Jordan Valley School students surprised with life-like and life-size dinosaurs

Nathan Curtis, Jordan Valley School post high school student, reacts as a Dino and Dragon Stroll raptor approaches him at Jordan Valley School in Midvale on Thursday, Dec. 9. Tomas Lara is inside the Raptor suit.

Nathan Curtis, Jordan Valley School post high school student, reacts as a Dino and Dragon Stroll raptor approaches him at Jordan Valley School in Midvale on Thursday, Dec. 9. Tomas Lara is inside the Raptor suit. (Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)


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MIDVALE — Students at Jordan Valley School got quite the surprise Thursday when animatronic life-like and life-size dinosaurs from the national touring Dino and Dragon Stroll event paid a special visit to the school to provide holiday happiness in the form of "Dino Therapy."

With every stop on their North American tour, Dino and Dragon Stroll teams up with a local food bank or food pantry as part of their "Stomp Out Hunger" initiative to help those struggling with food insecurity within the local communities they visit.

The Dino and Dragon Stroll reached out to the Canyons School District prior to its Salt Lake City tour stop, asking if the district knew of places to donate the food they collect along their tour. Conversations with the district culminated with a life-size velociraptor greeting the students at Jordan Valley School.

"One thing led to another and they just kind of offered (the visit) and we jumped on it. When they visit (communities) they try and give back, so we were fortunate enough to be part of that," said Denise Haycock, development officer for the Canyons Education Foundation.

Prior to her role as the development officer at the district office, Haycock worked at Jordan Valley School and said the school, which is dedicated to serving students with special needs and maximizing their independence through individualized instruction, has a "special place" in her heart.

"I always try and bring fun things to them," she said.

Monet Heath, a Jordan Valley School first year post high school student, roars at a Dino and Dragon Stroll raptor at Jordan Valley School in Midvale on Thursday, Dec. 9. Tomas Lara is inside the Raptor suit.
Monet Heath, a Jordan Valley School first year post high school student, roars at a Dino and Dragon Stroll raptor at Jordan Valley School in Midvale on Thursday, Dec. 9. Tomas Lara is inside the Raptor suit. (Photo: Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)

Chris King, a dinosaur handler with the Dino and Dragon Stroll, said they go to a school district in every city on their tour and like to bring the dinosaurs to schools so kids can get an up-close and personal chance to interact with the dinosaurs.

"We like to bring the dinosaurs to the kids so they get an experience that they may not be able to get if they go to the venue," King said.

In addition to the school visit, the Dino and Dragon Stroll is offering all students in the Canyons School District a code for entry into their main stroll event that takes place at the Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy, Dec. 11 and 12.

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Logan Stefanich is a reporter with KSL.com, covering southern Utah communities, education, business and tech news.

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