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Wild animals don’t make good pets, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a tiger or a rhino as part of your family. Symbolic adoptions are a win-win for everyone.

1.  You are helping species by giving money to organizations that are doing hands on conservation work in the field. While I can’t be in Africa, these people can and my support helps make it possible. 
2. You are creating memories that you can put into a scrapbook or picture frame. Most symbolic adoptions come with a photograph, adoption certificate, fact sheet, and often send updates on your animal. For critically endangered species, you often get quarterly updates on how the species is doing. 
3. You are inspiring others by sharing your adoption with friends and family. Telling people how easy it is to adopt and how it really helps the species will inspire others to adopt. 
4. You are giving a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves. These animals need our help.
5. You are making a difference. This may be the most powerful reason of all to symbolically adopt an endangered species. Every adoption is one step closer to making big changes and turning those numbers around. Seeing that a species is increasing in population, because of something you may have helped do, is an amazing feeling. 

• San Diego Zoo Global
• World Wildlife Fund
• Tiger Conservation Campaign
• Helping Rhinos (on behalf of Ol Pejeta)
• International Rhino Foundation
• Red Panda Network
• San Francisco Zoo

Conservation. Saving endangered species. 

Fundraising. Setting goals and surpassing them. 

These are just a few of the topics discussed at my dinner table. 

Yes, I know this is not your typical dinner conversation, but that is because my son is not your typical 11 year old. 

Being a conservationist is not the coolest thing for a 6th grader to be known for. However, Dylan takes pride in his efforts and I keep reminding him that he is doing great things. That’s what moms do, right? We praise our children for a job well done. Sometimes the response I get is “You’re just saying that because you’re my mom” or “Most people don’t care about what I’m doing to save the animals”. As his mom, this breaks my heart to hear him think this way. He may be partially correct, the world is filled with all sorts of people who have their own beliefs … but as Dylan recently found out, there are a whole bunch of people who think he’s doing some pretty awesome things for wildlife conservation. 

Last Friday was Endangered Species Day and we were invited to take part in a special Rally4Rhinos event at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park to help bring more awareness to the plight of rhinos. Even though Mother Nature decided to give us lots and lots of rain this day, it was an event we wouldn’t miss. The Rhino Rally kicked off with a “crash” mob of elementary students and teachers from the San Pasqual Valley and was followed by updates from San Diego Zoo Global and William C. Woody, Chief of Office of Law Enforcement at the US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imagine Dylan’s surprise when Chief Woody asked Dylan and another young boy to come up to he podium.

Both boys were recognized for their conservation efforts and for making a difference for rhinos and other endangered species. Hearing my son share what he has done and seeing the look of of pride on a friends face while he spoke was something I will always remember. The applause that filled the pavilion for Dylan when he was done speaking filled my heart with a kind of joy that I have never felt before. Not just pride as his mom, but pride for him getting the recognition he so desired and needed. As Dylan walked back to his seat, standing tall and clutching his rhino sculpture, I saw something in him that I haven’t seen before. I saw confidence. The confidence of a young man was beaming from my pre-teen son’s face. This public recognition from our friends at San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy and from Chief Woody was just what Dylan needed to reaffirm his passion for conservation. 

As another way of saying thank you to the boys, we were invited to go out on a VIP caravan safari to see Nola, one of only five Northern white rhinos left in the world. Nola is our favorite rhino and truly one of the most beautiful creatures I have ever met. This was a dream come true for Dylan.

I really don’t think it matters anymore what the kids at school say because Dylan just had the best day of his young life.

For more about Nola and to see pictures from our visit with her, you can visit my photography site michellefryer.com 

A bintur-what? What the heck is a binturong? Well, up until a few years ago I didn’t know what a binturong was either, but now that I do, I love them! Binturongs are these adorable animals that look like something out of a cartoon. They have the head of cat, the body of a bear, and a prehensile tail that is just as long as their body. Sometimes people call them bearcats. However, they are neither a bear nor a cat. They are binturongs and today marks the very first World Binturong Day!

Dylan and I had the opportunity meet Khi, a resident of the San Diego Zoo, up close during a special Presidents Association event back in 2013. Khi is a young male binturong who serves as an animal ambassador for his species. The more we know about these animals, the more we can do to help save their habitats and ultimately their species.

Binturongs live in the tropical rainforest and spend most of their time living in the trees. They have long coarse hair that actually repels the rain water, an adaptation that allows them to live in the rainforest. Although classified as a carnivore, binturongs love fruits and vegetables. The hibiscus flower is one of their favorite treats. Oh, and they smell like buttered popcorn!

By giving the binturong their own day, more people will learn about this wonderful animal and realize how important the binturong is to our ecosystem. To learn more about the binturong and how you can help raise awareness, visit en.abconservation.org/

As the parent of an animal lover and an animal lover myself, I can tell you that Zoology for Kids is a book that you will definitely want to add to your collection. My son has read too many animal books to count and frankly, they all start to look the same to me after a while. He doesn’t read the average animal books, he reads animal encyclopedias. Animal facts, species breakdowns, habitats, and so on … is what most of his books contain and he loves it. Don’t get me wrong, this is all valuable information for him. I’ve just always wondered if there isn’t something else out there to teach him more about his passion of working with animals.

Luckily, last weekend we had the opportunity to meet Josh and Bethanie Hestermann, coauthors of the wonderful new book Zoology for Kids, at a meet and greet during the International Children’s Day Festival at the Aquarium of the Pacific. Listening to them talk during a brief presentation was so inspiring. They both have backgrounds in Zoology and truly believe that whatever your passion is … scientist, educator, artist, photographer, writer, etc. there is a place for you working with animals.

It is no secret that Dylan wants to pursue an animal-related career. Whether he becomes a zoologist, a zookeeper, a researcher working in the field, an ambassador for endangered species, or is working campaigns to stop the poachers is still unknown because of his young age.

Until now, he has only talked about the possibility of these careers. Thanks to Zoology for Kids, he can actually read about his choices and what each job entails. This book is the ultimate research tool for any child interested in understanding and working with animals.

Each section contains valuable information about the various animal-related careers along with corresponding science experiments, activities and fun games for kids of all ages.

Aside from the great content, what I love about Zoology for Kids is that it was written by two people who have made their living working with animals. Josh and Bethanie encourage kids to follow their dreams and are living proof that it is possible to make a difference doing what you love.

To learn more about Josh and Bethanie and find out where you can purchase their book, visit ZoologyforKids.org

Life has a funny way of throwing curve balls. Just when I thought I knew where I was going, someone else had other plans. The signs were coming at me from all directions and it was time for me to start listening to them. Time for me to pick up where I left off …

I have never been one to – how should I say this – bite my tongue. I speak my mind and I stand up for what I believe in. Sometimes people don’t agree with me, but that’s ok. I do not have to walk in their shoes and they do not have to walk in mine.

I believe strongly in speaking up when you feel that something is not right … when something goes against your morals and personal ethics. I have taught these values to my son and I am proud of him for taking a stand in his beliefs at such a young age.

It has been three long months since I have written here. I can’t even begin to count how many times I thought about writing or sat here staring at a blank computer screen … pondering the idea of writing again.

I need to write.
I need to speak my mind and stand up for what I believe in.

I will choose my words carefully and I will write from the heart.

I will write about issues that I believe in – about causes that need to be heard.

Sometimes we all need a little break. The short time away from this blog opened my eyes to a whole new way of looking at life. I thoroughly enjoy sharing my photographs to tell stories on my other website, Michelle Fryer Photography. However, my passion for conservation and creating awareness about endangered species is too strong to completely walk away. I was recently put in a position that reminded me how important it was to stick to my beliefs.

So here I am.
Writing again.

I started writing this blog seven years ago. Life with Dylan has been a wonderful creative outlet for me and has served as a platform from where I could share Dylan’s conservation work with people all over the world. This blog has brought much joy to my life and has changed Dylan’s life in ways I can’t even begin to explain. However, as with all good things, there comes a time to scale back. A time to move on.

Dylan is getting older and the intention of this blog was never to make him feel uncomfortable or that he was on some sort of public display. Yes, he is proud of his accomplishments and the conservation work he has done with San Diego Zoo Global – I don’t see this part of his life stopping, ever. Despite that, privacy is becoming more important. The anonymity of our conservation work has a very alluring appeal for both of us.

On a recent weekend getaway I had the opportunity to relax in the evenings. No computer. Just me and a book and little knitting time. I thoroughly enjoyed the quiet. My brain was not spinning in 10 different directions. I was not thinking about how long it had been since I wrote a post here or shared new photos on my Flickr account; in other words, I wasn’t feeling guilty.

I was, dare I say it, Relaxed.

As I get older (and wiser) I am learning to appreciate the silence and live in the moment. Sitting in the hotel room, I thought to myself “Could it be time to move on?” Back in August I said good-bye to part of my virtual world when I realized that there was a Life After Social Media. Now, three months later I’m wondering if it might be time to say good-bye to the virtual Life with Dylan and concentrate more on the real Life with Dylan.

Sure, I want to continue creating awareness and spreading the word about conservation issues that we believe in, but do I really need this blog to do that? Blogging is not the only platform out there. I can use Twitter and Instagram … and maybe a few shares here and there on Facebook. (I’m still teetering on leaving Facebook)

I recently re-launched my own website, MichelleFryer.com, as a photography site. A place where I can share my photos and use photojournalism to share my passion about conservation and nature. Photographs are a wonderful way to create awareness and tell stories, a simpler way, a way that better fits my changing lifestyle.

So is this really good-bye?
Will this be my final post on Life with Dylan?

That is a question I cannot answer.
This blog is a part of me – it has been for the past seven years.

For now let’s just end with you can still find me actively taking part here …

As always, Life with Dylan inspires me to see the world a little differently than I did before.

Fallen leaves become art.

Change is never easy and questioning your decisions will only make the changes more difficult to accept. A good friend once told me to have faith and to follow the signs that were shown to me. Well, if this isn’t a sign from above then I don’t know what is.

In a world driven by technology and the internet, it seems almost impossible for a person to not be connected in some way or another to social media. Smartphones, tablets, iPads, laptops … you name it, there is a way to connect and share with others through a virtual web that has become second nature to the human race. Social media can be fun, but social media can also consume your life if you let it.

I currently have 2 Instagram accounts, 2 Twitter accounts, 1 Pinterest account, 2 Google+ pages, 1 personal Facebook account, and 2 Facebook pages … wow, that’s just crazy! Although I use some social media accounts more than others, it is time to break some ties.

I am tired of looking down all the time. Looking down to see how many people “liked” something or how well a post did on Facebook. Are people reading my blog? How many hits did a story get? Did anyone retweet me? This past month I have taken a little hiatus of sorts from social media, spending less time looking down and more time looking up. Looking up at the world around me and seeing so many things for what seems like the first time in years. I have started living my life for me and not my “friends” on Facebook.

Do I hate social media? No.
Do I love social media? No.

There is definitely a place in this world for social media. I depend on social media to stay current on conservation topics that interest me and causes that I want to help create awareness for. Social media helps readers find this blog and helps teach others about making a difference no matter how old you are. However, at this time in my life, that place is not very high on my list of priorities. Social media is not my job and does not need to consume my life.

I started this blog six years ago with a post entitled, A New Chapter, as a creative outlet and as a way to let out-of-town friends and family know what Dylan was doing. After a few years of blogging, I got caught up in the “blogger” lifestyle and did some sponsored posts. This was very short-lived because the lifestyle just wasn’t who I was, nor who I am now … I can’t sell myself out to a brand … no matter how much swag they give me. In April 2012, I finally saw the big picture and things took a dramatic change. I learned who my friends were and were not.

As Dylan became older and his life more focused, it was apparent to me that his path had been chosen and was not changing anytime soon. His love of animals had become his passion in life and Life with Dylan became more focused on conservation and Dylan’s philanthropy work. My love of photography combined with his desire to save endangered species and change the world has made this blog something we are both proud of. Ironically, that first post in 2008 was just a glimpse of what our future had to offer. Looking back, maybe it was foreshadowing of the many changes and growing pains we would encounter as a family.

Social media will always be a part of Life with Dylan, but my real life with Dylan shouldn’t have to suffer because of it. If I wouldn’t have a cup of coffee in real life with someone, why should I be “friends” with them on Facebook?
I much prefer real conversations to “likes” and comments.

Time to say goodbye to some virtual friends and reconnect with the real ones.

Two weeks ago, my perfect world as I knew it came to a screeching halt. Someone had thrown a stick in the gears that kept my world spinning and I was dumbfounded. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I could be so disappointed in a choice made by an organization that I believe so strongly in. The utter shock and disappointment was overwhelming. I didn’t know how to comprehend what I heard, nor did I know how to react.

The news went against everything I believe in, both morally and ethically. I think the worst part was that I had seen it coming. I had been tossing thoughts back and forth about some affiliations I had and trying to decide which road to take. Should I take the high road or the low road?


I have worked too hard to get where I am. I did the groundwork. I followed protocol. I put in my time and paid my dues. I take pride in the fact that I earned what I have.


After a few days the anger turned to hurt and I had to remove myself from a particular group affiliation. I didn’t want to be a part of something that went against my ethics.

As my world remained still, I began to look around me. Who were these people? Am I surrounding myself with people that I admire or people that go against what I believe in? I began to see social media in a whole new light. I started seeing people for who they really were and I didn’t like some of the things I saw. I took a break from Facebook and Twitter.


My goal in life is to make a difference – to make the world a better place for those that come after me. Not to be the best or to be the first to share something. It’s not a competition people, at least not in my world.


After a few tears (ok a lot of tears), frustration and some pep talks from friends, I was finally able to pull that stick out of the gears and get my world spinning again. My world spins a little slower now and in a slightly different direction, but I like it this way. I realized that I don’t need affiliations to make what I do special.


My son and I are making a difference by giving our time, making small monthly donations, and creating awareness through this website. Our world is filled with passion, commitment and the drive to do more.

If you want the satisfaction and the glory, then do the work. Take the steps to earn what you have. Taking the high road isn’t always the easiest way, but it sure does feel good when you do.

Lately, I feel that every year or so I have come to a place in my life where my priorities are changing. What was important last year isn’t important now and what I thought I needed last month, I’ve realized I can do without. Is this what getting older and wiser is all about?

That moment when you realize there is more to life than what you’ve been doing …

Looking back and wondering where did the time go?
Time is running out. My baby is almost a teenager.

I want to leave the rat race and go far away from it all. Far away from Facebook and Twitter. They can suck the life right out of your life if you aren’t careful.

I want to read a book. Play a game with my son.

Have a real conversation with a friend … In real life … Not by text or instant message.

Get outside and see the world.
Go explore what Mother Nature has to offer and yes, photograph the heck out of it!

I think the most recent change started when my computer crashed. It forced me to take a good look at the people around me and opened my eyes to a lot of things I didn’t like. Life has a funny way of letting you know what’s really important.

I will still be writing, but maybe a little less frequently. At the moment I am thoroughly enjoying my decision to slow down and take whatever life has to offer me. Fewer deadlines means less stress and more time with my family.

If I only knew in my 30’s what I know now in my 40’s …