Blank Park Zoo Foundation - Happy Holidays from Blank Park Zoo

Dory BrilesZoo StaffLori Boatwright,Education Specialist,fascinates the Zoo Totsclass with a Box Turtle.Education ProgramsThe Zoo’s Education Programs had an outstanding year, serving over 81,000children, adults and seniors – more than double the number of people served in2005. Program highlights included:The Living ClassroomThe Zoo expanded its Living Classroom program to serve middle schools aswell as elementary schools. The program provides innovative professionaldevelopment that assists teachers with utilizing the Zoo as an outdoor classroom.The teachers are then able to bring their students to the Zoo for a field experiencewith activities designed to reinforce skills in reading, science, math and othercurricular areas. The student experience is reinforced with a Zoo Connectionsoutreach workshop in the classroom. Through generous donations to the BlankPark Zoo Foundation’s Education Fund, the program is provided nearly free ofcharge – the only cost to the school is the transportation. The Living Classroomserved over 2,500 students and teachers from 12 Des Moines area schools.Live Animal Adventure andAnimal Experience ProgramsAnneShimerdla,Director of ZooOperations,presents one ofthe educationoutreachanimals, ababy alligator,to BrookeGranzow.With the addition of the new Seal & Sea Lion Demonstration, our summerpublic program attendance increased to over 30,500 – nearly double the totalfrom last year.“The conservationist’s most important task— if we are to save the earth — is to educate.”- Peter Scott, World Wildlife Federation founder10