Department of Marine Resources, Midcoast Humane Animal Shelter, Cap’n Fish’s Whale & Puffins Cruises, Barter Island Bees, Boothbay Region Land Trust, Boothbay Animal Hospital, and Reid State Park. Spark’s Ark Animal Services ended the week with a presentation featuring several live animals.