What More To Know About Zoos
Zoo education is sometimes a rite of passage that allows toddlers to feel grown up and experience the awe and amazement of seeing exotic animals up close. Sadie Jo Smokey at The Arizona Republic writes: “For more than five years, the zoo’s breakfast program has been popular with toddlers and parents. The kids eat, engage in some activities, and then visit the featured animal. In addition to the breakfasts this season, the zoo offers two new programs to expose young ones to other creatures and habitats; a guided trail walk and a farm experience.” Around the world, a number of zoos hold special activities, events and programs to facilitate education and interest in animal conservation. After all, the zoo is about so much more than animal exhibits!
A London Zoo has recently received two awards for its zoo education programs. In 2004, the United Kingdom’s Chester Zoo won the Sandford Award (run by The Council for Environmental Education). Judges called the Chester zoological park “an excellent resource” and said that “nothing could compare to seeing live, wild animals at close quarters.” In 2009, the zoo won this same award again. Zoo head of Discovery and Learning, Stephen McKeown, explained: “The awards take into account our whole approach to conservation education, including taught educational discovery programs for schools, interactive materials, award-winning signage at animal enclosures around the zoo and extensive library facilities. What makes us different from a normal classroom is the environment we occupy and the 7,000 animals within it. Seeing and handling things from live snakes to snake skins and exploring the x-rays of animals opens up a whole new world that more and more students are now taking advantage of.” The Chester Zoo is just one of many parks offering unprecedented access to exotic animals.
The Oregon Zoo hosts a number of special zoo education programs for children and families. For instance, “Messy Animal Art” is a $22 two-hour program for pre-school kids (ages 3-5), which gives them a tour of the animal exhibits, sing songs, participation in art activities and eating snacks. Similarly, the $22 “Zoo Experiences” program involves a zoo tour, reading a story, having a snack and taking home a special memento. The “Family Camperoo” is a popular program ($45 adults, $30 kids) that lasts from 4pm until 9am and lets families see what the animals are up to at night; breakfast, dinner and campfire stories are also included. Day Camp experiences involve petting zoos, crafts, snacks and special tours. Special zoo events revolving around endangered species conservation are also available each month. To register for some of Oregon’s programs, visit www.oregonzoo.org.
Some zoos cater more to little ones with their zoo education programs, trying to instill an early interest in animals, biology and conservation, while other zoo programs concentrate on making it easier for older kids to learn about zoo philosophy, zoo keeper’s activities and pursuing a rewarding life-long career as a veterinarian, animal caregiver, animal exhibit designer, zoo director, animal trainer expert, breeder of baby animals or nonprofit organizer. There are ample opportunities to make a difference in this world, but how many are as rewarding and enjoyable as a career at the zoo?
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