"The primary school kids are so spontaneous and it's just delightful. It's a bit of a biology lesson, and we try to knit it all in with what we're doing with the lizards – it's a hands-on episode."
Children have an energy and enthusiasm for nature that Doug and Jane still enjoy, and the couple tweak their sessions based on the age group they're presenting to.
They have a permit from the Department of Conservation to hold native lizards and geckos, but have gradually downsized their collection from about 100 specimens to 50 individuals across seven species. Some individuals in the collection are more at ease in the public gaze, so get more frequent outings as part of the educational visits.
"We've got about four lizards who are old hands, and they're quite comfortable being taken around."
The "Lizard Man" journey began when the couple took lizards to show students at their own children's school – Puriri Primary.
"We thought 'well, we'll offer it to other schools', and what we find now is we get rung up and asked to come along and talk," Doug says.
Over the past 30 years they've educated thousands of children, and now prefer to deal with groups of about 25 students to make things more manageable and interactive.
"We do shorter and simpler classes now, at about four schools a year," he says.
They frequently present classes at DoC's Kauaeranga Valley Visitor Centre, "which seems to be working really well, particularly the summer programme", Doug says.
There's a nice synergy between the educational visits and Doug's initial interest in lizards and geckos – he was a 12-year-old at Waihi Intermediate when he got his first gecko, which followed childhood enthusiasm for frogs.
He's now 75, and still holds the same passion, settling on Duvaucel's gecko as a favourite species. He says Duvaucel's are popular with many lizard and gecko keepers because of their size: "They're a fantastic and fascinating species, and their size sets them apart from others."
Hauraki DoC ranger Maree Limpus works closely with Doug on community education and engagement events, and describes him as "absolutely amazing".
"He comes up to present at the Kauaeranga Visitor Centre any time we ask him, and he loves working with groups of any sort," she says.
"I've learned a lot about these creatures from spending time with Doug. He's really great with people and his teaching background shines through.
"The love he has for the animals is communicated superbly through his volunteer work. He creates an emotional response with the people he presents to and that's a special skill."
So, does Doug consider himself a conservation hero? "Oh look, no," he says. "I'm a conservationist through and through… but we're just trying to do our thing, and of course we really enjoy it."
For more information on www.conservationweek.org.nz
