Anne Meade

As a child, I had the good fortune to live on the side of a small mountain in the Adirondacks. From when I could walk, I spent a lot of time in the woods playing and watching my animal friends. My father, Gordon Meade, was a very experienced bird watcher and amazing mentor. His love of the natural world was contagious. Growing up, summers included time at an Audubon nature camp and a month's return to the Adirondacks every summer. I continue to love to spend time outdoors, particularly in the woods.
 

Throughout my life, I've always had a deep connection with animals. Animals who live with me often seem willing to express their personalities and interact openly with humans in an intelligent manner. Some things I've done to prepare me to do this teaching include working for several summers as a teacher in a number of migrant daycare centers; becoming a Tellington Touch Companion Animal practitioner; and teaching numerous courses during 10 years as a docent at the Seneca Park Zoo. For a year I got to teach a class once a week for Rita Busch's first grade class at Dudley school in Fairport. She's an absolutely fantastic teacher! It was like getting to do an unofficial stint as a student teacher in the subject of my choice with the teacher of my choice.

I've also taken tracking courses with Tom Brown, Paul Rezendez, and especially John Stokes of The Tracking Project of Corralles New Mexico. With these folks, I had the opportunity to learn some survival skills and how to "read the woods," seeing the tracks and sign left behind by my animal neighbors. I enjoy interacting with children, and particularly enjoy sharing my animal friends with kids of all ages.