ANNUAL REPORT 2006 - Denver Zoo

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Educationand VolunteerServicesJacque TaylorVice President for Educationand Volunteer ServicesDenver Zoo’s Education and VolunteerServices Department is committed tocreating dynamic conservation educationprogramming so that those we reach,whether one-time visitors or a dedicatedvolunteer, have experiences that connectthem to animals and the environment.As a team, we value innovative teachingmethods; growth in our programs,audiences and staff; stable resources;and the strength that collaboration andpartnerships can bring to our programming.We believe all of this contributes to lifelonglearning in our guests and empowers themto apply conservation behaviors to theirdaily lives.In 2006, the Education departmentbegan work on an EducationDepartment Strategic Plan. With theguidance of Dr. Joe Heimlich andDr. Emma Norland, both of OhioState University, the Education TeamLeaders began a process of assessingthe current Denver Zoo educationprogramming. The department offersa variety of programs to hundreds ofthousands of participants in formalprograms and through interpretiveevents and on-site and outreachprogramming. The purpose of thestrategic plan is to provide an analysisof the current programs and providea vision and a framework for futuredecision making. The departmentwill continue its efforts to complete afive-year plan in 2007 and will shareaccomplishments annually beginningin 2008.Over 90,000 students, teachers andchaperones visited the zoo on field tripsin 2006; 77,802 of these visitors wereadmitted free of charge with the supportof the Scientific and Cultural FacilitiesDistrict (SCFD). Revenue projections wereexceeded with a final department incomeof $814,912, an increase of 16% over 2005revenue. Thanks to the generosity ofmany foundations, individual donors andtrustees, we have been able to continue toprovide scholarships through the DenverZoo Red Apple Fund for Lifelong Learning.The scholarship fund is available toindividuals and groups in need of financialsupport, enabling accessibility to a variety ofzoo opportunities. Over 17,000 individualsreceived financial awards subsidizingzoo admission, program fees and/ortransportation costs.Denver Zoo volunteers never cease toamaze zoo staff and our visitors.28
The feedback we receive regularly on ourvolunteers is that they are friendly, helpfuland very well-trained. Our volunteers’commitment shows in all of the activitiesthey do, whether answering phones,assisting keepers with diet preparation,greeting guests at the entrance to leadingdiscussion regarding wildlife conservation.The volunteers are major contributors tothe zoo’s success and are a large part of theDenver Zoo family. We praise our volunteersfor their commitment to the zoo and theirpassion for our animals.School ProgramsMarley Steele-InamaSchool Programs ManagerOver 23,000 people benefited from schoolprogramming at the zoo in 2006. In total,over 10,400 students participated ineducator-facilitated programs at the zoo,over 12,600 students enjoyed guided toursor discovery stations, and 259 teachersparticipated in a professional developmentworkshop. Much of this accomplishmentwas due to Meghan Rubinstein, SchoolPrograms Coordinator, and a new SchoolPrograms Specialist, Jamie Lovett, as well asSchool and Community Programs LogisticsSpecialist, Bob Nathan.Another new staff addition, Amy Levine,assumed the role of Teen ProgramsCoordinator, which boasted a record 75teens in summer 2006. From Memorial Dayweekend to Labor Day weekend, the teenscontributed an astounding 6,691 hoursof service to the zoo. A new “Volunteen”position, involving a competitive selectionprocess, was created that assigned returningteens on a regular basis in various areasin the zoo throughout the summer. Specialthanks go to SCFD and the KetteringFoundation for their support of the Teen ZooCrew program.Teen Programs enhanced its high schoolinternship program by partnering with twonew schools: Denver School of Science andTechnology and Nederland High School. Atotal of five high school students workedon two animal behavior projects that willbenefit zoo animals. Career Workshopsfor individual teens and for school groupscontinued to be popular, reaching 210students. Middle School Career Day,sponsored in part by Tracy Tempest, served100 teens in the fall.Brittany Frederick continued to coordinatethe Young Scientists Program sponsoredby Chase Bank. The program had asuccessful fifth year. Twelve schools,totaling approximately 1,200 middle schoolstudents, participated in the multi-contactprogram. The annual Young Scientists Bestof Show event welcomed over 155 students,teachers and families in May to celebratethe students’ achievements in science.Staff worked with Denver Public Schoolsdistrict staff to revamp the program for fall2006 to better serve inquiry-based learningstyles now prevalent in middle schoolprogramming. These well-received changesincluded new student guidebooks, teachermanuals, and refined in-class lessons.Denver Zoo collaborated with ColoradoAcademy in May to provide a uniqueopportunity for their middle schoolstudents. Twenty-eight sixth througheighth grade students spent a week atthe zoo learning about animal training,husbandry, research, and exhibit design.Students volunteered their time buildingenrichment, cleaning primate exhibitmoats, and presenting Discovery Stationsand Interpretive Stations to the public onEndangered Species Day. The week was ahuge success and became a catalyst for thedevelopment of similar experiences forother middle schools in the DenverMetro area.Outreach ProgramsMatt HerbertOutreach ManagerIn 2006, the oversight of Outreach movedfrom School and Community ProgramsManager Marley Steele-Inama to MattHerbert, who was promoted to OutreachManager. Staff and volunteers of these twoareas work closely together to representDenver Zoo to school and communityaudiences both on-site and off-site.Denver Zoo Outreach includes two programareas: General Outreach, which includesthe Community Leadership Project (CLP),and Wonders in Nature–Wonders inNeighborhoods (W.I.N.-W.I.N.).General OutreachAshley DeLaup, formerly of DenverZoo’s Wildlife Show, assumed the role ofOutreach Coordinator. Dawn Mazzagettijoined the team as Outreach Specialistand Joseph Wharton continued to impressaudiences as Outreach Educator.Staff and volunteers presented GeneralOutreach programming to approximately40,000 people this year; over 6,000 morethan in 2005. Outreach staff visited sevennew counties in 2006: Garfield, Grand, Eagle,Lincoln, Park, Sherman and Washington.A total of 21 different counties in Coloradoand Wyoming received Denver Zooprogramming.Assemblies proved to be our most popularoffering when measured by attendance.Eighty assemblies were performed in 2006compared to 51 in 2005. A new first forOutreach was incorporating Wildlife Showanimals into fall and winter programs.African serval Ruka, North Americanporcupine Willow, hyacinth macaw JazzLeft | Zoo volunteer and trustee Kathy Ogsbury visits with young zoo guests inside Lorikeet Adventure.29
Page 1 and 2: ANNUAL REPORT 2006
Page 3 and 4: Table of ContentsMission Statement
Page 5 and 6: Denver Zoological Foundation Boardo
Page 8 and 9: The blizzards of late December caus
Page 10: January 11 for exhibit in the South
Page 13 and 14: 2006 SIGNIFICANT TROPICALDISCOVERY
Page 15 and 16: 2006 SIGNIFICANT BIRDACQUISITIONS
Page 17 and 18: Camilo broke his large toe and lost
Page 19 and 20: other large mammal keepers moved th
Page 21 and 22: Birth Control in ZooMammalsLynn W.
Page 23 and 24: Over the next decade of her life, s
Page 25 and 26: Asia, with particular focus on habi
Page 27 and 28: Department of Conservation Biology,
Page 29: AfricaChemical communication and be
Page 33 and 34: as part of the Family Day component
Page 35 and 36: Specialist; Leslie Raterink, Family
Page 37 and 38: Denver ZooVolunteer Council 2006Cha
Page 39 and 40: Guest ServicesAmber ChristopherDire
Page 41 and 42: continue their growth and expand th
Page 43 and 44: Far Left | Space was not adequate t
Page 45 and 46: incubation room, rearing and broodi
Page 47 and 48: Public RelationsDenver Zoo had an a
Page 50 and 51: Developmentand MembershipServicesH.
Page 52: “A Walk on the Wild Side” one o
Page 55 and 56: Coors Distributing Co.Delta Petrole
Page 57 and 58: IN-KIND DONATIONSSignificant contri
Page 59 and 60: HeadlineOther Income (Fig. 1), whic
Page 61 and 62: draw of $7,000,000 which was spent
Page 63 and 64: HeadlineCommod dit wissi. Ure molor
Page 65 and 66: ColoradoZoologicalTrust 2006Board o
Page 67 and 68: Above | African banded mongoose are

ANNUAL REPORT 2006 - Denver Zoo

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?