Volunteer Opportunities & Updates
New for 2025: Natural History Lecture Series for Volunteers
We’re thrilled to share that one of our dedicated volunteers has generously offered to host a Natural History Lecture Series for our volunteer community!
This engaging series will explore fundamental natural history topics, including fascinating insights into zoo animals and wildlife native to the Cincinnati area. Each month, we’ll dive into a unique theme, such as:
- The distinctive characteristics of related species,
- Animal adaptations to various habitats,
- Animal behavior,
- And plant ecology.
Each two-hour session will feature an illustrated lecture, followed by a hands-on observation experience right here on zoo grounds (most months). No prior knowledge is needed—just your curiosity and enthusiasm!
All lectures in the series will be presented by Carol Trosset:
Carol Trosset grew up in Cincinnati and spent the early 1970s studying natural history as a member of the Zoo’s legendary Junior Zoologists’ Club (along with the late Doug Feist). Throughout her career in cultural anthropology and education research, she continued to pursue her interest in nature through field trips, travel, coursework, and volunteer work. As an educator, she has worked as a college professor and volunteered as a Minnesota Master Naturalist instructor. Carol has returned to Cincinnati in retirement and is the author of The Woods: The Natural History of an Acre in Southwestern Ohio (2023). She manages the Trosset Wildflower Sanctuary at Gorman Heritage Farm and volunteers for the Cincinnati Zoo and for Great Parks.
Schedule and Topics:
- Tuesday January 14, 2025 – Cat-like Carnivores
- The suborder Feliformia includes not just big and small cats but also hyenas, meerkats, and other species. We’ll explore the traits that unify and distinguish these groups, followed by visits to Night Hunters and Cat Canyon to observe about a dozen species on exhibit.
- Tuesday February 11, 2025 – Vernal Pools
- Vernal pools are temporary wetlands found in deciduous woodlands, including those in Cincinnati. These habitats support a range of invertebrates and provide breeding grounds for salamanders and other amphibians. We’ll also learn about the Zoo’s conservation efforts at Bowyer Farm.
- Thursday March 13, 2025 – Dog-like Carnivores
- The suborder Caniformia includes wolves, foxes, weasels, bears, and more. We’ll discuss their defining characteristics, then visit several zoo habitats to observe seven species on display.
- Thursday April 10, 2025 – Woodland Wildflowers
- Cincinnati’s woodlands are home to many species of wildflowers, which bloom in the early spring before the trees leaf out. We will examine the different types of spring wildflowers, their ecology, and their blooming sequence.
- Tuesday May 13, 2025 – Introduction to Birdwatching
- Early May brings many migratory birds to Cincinnati. We’ll cover key features for identifying bird species, followed by birdwatching on zoo grounds. Bring binoculars if you can; a limited number will be available to borrow.
- Friday June 13, 2025 – Primates
- Primates are categorized into prosimians, Old World monkeys, New World monkeys, and apes—all represented at the zoo. We’ll discuss their similarities and differences, then observe members of each group on exhibit.
Sign up for all lectures in Better Impact! Please RSVP by registering in the system. If you can’t attend, we’ll aim to record and share the lecture portion with all volunteers. We hope to see you there!
Zoo Updates
Safeguarding Giants Article
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Festival of Lights
Have you been to the Festival of Lights yet this year? Have you found all the the items on the checklist.
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ZooTales Podcast
Join us for a special episode of Cincinnati Zoo Tales as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Zoo Academy, a groundbreaking program combining high school education with hands-on animal care experience. Listen Now: https://cincinnatizoo.podbean.com/e/celebrating-50-years-of-zoo-academy-at-the-cincinnati-zoo/
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The Giving Tree:
Are you looking for a way to give to the Zoo this season? CREW has officially shared information about the annual tradition of The Giving Tree:
Click here for the active link to Amazon.
Plant & Animal Updates
Rico Enjoyed his own Thanksgiving Dinner
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The Cat Ambassador Team has grown by 2 tiny cheetahs
Click the article below to read more:
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Maple Update
Maple is growing up fast! She’s almost doubled in weight in just 3 weeks!
Maple is laid back, especially compared to big sister Maizy! Maple spends her days eating and napping but every now and then she’ll get the zoomies! Here you see Maple and Maizy with mom, Sabi, in the background!
Maple is spending time behind the scenes with all the other 3 females and they are getting along great! Here she is with grandma, Fjorda!
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Opossum Teeth
With 50 teeth, the opossum has the most teeth of any mammal in North America! They open their mouths wide to scare predators away.
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Big Yawns!!
DYK: According to BBC Wildlife, the koala holds the accolade for ‘the animal that sleeps the most’. This Australian icon sleeps for 20-22 hours each day! Male lions sleep an average of 20 hours per day!
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November 23rd – Happy Birthday Lazzie!
Wish Lazzie a Happy 24th Birthday today! She is the oldest little blue penguin in the world!
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Sanjay’s new favorite toy!
Over 100,000 muscles of the face, nose, and upper lip combine to form the elephant’s trunk.
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Red Panda
Made for a life in the trees, the red panda travels through the canopy with ease. Not only is the panda a great climber, it is also an amazing jumper, clearing distances up to five feet. Hair on the bottom of its feet keeps the panda from slipping on branches.
A Red panda’s diet is 98% bamboo. Red pandas are classified as carnivores because they’re descended from the same ancestors as other carnivores but their diet consists mainly of bamboo.
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Daisy
Have you been to Jungle Trails to see Daisy yet?
Conservation Corner
Barrows Conservation Lecture Series – Speakers have been announced!
The Barrows Conservation Lecture Series is one of my favorite events every year! This year’s lineup is top notch, just like it is every year! Tickets will go on sale in January!
To read more about each of the speakers, and learn more about their incredible work, click on the link below.
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Join the Cincinnati Zoo in Protecting the Pride!
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is proud to join the AZA SAFE Africa Lion initiative and Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King “Protect the Pride” campaign. Together, we aim to raise awareness, foster appreciation, and generate support to protect lions and other African species. Over the next several months, you’ll see exciting engagement opportunities around this important initiative.
Did You Know?
Since Disney’s The Lion King debuted 30 years ago, Africa has lost half of its lions. But thanks to campaigns like this, the Lion Recovery Fund (LRF) has supported over 300 projects across 25 African countries, working to double lion populations by 2050.
***Make sure to check out the link below to see the sizzle video featuring breathtaking photos of individuals from our conservation partners at SORALO. (These images were captured during a time when a Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden team, including me, was collaborating with SORALO on the ground in Kenya)***
MUFASA: The Lion King – Protect The Pride Video
Stay tuned for more information, and thank you for your commitment to protecting wildlife and wild places!
In Case You Missed It:
Looking for a way to give back to our Zoo community this holiday season?
🎁 It’s Time for the Annual Lion’s Share Toy Drive! 🎄
The holiday season is here, and we’re thrilled to kick off the Lion’s Share Toy Drive—a heartfelt collaboration between Zoo and SSA staff to spread holiday cheer to our Avondale neighbors! This year, we’re supporting the students of Rockdale Academy and South Avondale Elementary School, and we’d love for you to join us.
Here are two ways you can make a difference:
1️⃣ Make a Donation
Want to contribute but don’t have time to shop? Let us handle it for you!
- Cash donations: can be given directly to a retail manager/supervisor.
- Venmo: Send your donation to @Jada-Rushing or @Stephanie-Seibert16 and include “Lion’s Share” in the notes.
- Deadline: Please donate by Wednesday, Dec. 11th, so we have enough time to purchase gifts.
2️⃣ Donate a Gift
Prefer to pick out a special gift? Drop off an unwrapped present at this location:
- Zoo’s Gift Shop
- If you’re unable to drop off your contribution at the Gift Shop and need to make a quick drive-by delivery, please email me at [email protected]. I’ll do my best to coordinate a convenient drop-off time at the Education Building.
Need inspiration? Check out our suggested toy list below for ideas. Remember, Rockdale and South Avondale serve students from Pre-K through 6th grade, so gender-neutral toys are always a great choice!
Thank you for helping us make the holidays brighter for the students of Rockdale and South Avondale. Let’s work together to make this year’s Lion’s Share Toy Drive the best one yet!
If the QR code is not working for you, you can find the Gift Guide below:
