"You can't go wrong with snakes, right?" said Andy Holycross, a herpetologist and assistant research professor.
It was noon Saturday at Tres Rios Wetlands in Phoenix, and Holycross was packing his snakes and Gila monster back into his car after a nature hike sponsored by the School of Life Sciences.
Faculty members like Holycross led the hike, which was open to students and community members.
"It's really good public outreach for the school to do," Holycross said. "Great service for the community."
The hike included stations where faculty members shared their passions. Holycross said his passion had been acquired at a young age.
"Honestly, I don't ever remember not being interested in [herpetology]," Holycross said. "When I was five years old, I was out catching garter snakes around my home."
Herpetology is the study of snakes.
At his presentation, Holycross put his snakes in a clear tube so the hikers could safely approach them.
"It's one of those rare opportunities where you can get up close and look rather than looking through a bunch of panes of glass," said Margaret Coulombe, who was involved in organizing the event.
"[Holycross] has been handling snakes in front of the public for years, getting them to see how beautiful they are," she added.
At another station, associate professor Susanne Neuer shared her knowledge of oceanography.
"It's a very enriching experience for the faculty who are organizing and contributing from it because we are learning from each other and getting together," Neuer said. "Unless we are collaborating, we don't really have many chances to get together."
The presence of many faculty members made the experience worthwhile, said ASU 2006 graduate Mike Britt.
"Definitely the best part was going around and having a bunch of different professors in their own different science expertise," he said.
Professors pointed out wildlife that would otherwise have been missed, said Leah Britt, Mike Britt's wife.
"They would see things that you wouldn't normally notice when you were just walking around," she said. "They would see a jumping spider on a plant where you wouldn't think to look at that plant, and we saw dragonflies mating."
The couple said they hope to return next year, especially to see how the habitat has changed, Mike said.
"I run a youth group, and I'm going to do this next year with them," Leah said. "They need to come out and see everything."
The outdoor hike provided a different experience than that which a lecture hall provides.
"In the classroom you learn too," Mike said. "But actually going out in the field, it's way cool, it's hands on."
Reach the reporter at: stephanie.naufel@asu.edu.
