The Story of “Tomato Head”

On a Confluence Park field trip earlier this month, a student saw a curious-looking caterpillar under the largest pavilion. He cordoned off the area with his arms to make sure his friends did not accidentally step on it. Together, with their faces inches from the ground, they studied the creature and named it “Tomato Head” because of its plump shape and vermillion color.

But that was not enough for this student. As his friends wandered away, he went into a trance staring back and forth from a butterfly identification card to “Tomato Head.” Only a few minutes later, his eyes grew wide with delight as he pointed to a photo of a white-striped long-tailed skipper, successfully determining the species on his own. In a single caterpillar, this student found a sense of discovery and potential.