First Friday Update _ 2/3/2023

Posted on By Amber Suttmiller

First Friday Update – February Edition

Zoo Updates:

Updates to Cell Phone Recycling

The Conservation Impact Team has a few updates to share about recycling cell phones and other electronics at the Zoo:
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  1. All collection boxes have been removed aside from the one at Gorilla World, which will remain year-round. We may add more down the line, but for now this is the only location on Zoo grounds where people can recycle their gadgets.
  2. The Go Bananas challenge is no more—as of this year, we are aligning with AZA Gorilla SAFE’s “Gorillas on the Line” program! While similar to the Go Bananas challenge, this is a nationwide campaign raising awareness of how we directly support gorilla conservation by sending funds to our partners.
    • GOTL runs from Feb 1st to April 30th. Folks can register through our website to receive ongoing communication and updates about the campaign.
    • We are continuing to use Eco-Cell as our recycling partner. In case you didn’t know, Eco-Cell takes much more than just cell phones – they take chargers, cords, iPods/iPads, tablets, MP3 players, gaming devices, and more! You can see the full list on their website.
    • Groups who collect the most gadgets will win a special prize that will create a more meaningful connection to conservation, courtesy of the Primate Team!

Moving forward, the messaging around recycling old electronics will also be shifting: instead of focusing on coltan and trying to reduce habitat destruction (negative), we will be emphasizing that the money raised from recycling old electronics is sent directly to our partners doing field work in the Republic of Congo (positive)! Additionally, we can promote our commitment to sustainability by encouraging folks to keep harmful materials out of landfills!

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2023 Green Cincinnati Plan

You can help shape the environmental future of Cincinnati! 

The Office of Environment & Sustainability is inviting folks to share their thoughts on 2023 Green Cincinnati Plan draft via a public comment period. From now until February 8th, you can review the overall action plan or individual focus areas and share your feedback! Focus areas include:

  • City Operation
  • Buildings & Energy
  • Natural Environment
  • Zero Waste
  • Resilience
  • Community Activation
  • Mobility
  • Food

CZBG is an organization committed to sustainability, and this is a great opportunity to become even more engaged at an individual level. If you’re interested in advocacy and policy—or if you’re just curious about the city’s efforts to become more equitable, sustainable, and resilient—take this opportunity to review the overall plan (or any of its focus areas) and share your thoughts! You can access the public comment webpage below:

Click Here to view the Website

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Congratulations to Steve Folz!

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Zoo Tales Podcast

Happy Birthday, Fiona! Fiona’s keepers answer all of your questions about the birthday girl in this new episode of Cincinnati Zoo Tales! Listen here: http://ow.ly/pU0r50MyVkY

Just for Fun:

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February 2nd is World Ostrich Day

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January 31st is International Zebra Day

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Plant & Animal Updates:

What’s Happening at Bowyer?

Bowyer Volunteers working on a new bird blind.  A fun January project!

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https://blog.cincinnatizoo.org/2023/01/25/nias-new-home/

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https://blog.cincinnatizoo.org/2023/01/19/unique-enrichment-for-cheetahs-and-elephants/

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Birthdays

https://twitter.com/CincinnatiZoo/status/1620483701233848321?s=20&t=BbuSZnSc6XVrvKNXxzfHhg

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Conservation Corner:

Webinars

Continuing from our webinars in December, we will have webinar presentations and Q&As with many of our global conservation partners to further connect our CZBG community to their work. These partners will present their projects, wildlife, communities, and conservation aspirations. This presentation will be followed by a Q&A, where our partners will take questions from our CZBG community. Feel free to tune in from anywhere, as these will be Zoom webinars. This is a chance to learn the stories of the conservation work the Zoo supports so you can share with our visitors and be advocates for the good work happening around the world.

The January and February webinars are as follows (and recording links will be updated here after each webinar):

RAPTOR, Inc. (Jackie Bray)

Gorillas and Chimps in the Congo (David Morgan)

Asian Nature Conservation Foundation (Dr. Raman Sukumar & Sanjay Ajanikar)

Wild Nature Institute: Giraffes (Monica Bond)

Turtle Conservation (Jordan Donini)

Bird Endowment: Blue-throated Macaws in Bolivia (Dorothy Paterson)

Bird Rescue (Kylie Clatterbuck)

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Opportunities:

 Volunteer Roles Accepting Applications

Did you know that we are accepting Applications for several Volunteer Roles here at the Zoo?  Check out the areas that are currently accepting applications and share the links with your Friends and Family!

Click Here for the Animal Enrichment _ Weekend Application

Click Here for the Garden Engagement Volunteer Application

Click Here for the Rockdale Urban Garden Volunteer Application

Click Here for the Pollinator Watch Volunteer Opportunity

Click Here for the Wild Encounters Ambassador Opportunity

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Barrows Lecture Series

The Barrows Lecture Series is one of my favorite times of the year.  I leave every lecture inspired with a fire in my belly.  All Adult Volunteers have the opportunity to purchase in person tickets at the listed member prices.  If you are interested in the in-person tickets, please contact me and I will forward you the link.  Click on the link below to learn more about the 2023 speakers!

https://cincinnatizoo.org/events/winifred-emil-barrows-lecture-series/

Staff Updates:

Welcome Tony Handorf to Commissary Team

Tony was born on the Westside of Cincinnati however, moved to Xenia, Ohio where he grew up. Tony started his career in Firefighting and EMS when he was 16 years old. He has held various jobs in public safety and health care, logistics, and supply chain management over the past 40 years. Tony proudly served in the U.S. Air Force and is a Gulf War Veteran.

 Away from work, Tony enjoys spending time with his 3 daughters, his 2 sons-in laws and 2 grandchildren. You can find Tony hanging out at the Reds games throughout the summer.

 Tony is excited to join the Commissary team here at the Zoo and looks forward to sharing his Leadership and Management experience with the team. Please stop by Monday thru Friday and welcome Tony to the Zoo.

In Case You Missed It:

Save the Date

Are you interested in volunteering for events here are the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden?  As event season gets closer be on the lookout for messages about signing up to work the events!  Mark your calendars now! 

*Sign Ups will happen 6 Weeks prior to the Event.*

  • 4/8/2023 – Easter Celebration
  • 5/11/2023 – Toast to the Wild Bourbon Flights
  • 6/16/2023 – Zoo La La
  • 7/30/2023 – Fritz & Fiona’s Sundae Fundae
  • 8/10/2023 – Toast to the Wild – Wild about Wine
  • 9/22/2023 – Zoofari
  • 10/12/2023 – Toast to the Wild – Zoo Brew
  • 10/14/2023-10/15/2023 – HallZOOween
  • 10/21/2023-10/22/2023 – HallZOOween
  • 10/28/2023-10/29/2023 – HallZOOween
  • 11/17/2023-1/7/2023 – Festival of Lights
  • 12/21/2023 – Happy Zoo Year

Recognition Pins

   Recognition Pins will be available for pick up starting next week.  If you plan on coming to pick up your pin, please fill out the form below so that I can have it ready for you in the Hanging File Folders next to my desk on the third floor of the Education Building.  I will check the form on Monday mornings so that the pins will be ready for pick up all week.  The form will expire on Sunday, April 30th – Please pick up your pins by that date.
Click Here to Complete the Form

Contact Information:

Brittany Garera-Stapleton 
Volunteer Relations Coordinator
(513)559-7768 
[email protected]