A Little Bat's Journey

Deep beneath the forests of the Moravian Karst near Blansko, Czech Republic, lies the beautiful Kateřinská jeskyně (Catherine Cave). With its towering chambers, sparkling rock formations, and mysterious underground passages, it is one of the most spectacular caves in Europe. Hidden high among the cave's rocky ceilings, a colony of little bats makes its home, sleeping peacefully through the day before fluttering out each evening beneath the Czech stars.

One curious little bat, however, always dreamed of seeing the world beyond the cave. While the other bats were content catching insects over the forests of Moravia, this adventurous youngster wanted to explore new countries, meet new friends, and learn about life far from home.

Every few years, the oldest and wisest bats in Catherine Cave choose one brave young bat to become a Classroom Explorer. Their mission is to travel somewhere in the world, help children discover new places and cultures, and return home with stories of their adventures. This year, that special bat was chosen to fly farther than any bat before him—to Airdrie, Alberta, Canada.

When he first arrived in Alberta, everything seemed enormous compared to the quiet cave he had called home. He was a little nervous meeting everyone—especially Izzy 🩵🐱, Mr. Russ’ curious feline supervisor. At first, Izzy wasn't quite sure what to make of a tiny bat hanging upside down in her living room! But after a few cautious sniffs, a game of chase, and several afternoon naps in the sunshine, the two became the best of friends.

Now, Izzy happily shares her favourite napping spots and keeps a watchful eye on her little bat buddy, Our little bat also quickly discovered that he loves listening to stories, learning new things, drawing pictures, and joining in on classroom adventures. He especially enjoys hanging upside down whenever he gets the chance!

Sometimes he misses the cool limestone caves of the Czech Republic, so he likes to video chat with his bat family back home. They tell him all about the newest cave explorers, the funny tourists, and the echoing songs that fill Catherine Cave.

His favourite treats are juicy Czech cherries, fresh blueberries, and the occasional tiny insect snack (don't worry—he promises not to eat any classroom bugs!). He also loves trying new Canadian foods and hopes you'll introduce him to some of your favourites.

Our little bat is excited to go on many adventures with the students of 4R this year! Please remember to read to him every night—stories are his favourite way to drift off to sleep before a busy day of learning.

Have fun with our class mascot! Take lots of pictures during your adventures and email them to your teacher. We'll share his travels with our classroom community and on social media using the hashtag:

#WhereIsOurClassBat🤎🩶🦇 #LittleBatBigAdventures