Behind the Ribbit Costume
by Gioia Caiola Forman, FROGS Board Member & Green Spring Master Gardener (Class of 2014)
In the spring of 2018, the Friends of Green Spring Board purchased a frog mascot costume for special occasions at the park. During that year’s Spring Garden Day, the board sponsored a contest to name him/her. Ribbit was the name chosen, to the delight of young and old. The first fabulous Ribbit was Angelica, now a college junior at Virginia Tech and a certified EMT. The current Ribbit, Rachael Dempsey, is a 5’2”, eyes of blue, working mother of two. She has worked as the Deputy Assistant Administrator in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration since 2023. Prior to that, she was in the military, having been commissioned in April 1995. She is a Green Spring Extension Master Gardener and serves as Vice President of the Master Gardener Governing Board.
Rachael as Ribbit. Photo by Gioia Caiola Forman. Rachael, aka Ribbit, says she “loves seeing people smile.” When she applied for the job of Ribbit, she told the interviewer it was on her bucket list. The idea came into her head after seeing the mascots at National Park, where they have multiple mascots, including Screech the Bald Eagle and the Racing Presidents.
Mascots are not new. They date back at least to the American Civil War. A Penn State archivist, Jackie Esposito, co-authored a book on the University’s mascots.* In researching the book, she learned that many regiments during the Civil War kept living mascots, including several dogs. One famous mascot was a bald eagle, which was reported to screech out a battle cry as she circled the sky above the 8th Wisconsin Infantry Division.
The Green Spring Ribbit makes no sounds; he/she just needs to wave and look happy. Ribbit always walks with a handler since it’s challenging to see out of the head of the costume. Rachael says that when she dons the very hot costume, she becomes the heart of Ribbit. Rachael as Ribbit is the symbol of the FROGS spirit; she helps raise funds for Green Spring and makes visitors feel happy and welcome to the park. She enchants the children, and her picture has been on one visitor’s Christmas card.
Rachael says she walks slowly when approaching young children. They are often in awe of the green frog but also frightened. She approaches them carefully and gets down to their level. Her handler often has to help her up after these interactions.
Ribbit, FROGS mascot. Photo by Gioia Caiola Forman.There are times when substitute Ribbits are needed. Several FROGS board members have played the role. Once a high school student substitute was scheduled but, after he experienced a girlfriend breakup the night before, his 6’4” dad showed up to squeeze into the costume. The dad had never been to Green Spring. He now has a framed picture of himself as Ribbit in his office. The Ribbits have ranged in age from 17 to 76, and in height from 5’2” to 6’4”. All the Ribbit volunteers have one thing in common—a desire to make people happy and to support FROGS and Green Spring Gardens. One Ribbit substitute shared that at his college interview for an Ivy League school, the interviewer spent considerable time asking about his Ribbit experience. I wonder if Ribbit helped him get admitted.
Rachael says her own kids love the idea of her playing Ribbit (her teenage son has served as her handler). People at her workplace are often surprised, and it pleases her to show them the other side of her life. Ribbit’s appearance dates are important to her and are on her calendar. The FROGS Board is delighted to have this extraordinary volunteer join them in helping Green Spring Gardens.
Anyone interested in a Ribbit experience as a substitute can contact FROGS at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
*Jackie R. Esposito, University Archivist and co-author with Stephen Herb of the book, The Nittany Lion. An Illustrated Tale, published by the Penn State Press.
