By Linda Fudala-Tucker

The Suncoast Humane Society shelter on San Casa Drive in Englewood provided a perfect location for youngsters to learn about animals - wild and domestic - during a weeklong "Critter Camp" that started Monday.

Camp director, "Miss Mary" Thompson, as she is called by the 10 or so students talks about what the group will be doing during the week. Each receives a white cap to personalize and a "Critter Journal" to be kept during the time they explore the grounds. Students will also spend time with shelter pets, who are not all dogs and cats.

On Monday the guest speaker is Joni Borman, director of education for the Pelican Man Sanctuary in Sarasota. The first lesson of the camp, is learning respect for animals. She holds up a monofilament line and tells the group that if you respect wildlife you won't be leaving the stuff behind after fishing.

"This is the kind of thing that get s a bird's wings tangled up," she said. "A bird can starve to death or become injured when this happens."

Miss Mary hands out materials that teach other lessons about wildlife: "How to Rescue Baby Birds," and a list of "13 simple things you can do to avoid harming wildlife."

Alex Elliott works on his critter cap.
	Katrina Holtz has found a way to decorate her cap with blue dolphins.

Miss Mary Thompson shows a student some of the critters they may see on the grounds of the Suncoast Humane Society where Critter Camp is held.