Mickey

What does Mickey love most about nature?

In his words, being in the woods. He loves running around and going on big adventures to find as many critters as we can. He loves hiking and hearing the wind blow through the trees. He calls himself a "nature boy" and doesn't like seeing trash in the woods. He always makes sure to pick it up so it doesn't make the Earth sick. He loves finding animals, especially bugs under rocks. He loves going on trips in Mommy's Minnie Winnie to different state parks in the mountains.

What is Mickey's favorite animal—and why?

Stinkbugs are his favorite animal. He loves their little heads and their "whiskers" and thinks they are so cute and tickly when they walk on you. They protect themselves with a "toot" and then fly away to hide. Stinkbugs taught him the importance of being gentle with earth's creatures because he doesn't want to get "tooted on." Bugs are friends to all animals, and he loves their antennae and how tiny they are.

What is Mickey's favorite outdoor activity?

He loves running around in the grass, exploring, looking for caves in the woods and finding waterfalls. Since Hurricane Helene hit very hard in our little area of North Cove, North Carolina, there are lots of new places to explore. He likes to explore the cave where Mommy works (Linville Caverns) and looking for bats and spiders in the cave. Seeing the flood water has given him a very mature understanding of what nature is capable of, and he loves growing up in the beautiful Blue Ridge.