WILDWOOD – Children attending Cape Assist’s summer program had a matchless experience Wednesday when Steve “The Animal Guy” Serwatka showed up with a 14-foot python, a baby alligator and a whole host of other creepy crawlies.
After just a few skittish moments, the children, who range in age from five to 10 years old, were fascinated and fearless. They were all smiles as the python slithered along the floor and up around their necks.
Serwatka owns and operates New Jersey Nature Inc., a non-profit environmental education center dedicated to the rehabilitation of wild animals and the preservation of threatened and endangered species. In order to help finance this endeavor, Serwatka does public appearances with non-releasable, wild, tame and domesticated animals. His programs are a hit with audiences of all ages.
Ollie, a somewhat odiferous ferret (well, after all, he is a relative to the skunk and weasel, Serwatka pointed out), made himself at home in the Cape Assist office on New Jersey Avenue, checking out closets and offices and paying absolutely no attention to the group of children following him from one place to another.
Serwatka, accompanied by his daughter, Summer, also brought in a tarantula, a scorpion and some cockroaches. While most of the staff gravitated away from those arachnids and household pests, the children scurried to them to check them out up close.
Cape Assist’s summer curriculum is a six-week, two-days-a-week free morning program for children, ages 5 to 10, and is supervised by staff member Jessica Staley. Staley holds certification in prevention education; she is assisted by staff member Chely Reyes. Known as KARE (Kids Art Resource Education), the program is also run two days each week after school during the school year.
“KARE is designed to expose children to their communities through a variety of weekly themes, life skills lessons, crafts and other related activities” said Lynne D. Krukosky, Cape Assist executive director. “”Programs such as KARE, are especially important so we reach our children early to help them deal with urban problems.”
Now in its 30th year, Cape Assist exists to help keep our communities healthy, safe and drug free. Also known as the Cape May County Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, Cape Assist seeks to educate all segments of our population, especially our children and young people, on the dangers of tobacco, drug and alcohol abuse.
