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From YouTube: Whats Up AVL – Episode 20
Description
December 14, 2022
Host Sam Parada talks with the Asheville Nature Center's Director, Chris Gentile, to learn about the many activities and things to learn when you visit the Nature Center.
B
C
You
know,
we've
had
quite
a
few
changes
over
the
past
15
years,
so
it's
always
an
exciting
time
to
be
part
of
the
Nature
Center,
mostly
because
we
continue
to
improve
and
that's
thanks
to
all
the
wonderful
folks
that
visit
us,
the
city
of
Asheville,
obviously
for
the
support
they
give
us
city,
council
and
just
a
love
of
the
Nature
Center
throughout
the
city.
That
really
helps
us
and
it's
a
great
place
to
be.
I've
worked
in
zoos
and
aquariums
for
almost
30
years
now,
Asheville
being
about
the
fifth
Zoo
I've
worked
at.
C
In
Cincinnati
at
the
Cincinnati
Zoo
way
back
when
in
the
early
90s
and
my
path
has
led
me
to
Asheville
and
I
think
for
a
good
reason,
because
it's
been
a
wonderful
experience.
The
people
in
this
community
are
fantastic.
We
meet
people
from
all
over
the
Asheville
area,
all
over
Western,
North,
Carolina
and
Sam
all
over
the
country,
I
mean
I
think
last
year
in
2022.
Now
that
we're
coming
to
a
close,
we
had
guests
from
every
state
Oh
and
about
15
different
countries.
C
B
You
know
it's
funny.
You
mentioned
that
because
that's
what
I
thought
when
I
moved
here
and
I've
been
in
Nashville
for
coming
on
two
years
soon
and
I
didn't
really
find
out
about
the
Nature
Center
until
I
started
working
for
the
city,
and
you
know,
I
was
a
little
confused
like
oh,
we
have
a
zoo
city,
but
it
makes
me
really
happy
that
I
was
a
fluke
and
there
was
more
people
actually
finding
out
and
coming
from
all
over
the
place.
C
A
C
There
are
some
obviously
there's
some
in
like
Los
Angeles
Zoo
is
the
biggest
example
of
a
zoo,
that's
run
by
its
City,
but
the
fact
that
Asheville
has
enough
interest
and
enough
enthusiasm
and
enough
means
and
and
financial
ability
to
support
something
like
this
is
phenomenal.
So
that
really
speaks
well
as
to
how
involved
Asheville
Community
is
in
something
like
a
science
center.
A.
A
C
A
B
Went
a
little
shot,
but
we
got
to
see
them.
You
know
out
in
the
open
in
the
middle
of
the
night
and
we
got
to
see
other
animals,
and
it
was
a
fantastic
experience
and
before
that
we
also
got
to
sit
down
through
a
lecture
on
these
animals
and
I
got
to
learn
so
much
that
I
probably
would
never
have
otherwise.
Yes,.
C
No
doubt
and
and
the
great
thing
about
the
Nature
Center
is
obviously
our
focus
is
on
Animal,
Care
and
wellness,
because
we
have
animals
that
are
entrusted
into
our
care,
just
like
any
other
accredited
Zoo
would.
But
the
thing
that
we
really
pride
ourselves
in
is
our
excellence
in
educational
programming,.
A
C
Only
do
we
have
wonderful
programs
for
all
ages,
including
youth,
teens
adults.
You
mentioned
one
that
you
came
to
Summer
Camps
things
like
that,
but
we
try
to
really
make
the
on-site
experience
very
educational,
so
even
just
a
visitor
who
might
only
come
for
a
two-hour
visit
once
a
year,
we're
hoping
that
they'll
walk
away
with
a
greater
appreciation
in
understanding
of
the
animals
and
and
plants
that
share
our
Southern
Appalachian.
B
C
Well,
I'm
glad
to
hear
you
say
that,
because
it's
a
very
good
experience,
excellent
well
for
the
audience,
that's
that's
out
there
that
has
never
been
to
the
Nature
Center,
one
of
the
things
Sam
I
think
that's
really
important.
To
mention
to
people
like
you
said
you
weren't
sure
what
we
had
and
sometimes
the
name
Nature
Center
in
people's
mind
you
think
of
maybe
just
a
building
with.
Maybe
a
couple
snake
exhibits
or
something
like
that,
or
maybe
some
maybe
miles
of
walking
trails.
C
B
C
When
it
comes
to
Animal,
Welfare,
animal
health,
education
programming,
we
make
sure
that
you
know
we
have
a
Diversity
Program.
That
includes
people
from
all
different
ages
and
abilities
to
come
visit.
The
Nature
Center.
So
there's
a
lot
more
to
it
than
just
somebody
who
might
have
a
license
to
exhibit
animals
like
what
they
call
roadside
attractions.
Okay,.
B
B
I
mean
just
from
visiting
I
can
tell
that
I
was
Beyond,
pleasantly
surprised
when
I
first
stepped
into
the
Nature
Center
for
the
first
time,
and
I
saw
the
different
exhibits
and
enclosures
and
like
the
size
and
how
well
kept
everything
is
really
really.
Let
me
think
that
you
guys
actually
do
your
homework
and
really.
C
Take
care
of
everything,
absolutely
Sam
and
that's
a
great
point.
You
brought
up
doing
our
homework
the
great
thing
about
our
community,
so
the
other
zoos
that
are
accredited
like
I
mentioned
the
ones
in
North
Carolina
and
Knoxville
Greenville
Zoo's,
accredited,
there's
some
ones
in
our
area
we're
a
big
Community,
we're
not
in
competition.
So
it's
not
like
you
know
we're
we're
a
for-profit
organization
that
we're
trying
to
get
more
money
in
than
let's
say
a
zoo,
10
miles
down
the
road
from
us.
C
We
all
cooperate,
so
we
have
a
community
which
allows
us
to
share
information
to
learn
more
about.
You
know
best
practices
and
Animal
Welfare
Animal,
Care
education.
Things
like
that.
So
that's
another
thing
that
kind
of
sets
us
apart
and
I
think
that's
something
that
the
Asheville
Community
should
be
really
proud
of,
because.
A
C
City,
council
and
our
community
has
supported
us
to
be
able
to
continue
to
be
accredited.
It's
it's
not
an
easy
thing
to
do
so.
We
have
to
be
able
to
meet
certain
requirements
every
year
in
order
to
maintain
that,
but
that's
a
feather
in
our
cap
for
the
city
to
be
able
to
say
that
they
have
an
accredited
facility
that
exhibits
animals.
B
C
B
C
B
I
was
going
to
say
the
first
time
I
once
in
the
Nature.
Center
was
specifically
to
see
the
red,
pandas
I.
Think
yeah
I,
don't
remember
much
about
it.
It
was
a
while
back
but
I,
that's
my
favorite
enclosure.
They
have
like
the
little
house
with
the
bamboo
and
stuff
I
didn't
get
to
see
them
very
well.
One
of
them
was
sleeping.
C
C
Have
a
house
cat
at
home,
you
know
most
of
the
time
it's
sleeping
right.
Every
so
often
it'll
get
up
to
to
check
out
the
food
bowl
or
something
like
that.
But
but
the
great
thing
about
what
you
described
with
your
experience,
coming
to
the
Nature
Center
with
the
red
pandas
is
there
are
times
of
the
year
when
believe
it
or
not.
It
gets
too
hot
for
them
here
in
Asheville
and
that's
a
cold.
C
C
But
we
have
an
indoor
facility
that
they
can
Retreat
to
for
air
conditioning,
so
that's
where,
where
people
may
see
them
in
the
hotter
times
of
the
year,
but
since
we're
in
the
cold
time
of
the
year.
This
is
a
great
time
to
come
to
the
Nature
Center,
to
see
them
very
active
because
they're
used
to
that
kind
of
weather,
yep.
B
Well
funny
that
I
mentioned
that,
because
during
the
night
howl
with
the
wolves,
we
saw
them
at
night
and
it
was
chilly
out.
You
know
it
wasn't
a
warm
night
at
all
and
it
just
struck
me
I,
always
thought
of
them
as
day
creatures,
because
you
see
the
pandas
in
videos
and
stuff
and
they're
super
clumsy
and
they
do
their
stuff
during
the
day.
So
just
assumed.
But
you
know,
learn
something
new.
C
Every
day,
well,
that's
true
and
I'm
glad
you.
You
had
a
chance
to
see
the
Nature
Center
at
a
time
when
most
people
don't
see
it.
But
what
we
found
is
that
people
who
come
to
visit
us
a
lot
they
tend
to
come
either
earlier.
In
the
day
we
open
at
9
30.
for
our
members
and
then
10
for
our
general
public,
and
then
we
close
later
in
the
day
at
4
30..
C
So
we
noticed
that
people
who
really
want
to
see
animal
activity
they
stay
away
from
the
middle
of
the
day,
because
the
summer
time,
in
the
middle
of
the
day
is
when
animals
are
are
probably
seeking
shade
or
staying
nice
and
cool.
So,
but
the
other
thing
I
want
people
to
to
understand.
Is
that
because
we're
supported
by
the
city
of
Asheville
people
who
are
who
live
within
the
city
get
a
discounted
rate
to
come
visit
us.
B
C
And
that's
a
way
of
of
us
thanking
people
for
the
support
that
they've,
given
us
over
the
the
40
almost
50
years.
Now
that
the
Nature
Center
has
been
part
of
the
city
of
Asheville,
so
the
Nature
Center
opened
back
in
the
mid
70s
and
it
was
at
one
time
back
in
the
40s.
There
was
an
old
zoo
that
existed
in
the
current
footprint,
where
the
Nature
Center
is,
and
anybody
that
remembers
East
Asheville
at
the
time.
What
they
used
to
call
recreation
park
might
remember
that
there
was
a
nature
center.
C
There
was
a
boat
dock
with
paddle
boats.
There
was
a
carousel,
a
train,
it
was
Asheville's
recreation
park,
people
would
go
out
there
for
recreation
and
then
in
the
70s,
when
the
zoo
was
kind
of
getting
a
little
bit
old
and
weathered
it
was
decided
that
we
should
focus
more
on
local
species.
So
we
did
away
with
some
of
the
Exotics.
There
was
a
time
when
the
Nature
Center
was
the
old
Asheville
Zoo
used
to
have
lions
and
baboons
and
zebra,
and
things
like
that.
C
So
we
decided
that
it
would
be
better
to
focus
our
efforts
on
the
unique
ecological
systems
that
we
have
here
in
Western,
North
Carolina,
because
they're
like
nowhere
else
in
the
world
and
what
a
great
place
for
people
to
come
to
learn
about
an
area
that
they
might
spend
some
time
out
in
nature.
When
they
visit
well.
B
C
B
B
C
C
B
Now
I
wanted
to
ask
you
Chris
about
the
different
events
that
happen
at
the
Nature
Center,
because
I
mentioned
yeah
many
times
already.
You
know
howling
With
The
Wolves
at
night,
but
what
else
is
going
on?
Maybe
not
this
December
year
round
what
what
different
opportunities
are
there
for
the
public
to
come
and
spend
some
time
and
enjoy
it?
That's
more
than
just
looking
at
the
animals.
C
Sure
that's
a
great
question.
We
have.
We
have
several
events
that
actually
happen
during
the
normal
visit
day.
So
if
you
come
on
a
day
like,
for
example,
in
April,
we
do
an
endangered
species
day,
sometime
around
Earth
day,
where
we
focus
specifically
on
obviously
the
animals
in
our
collection
that
are
endangered
species
that
are
in
critical
danger
of
going
extinct
in
the
wild
there's.
Also,
we
have
a
wonders
of
water
day.
C
We
have
a
lot
of
special
events
that
happen
during
the
day,
but
we
also
have
a
lot
of
special
events
that
happen
outside
of
normal
operating
hours.
Okay,
so,
for
example,
if
let's
say
you
have
a
school-aged
group,
if
you're
a
teacher
or
you
have
kids
that
go
to
a
Asheville,
City
school
or
a
school
in
the
surrounding
area,
we
have
a
lot
of
school
programs.
That
classes
can
come
out
and
actually
get
a
little
bit
more
in-depth
information
about
the
Nature
Center
animals
or
about
the
Nature
Center
ecosystems.
B
C
So,
for
example,
third
graders
really
focus
on
life
cycles,
so
a
lot
of
teachers
that
teach
science
want
to
come
to
the
Nature
Center
to
talk
about
things
like
amphibian
life
cycle
versus
a
bird's
life
cycle
versus
an
insect's
life
cycle
and
what
a
great
place
to
come
to
use
a
living
laboratory
like
the
Nature
Center.
But
for
the
people
that
are
just
casual
visitors.
We
have
some
really
cool
special
events
four
times
a
year
and
it's
it's
always
in
May,
June,
July
and
August
those
four
months.
C
A
C
You
can
come
to
Nature
Center
and
view
our
bears
at
the
same
time,
but
it's
an
after
hours
event
and
they're
very
popular,
and
it
gives
people
the
chance
to
see
the
Nature
Center
later
in
the
day,
especially
in
the
warmer
months.
The
months
I
mentioned
before
May
June,
July
and
August
when
during
the
day
might
be
a
little
too
hot.
You
get
to
come,
let's
say
five
o'clock
to
eight
o'clock
and
really
enjoy
a
cooler
time
at
the
Nature
Center
with
family
friends
and
our
animals,
of
course,
and.
B
C
A
C
Have
two
species
of
fox
at
the
Nature
Center:
they
tend
to
be
much
more
active
at
dawn
and
dusk,
not
during
the
hot
part
of
the
day
or
during
the
nighttime
hours,
because
it's
easier
for
them
to
hunt
it's
not
as
hot
the
competition
with
other
animals
isn't
as
high,
so
they've
adapted
their
lifestyle
to
be
nocturnal.
So
it's
it's!
It's
interesting
to
see
animals
when
they're
active
yeah
at
different
times.
Everybody,
of
course
we're
active
during
the
day
right
for
the
most
part.
Unless
you're
a
college
student,
then
you're
active
mostly
at.
C
B
Yes,
the
funniest
thing
happened
when
they
went
at
night.
We
have
the
the
big
cat,
the
mountain
lion,
yes
yeah
and
it
just
walked
in
front
of
me.
I
was
maybe
standing
three
feet
away
from
this
big
cat
and
it
looks
at
me-
and
he
just
goes
meow
and
I
cannot
I
had
to
take
a
look
again
like
I
thought.
You
would
say
something
like.
B
B
C
And
I
think
Sam
too
A
lot
of
people
see
the
Nature
Center
the
surface
of
the
nature
center
right
by
visiting
and
seeing
our
exhibits,
but
there's
so
much
that
goes
on
behind
the
scenes
as
we
talked
about
in
the
beginning.
What
makes
us
an
accredited
facility
is
our
vet
program
and
our
animal
welfare
and
health
program.
C
So,
yes,
you
see
the
animals
on
exhibit,
but
there's
so
many
areas
that
they
have
accessible
to
them
behind
the
scenes
that
the
public
doesn't
get
to
see,
and
we
have
a
wonderful
program
at
the
the
Nature
Center
for
Animal
Health
and
Welfare
we're
in
the
process
of
constructing
a
new
commissary
which
is
really
like
a
kitchen
for
the
animals.
It's
a
place
where
we
could
do
all
the
food
prep
store.
C
The
food
receive
the
food
that
comes
in
and
then
with
that
we're
also
renovating
our
vet
clinic
our
Veterinary
Clinic,
so
that
we
have
better
facilities
for
the
changing
demands
that
Animal,
Health
and
Welfare
call
for
every
year.
The
standards
improve
because
we
learn
more
about
the
best
practices.
So
again,
that's
one
of
the
things
that
we've
gotten
so
much
support
through
the
years
to
upgrade
our
facilities
to
keep
keep
on
The
Cutting
Edge
to
keep
being
one
of
the
best
facilities.
There
is
for
Animal,
Health
and
Welfare.
C
That's
exactly
right,
Sam,
and
it's
great
that
you
know
you
and
other
members
of
the
city
Team,
whether
it
be
from
maintenance
or
Finance
or
I.T.
Everybody
supports
us
and-
and
that's
what's
great,
you
know,
normally
a
zoo,
that's
private
might
have
40
or
50
employees
that
have
to
do
everything
right.
Of
course,
we
have
extremely
specialized
staff
at
the
Nature
Center
that
don't
exist
elsewhere
in
the
city,
but
we
rely
on
the
rest
of
the
city's
tremendous
assets
being
different
departments,
finance
and
information.
B
Thank
you
for
listing
the
list
of
different
departments
that
help
you
know
the
Nature
Center
I
feel
like
a
lot
of
people,
think
that
the
city
is
a
single
entity
and
that
we're
not
divided
in
different
sector.
Others
and
I
also
love
that
you
mentioned
the
amount
of
work
that
different
departments
offer.
You
know
the
help
that
they
offer
to
you,
because
that's
how
we
get
things
done.
C
The
we
have
to
we
have
to
drill
and
make
sure
you
know
in
the,
in
the
unlikely
event
that
an
animal
gets
out
of
its
enclosure,
or
we
have
a
lot
of
wild
bear
that
come
on
grounds
right.
We
need
to
make
sure
that
we're
doing
the
safest
thing
possible
and
and
who
better
to
help
us
with
that
than
the
police
department
and
they're
very
helpful.
B
C
My
goodness,
gracious,
that's
an
event
that
we
started
not
too
long
ago.
Sam
we're
going
on
our
I
believe
it's
our
fourth
year.
I
could
be
wrong
either.
Third
or
fourth
year,
it's
relatively
new.
It's
an
event
that
happens
in
mid
to
late
April,
we're
right
now
we're
working
on
the
exact
date
and
it's
a
it's.
A
5K
run
that
we
work
with
an
outside
organization
that
helps
us
put
on
and
that
run
includes
through
the
Nature
Center.
C
So
we
call
the
running
with
the
goats,
because
every
day
at
4
30,
when
we
put
the
goats
in
for
the
day
they
run
in
from
their
Farm
yard
into
the
barn,
and
it's
become
something
that
the
public
waits
for
and
watches
every
day.
So
now
we
have
the
running
of
the
goats
and
you
could
run
with
the
goats
so.
C
C
C
C
C
Sure
anybody
that
has
access
to
a
computer
or
a
iPhone
or
anything
like
that
can
find
our
website
at
wild
wnc.org
and
there's
a
ton
of
information
on
there
about
the
Nature
Center,
there's
Great
Links
back
to
the
city
and
the
different
departments
that
help
us.
But,
most
importantly,
it
highlights
the
different
things
that
happen
during
the
year
and
gives
you
good
guest
information.
If
you
want
to
make
a
visit
out
to
the
nature
center
right.
C
B
C
A
C
B
A
C
B
Get
there
like,
we
said,
and
now
they
work
with
us
exactly.
Thank
you
so
much
so
much
Chris
for
this
amazing
talk
about
a
nature
center,
sadly
we're
out
of
time,
but
we'll
catch
you
again
soon,
right
here
on
wres
100.7
FM,
my
name
is
Sam
Pereira
and
I
beat
you
guys
a
happy
holiday
and
a
farewell.
Take
care
of
one
another
Asheville.