The scene outside the school caught the eye of several passers-by who slowed their cars for a better look. Children and sometimes even parents were riding on an elephant in the school parking lot. Nearly 100 three-, four- and five-year-olds took rides. The children returned parental permission slips in order to ride the elephant.

Kamba's efforts were rewarded as children hand-fed bananas, apples, oranges and peanuts. For every offering, Kamba gently reached out, took the food with her trunk and plopped it in her mouth.

Teachers worried that the children might overfeed Kamba, but animal trainer Doug Terranova assured them that Kamba eats about 250 pounds of food a day.

Mr. Terranova said Kamba, who may live to be 60 to 70 years old in captivity, took time away from her busy social schedule to visit Kid Country. Since Mr. Terranova started working with Kamba in 1984, she has appeared with Barney the dinosaur and in Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls and circus performances.

"We put on these educational programs because we want kids to appreciate these wonderful creatures," said Mr. Terranova, animal trainer and owner of Texas-based Animal Encounters. "This is important because someday these kids may help preserve endangered animals."

School administrators used Kamba's visit to focus the children's attention on Earth Day, which will be celebrated all month at the school

"We always talk about respect for all animals and how we are all tied together," said Jill Sommerhauser, co-owner and director of Kid Country. "Seeing an animal this close and touching it makes the experience real for the kids. It is something they will remember."