A Wild Labor Day: Adult Family Home Residents Experience Shalom Wildlife Zoo.
Photos by resident Claire D.
KC at Shalom Wildlife Zoo. Photo by Claire D.
Labor Day Fun
written by Claire D. a resident of one of Balance’s Adult Family Homes
On our Labor Day weekend we, Fransee gals living in a home thanks to Balance, were thrilled to visit Shalom Wildlife Zoo in West Bend. When KC came to eat breakfast with a smile on her face she said, “Tiger day!” Kelli, our staff for the day, brought her cooler from her home to put our lunches in. I helped Kelli prepare our lunches. We were to eat subs, grapes, pasta salad, watermelon, and our choice of drinks. I took a Kelli-Barbie doll along hoping to take a picture with a few animals. Kelli-Barbie had the perfect outfit: wildlife with tiger stripes, however, it was a bit snug.
DSP (caregiver) Kelli feeding an animal at Shalom Wildlife Zoo. Photo by Claire D.
When we got on the road at 9:14 a.m., KC played our playlist in the car. When I got in the car, it felt like another day of Balance because it was Monday. Going down the same route as usual except our car took a left instead of going straight. That’s what got me excited! As we were turning Kelli said, “Monday done the fancy way,” from our saying Fransee Fancy.
When we arrived there, it was uncomfortably hot but there’s no stopping us now! We got a map of the 100 acres of Shalom and grains with corn to feed the animals. We definitely walked 4 miles!
We took to the trail to see Rhea, Dall Sheep, ducks, and geese. It was awkward that the birds were together in the water instead of spreading out so Kelli teased them. “Lap 1!” As if they were taking a swimming lesson. We were in awe of the Red Fox's acting so naturally and Fallow Deer as we gave them our feed. Our hands were covered in slime and germs afterward. Luckily, Shalom had hand sanitizer. One of the Fallow Deer seems to be attracted to my cell phone! Maybe the colors?
Kelli was determined to get a beautiful and majestic elk over towards her so she could feed it but it was far away yet it came! Kelli and I petted it and once again, in awe! She couldn’t believe it came over and was speechless with the elk's awesomeness.
Fransee saw Black Bear, Nilgai, Albino Whitetail Deer, Red Deer, Pied Deer, Barbary Sheep, Camel, and Raccoon. They were all very hot with the temperature being 90 degrees and humid. Some were panting, lying in the shade, and drinking water. The Bison and Zebra were doing a-ok in the hotness though. (Man! Those Bison! Wow! Amazing. Their heads are bigger than a baby.) We looked at their hooves, horns, and the difference between animals’ faces, and got to see a male trying to shed its horn.
The main reason we came over to Shalom Zoo was to see the tigers. We watch them on Facebook and know their names. The gals were searching high and low to find them! After 30 minutes of looking for the tigers, we found them! Ginger, King, and Charlotte were hidden in their den looking so comfortable. We squeal! Yay! We get to see you in real life!
Next, we saw Tarpan Horses and we were in love! Their gentle but still stomping hooves. Their mane felt crunchy versus their coat. KC was in heaven! Darn! Animals are great. Breathtaking! When you see them up close and are people-friendly.
The last animal was the Brown Bear, once again panting. One was too hot. It went walking over to the muddy pond to cool off. We couldn’t stop staring and smiling at it. Narrating that it was taking a bath we saw it scratch its ear in the pond, then smelled its paw that got the junk out of its ear. For some reason, we were laughing at this bear and taking our time there. Maybe because it reminded us of how we act when we take a bath.
Walking towards the exit, we stopped at the petting zoo where this ridiculous, light brown goat was sticking its head out as soon as it saw us, begging for grains. While KC was feeding a Llama, this goat put its head in the small pot that carried food. Got us laughing. We used our token to get free ice cream at The Grill and walked towards the car to cool off although the car was hotter than outside!
After we ate our lunch in Lizard Mound Park where we were dying for water because we didn't bring any with us on the 3 hours of walking. And then debating where we should go. We decided to go to Lake Michigan to cool off. I put my bare feet in the sand. It felt goooddddd! Kelli and KC put their feet in the cool water. Aw, refreshing! After we ate dinner being goofy and all, we Fransee gals came home at 7 pm and we were beat!
