The Boy and the River Crayfish

Ben has been looking forward to his first nature club outing, and the day finally arrives with a walk along a sunny path to a stream where his friends are already gathered. Wearing his green rubber boots and carrying a magnifying glass, he joins Maya, the club leader in her yellow rain jacket and orange bucket hat, and Mr. Lee, the gentle guide with his walking stick and canvas satchel. The group's focus is on crayfish, shy creatures that hide beneath rocks, and Ben is keen to find one himself.

Under Mr. Lee's careful guidance, Ben learns to lift rocks gently, count the crayfish he discovers, and return everything to its original place. He finds that crayfish appear only where the water runs clear, and Mr. Lee explains that these small animals need clean water to breathe, grow, and raise their young. Maya demonstrates how to test the stream, and when Ben notices a plastic bottle floating in the water, he and Maya put on gloves and remove it along with other bits of litter. By lunchtime, Ben understands that clean water is a home for the crayfish and all the life that depends on the stream. This tale by Aysel Banu YAVUZAL can be read on Masal İzle.