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Brittany Update:
Did you see my latest e-mail? Let me know if you have questions 😉
As we move into the 2024 planning season, I would love to hear your feedback on the season. At the bottom of this message there is a Habitat Ambassador Program Survey, but before I post the survey link, there are a few updates I want to make sure to share.
New Habitat Ambassador Volunteers:
- Just like last year, we will be onboarding additional Habitat Ambassador Volunteers. Applications will open on November 1st. Please feel free to share the link with anyone and everyone you think may be interested. I will make sure the link is updated on the website and I will send the direct link out to all of you on November 1st.
Habitat Updates:
- Unfortunately, we received some sad news last Friday. It was confirmed that Bear Ridge and Sea Otter Coast (North America new construction) will not be opening before Elephant Trek…in fact there is no official open date. We will now be forced to pivot our original plan.
- The good news is, in addition to Elephant Trek, this gives us an opportunity to bring on a new habitat/space. Kara and I talked today and put together a list of possible new 2024 locations. We would love your vote on which one you would be the most interested in adding, so the first question on the Year-End Survey asks your opinion 😉 .
- Here are the available options:
- Jungle Trails
- This would be a JT roving role similar to how we interpret in Africa.
- Reptile House
- Insectarium
- Veldt
- North America Rover
- This would be a roving role concentrating on the North American animals around the zoo. Some example locations to rove to would be Wolf Woods, Reptile, Bald Eagle, Mountain Lion and Insect. The focus of this role would be to highlight native species to North America and generate excitement around the upcoming Bear Ridge and Sea Otter Coast.
- Jungle Trails
- Here are the available options:
2024 Training Schedule
- The new training plan has been established and scheduled. Below you will find a brief overview of each of the trainings and the scheduled dates. The dates will be in Better Impact/MVP for sign up starting on November 1st.
- Interpretive Training 1
- This will be a refresher interpretive training and will be required for all NEW Habitat Ambassadors but will be optional for all returning Habitat Ambassadors. The content of this training will be similar to what was presented in the 2023 season.
- Training Dates:
- Thursday, 1/25 9am-12pm
- Sunday, 1/28 2pm-5pm
- Interpretive Training 2
- This Training will highlight new topics and explore ways that we can elevate our interpretation. We will look into tying in new concepts and explore some tried and true ways that encourage behavior change.
- Training Dates:
- Saturday, 2/17 9am-12pm
- Thursday, 2/22 9am-12pm
- Training Dates:
- This Training will highlight new topics and explore ways that we can elevate our interpretation. We will look into tying in new concepts and explore some tried and true ways that encourage behavior change.
- New Habitat Content/Interpretive Training
- This training will be a combination of content and interpretive training based on the new area(s) chosen by you in the survey. We will explore new activities, new biofacts/visual aids and (hopefully) hear directly from Keeper staff in that area.
- Sunday, 3/10 2pm-5pm
- Tuesday, 3/12 9am-12pm
- Saturday, 3/23 9am-12pm
- This training will be a combination of content and interpretive training based on the new area(s) chosen by you in the survey. We will explore new activities, new biofacts/visual aids and (hopefully) hear directly from Keeper staff in that area.
- Elephant Trek Training
- This training will be a combination of content and interpretive training based on the new Elephant Trek space. We will explore new activities, new biofacts/visual aids, hear directly from Keeper staff and do a walkthrough of the space.
- Training Dates:
- Saturday, 5/11 9am-12pm
- Thursday, 5/16 9am-12pm
- Sunday, 5/19 9am-12pm
- Training Dates:
- This training will be a combination of content and interpretive training based on the new Elephant Trek space. We will explore new activities, new biofacts/visual aids, hear directly from Keeper staff and do a walkthrough of the space.
- Interpretive Training 1
- SnowBirds/Make Up Trainings – Last year the demand for these trainings was very low, so I don’t have scheduled dates on the calendar. We will evaluate the need for additional trainings early next.
Whew…that was a lot of information! Thank you for bearing with me, if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to ask. Please fill out the 2023 Program survey and let us know what additional habitat you would be the most interested in bringing back.
Click Here for the 2023 Habitat Ambassador Program Survey
*If Anyone did not get the e-mail, please let me know and I will forward it to them!
Animal Update:
No New Animal Updates, but I wanted to highlight some of the things the Keeper Staff and the Visitors have been saying about YOU!!!!!
“The Africa dept. would not be what it is today without the many, many hours donated by passionate, competent, kind and caring volunteers over the last 10 years. Volunteers are literally the difference between getting through the day and actually advancing our industry. Volunteers are the secret ingredient that allows our zoo to call itself one of the best in the world, and our zoo would be a mere shadow of itself without your dedication and commitment to our mission. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank each and every one of you for your contributions to our zoo… the overall impact is greater than you could ever know. Thank you and we love you!” -Wendy Rice
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“When introducing Kip, Skittles, and M&M to their new space, the volunteer team was helpful in so many ways. They supported guest interpretation, to share Kip’s inspiring story. They also lent an extra set of eyes, helping us support care needs while the trio acclimated to a new space! The team’s attention to detail and willingness to adapt to last minute asks really helped facilitate this process all around. Thank you for all the effort!” –Victoria McGee
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· “Zoo volunteers are fountains of great information! I enjoy talking with them and learning from them. Thank you!” -Visitor Survey Response
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· “Wow so many volunteers stationed everywhere. Never saw so many. You were prepared to meet and greet! We enjoyed talking to them. One fellow allowed us to hold elephant poop. That was unique.” – Visitor Survey Response
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· “I spoke to some fantastic employees and volunteers about applying as a volunteer. I was so excited I applied while I was there!” – Visitor Survey Response
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· “I loved seeing and talking to the zoo volunteers! They had great information to share with my 7-year-old daughter and me. I especially loved the elephant poo and hearing all about how it benefits other animals such as birds.” – Visitor Survey Response
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· “Just wanted to send a quick note of appreciation for the volunteers that help with the show. Before we had them help, the back of the theater would often be a clogged mess of folks strolling in, walking down aisles oblivious to birds flying right over or even at them in their flight path. During the meet and greet at the end of the show, we would answer questions of folks who came halfway through the show and did not know what the birds are or what the show is even about. The bottom line is the volunteer’s knowledge and dedication to helping the show through closing the gates, explaining what the show is to first time guests and drumming up interest in those guests just walking past has greatly helped our audience experience. Even suggesting wear to sit for those either wanting to get closer to the birds or those who might be a little timid around birds but still want to see the show help customize each guest experience and help us connect with audiences. All this wouldn’t be possible without their continued support through the heat and day to day. And we recognize closing those gates does sometimes anger the passerby who misses the start and being on those front lines can be difficult. Knowing the show well enough to make the call when to let some folks in and direct them to sit quickly is very valuable.”
–Eddie Annal
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“The volunteers have been a great resource for managing guest interpretation at Gorilla World. Whether it is celebrating World Gorilla Day, supporting animals that are new to the zoo, or keeping an eye on guest behavior to support animal needs, the volunteer team does it all! Our team is especially grateful for this support for Ndume, who has come such a long way over the past several years. His social and welfare adjustment has been a full Zoo effort, and the volunteer team has really contributed to that!! Thank you for all the time spent in the area, supporting our Zoo missions to provide optimal care and educate people about wild populations of gorillas.” -Victoria McGee