Life with Dylan

Category: conservation

  • Hopes and Wishes are so much better than Resolutions

    It’s that time again. Time to say goodbye to the old year and hello to the new one. Some people have a hard time with the transition and dwell on all the things that did not get accomplished. I used to be one of those people until I made a simple change. So simple in fact, that I was just changing the words. Two years ago I started making New Year Wishes instead of New Year Resolutions. Wishes remind me of a birthday cake and blowing out candles … Resolutions just sound like work.  So far, the majority of my wishes have come true.

    Jungle Bells - San Diego Zoo

    The first year (2012) I was able to make 4 out of 5 wishes come true. I call that a job well done. So imagine my surprise today when I went back to read my New Year Wishes for 2013 and realized that I had made all 5 wishes come true …

    Hello. Amazing! I can’t think of a better way to start 2014.

    I definitely took a step back last year and spent lots of time looking within myself. There were lots of changes and learning experiences for both me and Dylan. However, one thing that remained the same was our passion for creating awareness about endangered species and doing all we could to make a difference.

    Here are my New Year Wishes for 2014 …

    1. Start drawing again. In high school I loved to sketch and paint. This will be the year I rekindle that creative side I once loved so much.
    2. Teach more kids about endangered animals and conservation by expanding Dylan’s Animal Adventure Camp into more than just a summer camp. 
    3. Make time to write about what inspires me. I have a folder filled with notes and ideas for posts, but never found the time to actually write them. 
    4. Stay current on my photography and share more of my images. No more falling a year behind on editing and posting pictures. 
    5. Continue to read more, explore more, and keep learning more. 
    Yes, I know that #5 is a repeat from last year, but it is just such a good wish to have. 
    Dylan and I were very blessed with some unforgettable experiences and wonderful supporters of his fundraising projects last year. We are both excited to see what the new year has in store for us and what new doors may open leading us to new adventures. 

  • Dylan made a difference in 2013!

    As 2013 comes to an end, I can’t help but think about everything Dylan did this year. Reading for Wildlife, adopting animals, volunteering his time at the Safari Park Half Marathon, hosting his own summer camp, raising almost $1,000 for the Snow leopards and Amur leopards, and most importantly … creating awareness for all endangered species.

    The year was filled with philanthropy, conservation, and making a difference. Thank you for letting us share our journey with you. We hope you come along for the ride again in 2014!

  • My son isn’t an athlete and that’s ok with me

    Everyone has something that they are really good at, something that makes them stand out from the crowd. For some people this may be a sport; many kids in our neighborhood play soccer and football. Others belong to various running clubs. I think this is wonderful – the world needs athletes. However, if sports are not a child’s passion, then I don’t believe they should be put down or made to feel inferior. 


    Having different interests, hobbies, and skills is what makes us all unique individuals. I believe in fostering whatever passion a child may have rather than forcing them to conform to what others are doing. What might be the norm for some isn’t necessarily the norm for others.




    My son loves playing basketball – for fun. He doesn’t want to be on a team. He doesn’t want to commit to practicing three days a week and playing games every weekend. This is completely OK with me. His passion, his niche in life, is not sports. I know, gasp right? Wrong. 
    My son is not and probably never will be an athlete. Rather, he will change the world around him by educating others and being the best person he can possibly be. 


    Dylan has been in Scouts since 1st grade. Tiger Cub, Wolf Cub, Bear Cub, Webelo, and now he is starting his first year as a Boy Scout. He thrives in this environment and looks forward to his weekly troop meetings. He has a goal of becoming and Eagle Scout like his Grandpa and his hero Rick Schwartz, Ambassador for the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park. I have no doubt that with hard work and determination he will accomplish this task. 


    The other passion in Dylan’s life is animals. This is something that has interested him since he was a toddler. Dylan has always loved learning about animals, their habitats, and as he got older, creating awareness for animal conservation. Those of you who follow Life with Dylan here and on Facebook know the depth of his passion. His fundraising efforts for San Diego Zoo Global have made him somewhat of a household name around the zoo – When we attend events at the San Diego Zoo or Safari Park, people stop mid-sentence and say “Oh, wait, you’re the Dylan! We’ve heard all about you.” Others see him and congratulate him or thank him for what he has done. 


    Sometimes this makes him uncomfortable – he doesn’t understand why they make such a big deal about something that seems so natural for him – and I explain that what he does is not “the norm”, but that doesn’t make it wrong or any less important. Dylan’s passion is growing stronger every day and I have no intention of holding him back. We have both seen the rewards of his hard work. Doors are continuing to open for him and amazing opportunities to learn more are within his reach. 


    Ask him what he likes to do and he will answer with philanthropy or conservation work. Dylan would rather spend his spare time reading or watching wildlife documentaries than playing sports and he would spend every weekend at the zoo if he could. Sure, he plays his fair share of video games, but Dylan is far from the average 10 year old. 


    My son is a philanthropist.


    My son is an entrepreneur.


    My son is a conservationist.


    My son is not an athlete – He is an individual who is making a difference and inspiring others. I am not saying that playing sports is a bad thing or a waste of time. If sports is your passion, then by all means excel in the game. 


    Dylan’s playing field may be different, but my son is still an all-star in my book. 



  • Happy World Orangutan Day!

    We share 98% of their DNA. They deserve our 100% commitment to save them. 


                                  


    By saving their homes, we can save the orangutans. Download the Palm Oil Shopping Guide today and start making a difference for these red-headed beauties. 



  • Dylan shares his love of Southern White Rhinos through writing

    Last spring Dylan was given a writing assignment in school and told that he had to write a paper about his favorite animal. He had to do research about his chosen animal and then write a seven paragraph paper, which he would read aloud to the class. I have never seen him so excited to write a school paper. 

    He said other kids were writing about cats, dogs, bunnies, horses … the usual stuff, but he was going to figure out a way to write about conservation. Yep, he saw an opportunity to bring awareness to the plight of the rhinos and he ran with it. 
    Today I am sharing his paper with you in hopes that he can make one more person aware. 

    Southern White Rhinos
    by: Dylan Fryer
    The White Rhino is one of the most beautiful animals in Africa. It is endangered. That means there are not many left in the wild. They are all dying because poachers are hunting them for their horns. The Southern White Rhino is the least endangered of the living rhino species. 
    The scientific name for the Southern White Rhino is Ceratotherium simum. It means “horned wild beast with a flat nose” in Greek. White Rhinos are native to the African savannah. They are found in Botswana, Nambia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Tanzania, and Uganda. 
    The Southern White Rhino is unique because of its two sharp horns. The front horn is about 40 inches, but can grow to 79 inches. The back horn can be 22 inches. Their horns are made of keratin. Poachers think the horns have medicinal value, but they do not. Rhino horn is not medicine. It is keratin, just like our fingernails and hair. 
    The White Rhino is a grazer. It is identified by its square lip. White Rhinos feed mostly on short grasses and like to wallow in the mud. Like all rhinos they are ungulates, which is a hooved animal. They have excellent hearing and good sense of smell, but very bad eye sight. 
    Next to the elephant, the White Rhino is the largest land mammal. Male White Rhinos weigh up to 4,400 lbs. to 7,920 lbs. and females weigh up to 3.080 lbs. to 3,740 lbs. White Rhinos can grow up to 11-14 feet long and 5-6 feet high at shoulder height. Even though White Rhinos are big, they can run at 30 m.p.h. for short distances. That is an impressive animal.
    White Rhinos can live up to 50 years. With a lifespan like that people think that there would be a lot of them left. There’s actually not many because over the past three years poachers have killed an average of two rhinos a day. With a gestation period of sixteen months, they will never catch up. This is why rhino conservation is important. 
    Not many people know that Southern White Rhinos are endangered. In 1895 the Southern White Rhino was thought to be extinct until a small population was discovered. Now there are 20,600 Southern White Rhinos left. That’s the power of rhino conservation! 

  • Make today and every day World Oceans Day!

    Taken just moments after he saw a blue whale for the very first time.

    Two years ago Dylan and I shared a magical experience together. We saw our first blue whale swimming freely in the open ocean. The largest mammal to ever live on earth – living in a body of water that covers 75% of the earth’s surface –  breaching right in front of the boat.

    The sheer joy on his face is priceless.

    Let’s not forget that the ocean is home to so many wonderful creatures and just because we can’t see them all the time doesn’t mean they don’t exist. They are living in a world that we take for granted. A world that needs our help to save its beautiful creatures.

    Make today and every day World Oceans Day.

  • So you want to help build the San Diego Zoo leopards a new home huh?

    Well, I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised at Dylan’s response when we received a letter informing us that the San Diego Zoo was building a new home for the critically endangered Amur Leopards and Snow Leopards. Dylan has been bit by the philanthropy bug and there is no cure. He is on a conservation high and I wouldn’t dream of stopping him – but I will do everything in my power to keep supporting him!

    Last year Dylan’s birthday wish was to raise money for the tiger’s new home at the Safari Park. His goal was to raise $1,000 and he surpassed that. His name will now be on a plaque at Tiger Trail and he couldn’t be happier.

    A few months ago he started a new challenge when he was asked to be part of a test group for the new I ___ for Wildlife program. He pledged to read 1500 pages of animal facts in 100 days and got people to sponsor him. He raised $500 for wildlife in 3 months.

    So this time I told him he could take on the challenge to raise $1,000 for the leopards; however, he could not just ask people for money. I told him he had to figure out a way to raise the money by giving his time or selling something that he made. We tossed around a few ideas of things he could make and sell, but nothing really made us say WOW! That is until he came up with the idea of teaching other kids what he has learned.

    And so Dylan’s Animal Adventure Camp was born. 

    Dylan will be hosting his very own 2-day camp where he will teach other kids about endangered animals, conservation, and most importantly how easy it is to make a difference. Thanks to some very generous sponsors, we will be able to donate over 90% of the camp proceeds directly to helping build a new home for the Amur Leopards and Snow Leopards.

    Come join the safari with us this summer at Dylan’s Animal Adventure Camp. Together we can explore, learn new things, and help the leopards!

    Live out of the area and can’t join us? Don’t worry, we will have something special on the blog after the camp for those unable to attend.

  • Life is always filled with little surprises

    Imagine the surprise on our faces when we saw this last weekend at the San Diego Zoo Global booth. This made quite the conversation piece when people came by.

    Have you met Dylan? He raised $500 reading for wildlife.

    What will you do?

  • Reading for Wildlife update – An awesome journey

    It has been a little over a month since the last update, but if you have been following along on Facebook or Instagram then you know that on day 66 of the I READ for Wildlife challenge Dylan reached his goal of $500 in sponsors.

    This was a great day for Dylan because the hardest part was now done. He had reached his fundraising goal and from here on out all Dylan had to do was continue reading.

    Now on his third and final book – the end was in sight. The goal of reading 15 pages per day increased to 20 pages per day. The boy was on a mission and there was no slowing him down.

    Today is day 89 of the 100 day challenge and I am happy to report that Dylan has read all 1500 pages of fascinating animal facts.

    When I asked Dylan to describe this experience in one word he said … Awesome!

    Dylan was able to combine his love of reading with his love of animals and raise $500 for endangered wildlife across the globe.

    Dylan and I are so grateful that San Diego Zoo Global asked him to be part of this special team. Not only were we able to test and help improve a program that will launch to the public soon, but we made new friends and were able to share our journey with others. I truly believe that the new I _____ for Wildlife program will be a huge success.

    Doing something you love has got to be one of the most rewarding ways to raise awareness and in the end raise money for a wonderful cause. Be sure to check out the San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy website and start your own journey … What will you do for wildlife?

    I would like to thank everyone who supported Dylan along the way. Whether you gave money and were a sponsor or were one of the many who commented/liked his videos and fascinating animal fact updates on Facebook … he couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you!

    Visit our YouTube channel to see more of Dylan’s video clips from his Reading for Wildlife journey.

  • Did you know 16,000 plants and animals are endangered?

    This number may shock you or seem too high, but it is accurate. We may read more about the bigger, more popular animals, like the rhinos and tigers and elephants, but these are just the tip of the iceberg. So may species are endangered and need our help. From the smallest butterflies who are dying from pesticides to the large polar bears whose home is melting away and everyone in between.


    According to San Diego Zoo Global,  to date, they have reintroduced 33 species back into the wild including: mountain yellow-legged frogs, 5 species of reptiles, 17 species of birds, and 10 species of mammals. In many cases, these efforts have meant the difference between extinction and survival. 
    This, my friends, is why we feel so strongly about supporting San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy.
    It’s not just about going to see the animals at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park – we go to witness first hand the breeding programs at work. 
    The San Diego Zoo is so much more than just a zoo – it is physical proof that together, we are making a difference.  
    Join me and thousands of others who are helping to bring species back from the brink of extinction by becoming a Wildlife Conservancy HERO. Together we can do more.