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Critters & Company
Learning from Animals
Champlin native Greg Olson thinks so and is building a reputation as a
storyteller/animal handler with a purpose. Minnesota forest wildlife as well as
forest critters from around the world play center stage in Greg's
messages.
Greg's fascination and experience with animals is lifelong, but it wasn't
until the last decade or so that he began to see new ways animals could help
people understand themselves and others. Greg and his wife Diane had been foster
parents since the early '70's. Time after time, the Olson's observed that many
of the children who came into their home would relate to the family pets and
other animals before they could connect with the humans in the house. By using
animals and describing their natural and personal histories, Great could open
the door to communication with these children. In time he discovered that
normally resistive children were receptive to life-changing messages through
animals stories. His experience as a volunteer at Como Park Zoo was the
foundation of an increasing array of animal stories and message opportunities.
Today, wildlife shows with a purpose and providing care to non-releasable
animals are the Olson's full-time vocations. Licensed through the United States
Department of Agriculture and Minnesota's Department of Natural Resources,
Critters and Company, Inc. keeps a busy schedule of presentations to schools,
businesses, community organizations, and spiritual settings. Live animals
enthrall audiences of all ages as Greg uses them to effectively demonstrate
basic human needs and healthy relationships. He consistently cautions his
audience to not equate human behavior to animal behavior as the same, animals do
not think like people. He reminds listeners that the animals they're watching
are not pets, but rather wildlife that have had to adapt to living in sanctuary.
Their protective instincts, which include avoiding people, change over time and
many of them could no longer safely protect themselves if returned to the wild.
Through a clever mix of storytelling animal behavior observance and
environmental education, Greg draws lessons from animals that humans can apply
to their own lives.
A real race between a tortoise and a hare brings to life the old proverb
about persistence and integrity. The personal story and behavior of a
permanently injured re-tailed hawk who was shot and cannot be released
demonstrates "when bad things happen" and the long road to trust and
healing. A pair of hedgehogs dramatically show the differences between receiving
physical care only and receiving attention and affection along with physical
care. A burly, roly-poly porcupine helps the audience develop insights into
handling, teasing and harassment, and a snake is the focus for knowing limits,
minimizing impact, and examining preconceived notions. Tropical birds, guinea
hens, a turkey, an iguana and others join in the presentations as well.
Specific animals vary; Greg offers a range of specialized programming. But no
matter who makes up the animal cast of characters, the focus is respect and
courtesy toward both animals and people, and building healthy relationships for
all.
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Can humans learn to appreciate
friends, celebrate diversity or handle teasing through connecting with
animals?
Can people with special needs gain
inside through animals, then use that learning to have better human
relationships?
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