MEET MARK'S FRIENDS
SUMMIT TWP — More than 100 children turned out to learn about creepy crawly critters of all types during an event Saturday to honor the life of Mark Fike, an 11-year-old with a love for insects who died in January during an accident near his school bus stop.
The Butler-Freeport Community Trail held “Meet Mark's Friends” at the Bonniebrook Trailhead, drawing a total of 120 children throughout the course of the three “bug walks” held that morning.
“It turned out to be better than expected,” said Ethan Fike, Mark's father. “We wanted to share Mark's love for bugs with others and share his passion.”
Chris Ziegler, president of the Butler-Freeport Community Trail, said that in lieu of flowers, Mark's family asked for people to donate to the trail in the boy's name. She said the event was aimed at children, although their parents also tagged along.
“Kids like bugs — when we get older, we don't like bugs so much,” she said, adding that the initial idea was to include a bug kiosk in Mark's memory along the trail, but it eventually morphed into the bug walk.A new identification kiosk was donated by TrueCommerce of Cranberry Township in Mark's memory.Renee Alchier, of the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania, said the event's young participants were given a backpack filled with numerous bug-related items, from bug juice and a bug box to Gummi worms.“We're helping them to identify and learn about nature and bugs,” she said of the event.Children who participated were enthusiastic to find out more about the insects they discussed on the walk.“We learned about the different types of bugs,” said Alina Soles, 9.
Andy Johnson, 7, displayed a cicada wing that he was carrying in a small case. He said his favorite insect was the dragonfly. But his most exciting moment of the day involved his catching an insect.“I got a lightning bug,” he said.
