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Not so very long ago, I was a shy homeschooler who loved animals. My older sister had become an Interpretive Guide at Lindsay Wildlife Museum two years previous, and I applied, hoping I would make friends and have fun like she had. Our younger sister also applied, and we both got in. While working as an IG I learned an amazing amount. I, along with my fellow IGs, took care of the domestic animals and taught the public about keeping small pets. We learned how to handle snakes, tarantulas, rabbits, rats, and walking sticks. We learned how to stand in front of large groups and smile and answer questions. We made good friends. I personally became a good enough public speaker to breeze through Public Speaking in college! I also discovered that more than anything else I wanted to teach. The Interpretive Guide program was one of the best things I ever did. Sadly, a non-profit is forever trying to raise money, and the program wasn’t cheap. Though it was well loved and they decided to keep the program going, the museum was forced to raise the cost of being an Interpretive Guide, and for many the cost is prohibitive.

While an IG, I began to crochet long, skinny scarves for the friends I made there. It was a basic crochet pattern, and soon I was getting requests for different colors and lengths, etc. I started calling it the IG Scarf. It uses only two basic stitches and can be expanded into blankets and larger scarves easily. It would make a great beginner project, and, though very simple, makes a great gift.