WonderLab event seeks to dispel myths about bats

Bats are commonly associated with vampires and blindness, but Laura Hohman, director of Bat World Hoosier Hills, hopes to change that on Saturday at WonderLab’s Bat Snacks: An Environmental Cooking Class.\n“(The class) is based off a cookbook by Bat World,” Hohman said. Hohman helped write the book, which is titled “Bats in the Pantry.”\nHohman, an IU graduate, became involved with Bat World after attending Bat World Boot Camp, an intensive training program geared toward the organization’s main focus: the rescue and rehabilitation of bats. However, Bat World is also involved in public education about bats, which the cooking class will focus on. One goal of the class, Hohman said, is to clear up common misconceptions about bats, including the ideas that they are ugly, dirty and blind.\nDuring the class, participants will see a demonstration involving a live bat, and will also prepare two dorm-\nfriendly snacks.\n“There’s a taco dip and no-bake date bars,” Hohman said.\nParticipants will explore the ways in which bats are involved in cultivating each ingredient through pollination, seed distribution and pest control.\nWonderLab expects as many as 40 people to attend the class, said Staci Radford-Vincent, WonderLab’s programs manager.\n“We haven’t done very many cooking classes,” Radford-Vincent said.\nBut, she added, “We hope to do more in the future.”\nWonderLab is a non-profit local organization which serves all ages, but specifically focuses on children.\n“Our goal is to help people experience the wonder and learning of science,” Radford-Vincent said.\nThe class, which will be held from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, is sponsored by Supper Solutions, Inc., a local business which provides both freezable prepared meals and a professional kitchen where patrons can cook their own meals to take home and eat. Participants can complete the required pre-registration for the class by calling WonderLab at 337-1337 ext. 11. The cost of the program is $15, which includes admission to the museum.\nActivities for those who are interested in learning more about bats locally are limited until next October, when Bat World Hoosier Hills enters its busiest season of the year. Until then, Hohman suggests looking for information in books and on Web sites such as www.batworld.org, as well as keeping an eye out for occasional events throughout \nthe year.