Trouper the Raccoon paid a visit to CECI’s Summer camp during their “Sensing Nature” week. During this week children explored and investigated their 5 senses outdoors. Trouper arrived when children were learning about their sense of sight. The campers were able to learn about what makes Trouper so special and how he had become blind. CECI children were so interested and amazed by this spectacular raccoon. Trouper’s abilities shed light on teaching young children empathy skills. Nourishing a child’s sense of empathy and emotional intelligence is one of the most important foundational skills that young children should learn. Empathy is a very complex skill to develop, but luckily the natural world lends an organic pathway to foster this skill. CECI is so grateful for friends like Trouper!