Did you know there are 900 different varieties of bats? 
That's right. . .900!

Bats were the subject of a service-learning project with Verlinden Elementary School and AARP (formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons).  Together the students and seniors learned about those 900 different varieties, bat habitats, the benefits of bats to humans, and the risks that humans pose to bats.

This project all began when the Volunteer Center of Mid-Michigan received a very special request. The Lansing Office of AARP asked the Volunteer Center to find their staff and members a hands-on service-learning project that would involve and benefit children at Verlinden Elementary School in Lansing. The school, AARP, and the Volunteer Center thought it would be great to do service-learning activities on a subject that the youth were already excited about. What could kids possibly be more excited about than BATS!?

Youth and their AARP partners built bat houses that are being offered to people in their neighborhoods who either want to increase the bat population in the neighborhood or who are having problems with bats living in their homes and are hoping to relocate the bats to a new comfy home.

The Bat Project was highlighted in the Westside Neighborhood Association newsletter. As a result the Volunteer Center has received several calls from interested residents. "One caller actually thought we might get the bats out of his house for him!" exclaimed Melissa Sherry, Director of Operations for the Volunteer Center.

To the Bat House, Robin!