“Isn’t she the cutest thing you’ve ever seen?” said Nicole Bennett, 12, to a friend.

Nicole was referring to a puppy that stole the petting zoo show on Friday, Aug. 3, at Camp Casey.

Bennett was visiting with a group from the Kiwanis Club in Seattle, which funds a summer camp opportunity for physically disabled children. Kids, goats, sheep, and poultry were wrangled up to field a petting zoo for the group by the Colonial Critters of Island County.

Colonial Critters began in 1997, placing its emphasis on colonial animals and activities. Today, the historically oriented club boasts 23 members. Lois Fisher guides the kids in raising colonial animals, or any animal from the colonial era of 1620 to 1820, as well as gardening, crafts, and cooking from the colonial era. Kids as young as 5 through the age of 17 or high school seniors can take part in the club.

“We do a lot of community service,” said Fisher, 4-H leader of Colonial Critters, “We just teach a lot of people about the colonial times.” Many in the 4-H club compete in the Island County Fair, running now through Sunday, in addition to regular involvement in club activities, Fisher said. Her club members agree.

“Its better than getting wrapped up in electronics. It gets you out of the house,” said Brandon Urtasun, 15, who is very active in Colonial Critters and raises sheep, old English game fowl, and goats.

“Its really eye opening for people to see how things were in colonial times,” said Urtasun, who plans to continue his involvement with 4-H and help educate younger club members.

“It is rewarding to see kids start out at five and become like Brandon, who knows everything there is to know about colonial animals,” said Fisher. The structure of the club allows everyone to be involved, she said. “Its fun to see the older kids teach the younger ones.”

The 4-H’ers were eager to show off their well-groomed pets. Davy Smith, 8, presented two guinea pigs, Squeakers and Truffles, whose daily lives are overseen by Smith and his sister Meredith. Also present were goats, sheep, chickens and dogs.

The animals’ reciprocity to the exchange varied from feather to fur. Most were enthusiastic about welcoming their new friends to Camp Casey. Some, like Anna Skurdal’s sheep, Mace, were shy. But it seems that both campers and pets got plenty of attention and exercise. Ears were scratched, bellies patted,and feathers petted. It’s hard to say who enjoyed the experience more.