Author: AACORN Staff

Shell-ebrating a New Friend: AACORN Welcomes Billy the Red-Eared Slider!

Posted on by AACORN Staff

AACORN Welcomes Billy

Exciting news from AACORN! We’re thrilled to introduce the newest member of our animal family—Billy, a beautiful female red-eared slider turtle! She came to us by way of a donation from one of our participants families. Billy has already captured our hearts with her inquisitive nature and gentle personality, and we can’t wait for everyone to meet her.

Meet Billy

Billy is a red-eared slider, one of the most popular aquatic turtles in the world. Named for the distinctive red markings near her ears, Billy loves to look out the window, watch her personal waterfall, explore her habitat, and take leisurely swims in her tank. With proper care, red-eared sliders can live for decades, making them wonderful long-term companions.

How We Care for Billy

Providing a happy and healthy environment for a red-eared slider requires special attention. Pictured is Noah, helping to keep her shell clean. Here’s how we’re ensuring Billy thrives at AACORN:

  • A Spacious Habitat: Billy enjoys a well-maintained aquatic enclosure with both water for swimming and dry areas for basking.
  • A Balanced Diet: She feasts on a mix of leafy greens, turtle pellets, and the occasional protein source like insects.
  • Proper Lighting & Temperature: Red-eared sliders need UVB lighting to help them metabolize calcium for strong shell and bone health.
Why Turtles Are Amazing

Red-eared sliders are fascinating creatures with unique behaviors. They are intelligent, recognize their caretakers, and can even learn to respond to feeding times. We’ve already observed her responding to her name. Watching Billy glide gracefully through the water or gaze out the window at our spacious property is a peaceful and rewarding experience.

We are so happy to have Billy as part of our AACORN community! If you’d like to learn more about her or see her in action, stop by and say hello. Welcome to your forever home, Billy!

Annual Puzzle Contest – Registration Open

Posted on by AACORN Staff

3rd Annual Puzzle Contest

Plan on joining us Sunday, March 2nd at our 3rd Annual Puzzle Contest!  We have made some exciting changes to include a delicious lunch with your team registration. Lunch will feature many of AACORN’s famous recipes including Painted Desert Chili, Beer Bread, Double Chocolate Brownies and Southwestern Dip. There will also be coffee and cocoa to warm you up on what will likely be a chilly winter day.

There are options to register teams of two or teams up to four. Space is limited, so don’t delay! Last year the competition was fierce but friendly and we are looking forward to sharing our space with you for this fun event again this year.

Register your team by visiting: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/pw8suby

Aacorn Welcomes Our New Executive Director

Posted on by AACORN Staff

Aacorn is pleased to announce our new Executive Director, Mary Pickett.

 

She brings a wealth of experience in the Special Education field as teacher and administrator, most recently as a principal for KRESA, leading a team that provides educational services and supports for students with emotional and behavioral challenges. Mary feels at home at Aacorn, as she grew up on a farm, loving animals and the rural atmosphere. She says “I have witnessed firsthand how the farm can bring a sense of fulfillment that is often hard to find elsewhere.”

 

Most importantly, Mary shares our passion for enriching the lives of individuals with special needs. She looks forward to being Aacorn’s chief spokesperson, championing the needs of adults who have aged out of school and sharing the power of Aacorn to transform lives.

We are excited to begin the new year with Mary, feeling confident that as Aacorn’s Executive Director she will work effectively with the Board, staff, and community to make a significant and lasting impact on the lives of our current and potential new participants and their families.