A recent visit by the Llamas of Circle Home to the UCSF Mission Bay quad brought smiles to more than 400 members of the campus community along with 140 children from the Mission Bay Child Development Center.
The visit was organized by Campus Life Services Wellness and Community and the Graduate and Professional Student Association.
“When I first started this job in the Fall, everyone mentioned ‘llamas’ and I didn’t quite know what they meant,” said Events & Engagement Coordinator for Wellness and Community, Jamie DeAraujo. “Seeing so many UCSF community members show up, with friends and colleagues, having the best time – taking photos, petting, and feeding the llamas brought me great joy. Seeing others enjoy themselves is what brought me the most joy from this event.”
Four llamas were stationed around the quad with 30 “llama-teers” helping with crowd control. “The majority of attendees were UCSF employees,” DeAraujo said.
In a poll conducted after the event, most participants said they felt better about their overall wellbeing following the visit. Approximately 300 survey respondents said they would recommend attending a future llama event to colleagues.
UCSF learners said they enjoyed the socialization and the opportunity to get outside on campus and see animals. They also welcomed the opportunity to talk to UCSF colleagues and pet the llamas.
As you might expect, participants from the four childcare classrooms that attended the event had a different perspective.
“I like the llamas,” said a member of the Eagles classroom. “Seeing them walk towards us. Their necks were very long.”
A member of the Whales classroom had this to say. “It was fun seeing an animal you don’t see every day. I only see dogs.”
Finally, a member of the Owls classroom made this discovery. “We got to go for a walk and the llama’s hair isn’t soft.”
DeAraujo hopes to bring the llamas back to the quad this fall.
