JIMMY KRUTAK, A PLANET PROTECTOR AND FUTURE PHILANTHROPIST

When you first meet Jimmy Krutak you immediately recognize a force of nature channeled into a child’s body shimmering with energy.  This young man is ready to change the world ‘for the better’.  His mother, Betsy, is skilled in directing his enthusiasm as she coaches him through life.  His younger brother, Russell, emulates him even while challenging him.

Jimmy and his family are new members of the Chattahoochee Nature Center.  Shortly after joining in May, Jimmy figured out that we needed support.  He decided to do something about it.  He had an idea to make a fresh ‘orange juice’ stand in his Alpharetta neighborhood, selling freshly squeezed orange juice to his neighbors.  After two hours spent squeezing fresh oranges the old fashioned way, with a juicer, he decorated an old box by cutting out graphics for a sign.  Then he ‘text messaged’ his neighbors to invite them.  His home-made sign said it all.  “Buy fresh orange juice and help the Chattahoochee Nature Center”.   Younger brother Russell helped sell donut holes too.  Jimmy spent so much time in the sun that Saturday that his face was sunburned. It may be hard to believe, but Jimmy just graduated from first grade at Lake Windward Elementary and is thrilled to go to second grade next year.  He recalled Ms. Vogt and Ms. Magee as his favorite teachers (science is one of his favorite subjects).  He is particularly interested in rock collecting and was fascinated with the idea of our Nature Exchange, but wanted to know if he got money for bringing in things to trade.  I had to explain how he could barter for points. 

As he handed me his envelope, he was curious to know what the Chattahoochee might do with all the funds he raised singlehandedly.  It was a lot of money to him, an entire day of work.  I was thrilled to tell him that I was inspired by his resourcefulness and that he had actually carried out my recent vision.  [Since we had not received a grant we recently applied for, I had imagined a fundraising campaign initiated by kids selling lemonade, helping us raise scholarship funds for underprivileged kids who wanted to attend Camp Kingfisher. Think how to make lemonade out of lemons!]  Jimmy was excited at that prospect, since he was hoping to attend Camp Kingfisher too.  He told me he was already on the waiting list for a special session called ‘Planet Protectors’ that his brother is confirmed for.  He also has a heart for the work we do with wildlife rehabilitation and sees what we do in caring for native animals. 

His mother explained that Jimmy has grown a deep connection to nature through the long walks in the woods that he takes each summer while visiting his grandparents in Pennsylvania.  Every morning his grandmother walks with him and his brother and they stop and listen to the birds, study moss, look at ants, identify the plants they see and pay attention to the hawks soaring overhead.  No wonder this young man has a deep concern for a nature center, where environmental education is our mission.  We just met a future philanthropist that is part of a three generation family that ‘gets it’.  This is a family that takes time to walk together in the woods, to discover the connections to the natural world that build life-long learning and stewardship for all living things.    Jimmy and his brother Russell will be great leaders for their generation.  They should be able to carry the vision forward and do the work of sustaining our planet.  Bravo to the Krutak family, new CNC members.  As Jimmy spread the $23 in bills across the table, he smiled up at me and said, I think we should do a garage sale next! 

Your child can join Jimmy and make new friends starting next week for the Planet Protectors Session at Camp Kingfisher at the Chattahoochee Nature Center!  “Our camp is all about outdoor adventures combined with traditional camp activities,  blended with happy traditions, songs, skits and of course, environmental education”, says Tim Reidy, Camp Director.  “We still have a few spaces for the first session in July (July 1-5), with limited spaces in every age group.  July 4th is Family day, you can choose to drop off your camper, but you can also join your camper for the any part of the day.  Activities include swimming, seeing birds of prey, canoeing, and arts and crafts.” Some limited spaces throughout the summer are still available so call 770-992-2055 x 222 or Email: campkingfisher@chattnaturecenter.org for details and information. Camp Kingfisher day camp really is a flexible choice for working families, with one and two week options and both full and half day sessions available. Supervised pre and post-camp care is included in the price of camp and can extend a day from 8am to 6:15 pm. To learn more about opportunities at Camp Kingfisher, please visit our website at http://www.chattnaturecenter.org/camp-kingfisher/.