On the Road

“PEOPLE PULL UP BESIDE ME AND STARE — AND THEN SMILE AND WAVE.” – STEVE HEIN, DIRECTOR

Georgia Southern’s Center for Wildlife Education animals are catching the attention of motorists and traveling the roadways in a spacious new minivan, courtesy of a generous donation from NeSmith Chevrolet in Claxton, Ga. The dealership provided a van for Freedom, Suzie Q, Stinker Belle, Clyde, Rosie, Dudley and their pals to travel in style to outreach programs around the country. Colorful images of the Center’s animals are shrink-wrapped on the vehicle, making it a virtual rolling billboard.

“For more than two decades, we have provided on-site educational programs around the country,” said Steve Hein, director of the Center. In fact, the Center’s animals have traveled from New York to Texas presenting more than 125 programs annually. “The bulk of our programs service the state of Georgia,” Hein added, “and with this new van, we can more easily deliver multiple off-site programs on the same day to the betterment of the Center’s overall operations.”

Hein admitted that he had to grow accustomed to driving the van. “People pull up beside me and stare — and then smile and wave,” he said about the larger-than-life images featured on the vehicle.