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National Volunteer Appreciation Week
It’s time for us to Celebrate you and Kick off the season! During Volunteer Appreciation Week we will be hosting a few exciting events and we want to make sure that you Save the Date! We will be hosting Volunteer Open Houses and Volunteer Social Hours twice during that week and you are invited! The Dates for the Volunteer Social Hours can be found below:
Social Hour Dates/Times:
Sunday, April 16th 1:00pm-3:00pm – Treetops
Thursday, April 20th 2:00pm-4:00pm – Frisch’s Theater
Please feel free to come and visit with other Volunteers! This will be a great opportunity to meet some of our new faces and enjoy some light refreshments!
In the 2 Hours Before each Social Hour Events, we will host an Open House around the Zoo. There will be opportunities, chats and tours exclusively for Volunteers all around the Zoo! As time gets closer, I will post a schedule with all the events and opportunities available during the Open House! Keep an eye on the Update for more information!
Please fill out the Click on the Link Below to RSVP for these events!
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Continuing Inspiration Chat – 3/23 1:00pm
Our First Continuing Inspiration Chat is scheduled for Next Thursday, 3/23 at 1:00pm and we hope that you can tune in! We will be featuring Ryan Dumas, Head Reptile Keeper! Ryan will be joining us to talk about what is new in the Reptile department, share some favorite animal stories and answer your burning questions! Make sure you add this information to your calendar!
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81957979772?pwd=c0o0dWMyYUZQRTRQQVg2MjAzV09PUT09
- Passcode: 269558
- Or Telephone: 1 646 931 3860
- Webinar ID: 819 5797 9772
- Passcode: 269558
Zoo Updates
Rockdale Garden Featured in AZA Connect
Click Here to Read the Article
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Leadership Update: Habitat Ambassador Shout Out!
The Volunteer Habitat Ambassador Team received a Shout Out on “The Vine” from Dave Jenike! These Ambassadors have been hard at work in Training in the Off-Season and the whole Zoo is excited to welcome them back on April 1st! Check out what he had to say below:
This Spring, Habitat Ambassadors will be stationed at four locations around the Zoo: Manatee, Elephant, Gorilla, and Africa. Last week I had the opportunity to learn more about the program and wanted to congratulate Brittany on her effort and encourage each of you to take a moment to greet our habitat ambassadors.
Why is this important?
These talented volunteers will be leading conversations with our visitors that connect conservation messaging to our visitor experience. Specifically, the goal is to encourage a sense of wonder about wildlife and facilitate conversations for a brighter future for wildlife and people.
They will help:
- make visitors feel welcomed and appreciated
- create positive visitor experiences
- create pathways for understanding co-existence including providing hopeful stories and information from our global partners
David Jenike, VP / Chief Operating Officer
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Combatting Climate Change _ Our Sustainability Plan Featured in AZA Connect
Click Here to Read the Article
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Get an inside look into what it’s like to be a vet at the Cincinnati Zoo with Dr. Jess in this new episode!
Plant & Animal Updates
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Bowyer Update
The Bowyer plant mapping volunteers held their first ephemeral walk of the season on March 6. Some cool early pictures – still searching for skunk cabbage in the Bowyer woodlands!
Cheetah Breeding Centers Coalition
The Cincinnati Zoo is one of 10 facilities that are part of the Cheetah Breeding Centers Coalition. These AZA breeding centers, all members of the Cheetah Species Survival Plan (SSP), work together to maintain and grow a genetically diverse population of this endangered feline species in North America. We currently have 3 cubs (two boys and one girl). They will stay at the farm (which is not open to the public) with their mom for a couple years until they become subadults ready to tackle their own journeys in life. In the meantime, we will work with the SSP to figure out what will be best for each of them.
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Birthdays
March 12th – Ori’s Birthday
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March 8th – Cathryn, Redd & Willow’s Birthday
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3/16 – Bo’s Birthday
Bolingo, Bo for short, celebrated his 8th Birthday this year
Just For Fun
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March 14th – Learn About Butterflies Day
Butterflies matter not only for their importance as pollinators but can also impact our whole environment. Their welfare has been increasingly compromised by the widespread use of pesticides and habitat loss worldwide.
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Gibbons
Gibbons are known for their vocal abilities. Male and female pairs duet to strengthen their bond and defend their territory. The largest of all gibbons, the siamang is also the loudest as its musical calls can be heard through dense rainforest foliage up to two miles away. The siamang boasts a throat sac that inflates to nearly the size of its head to amplify its call.
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Conservation Corner
Top FOL Donations for Round Up for Wildlife
The Round Up for Wildlife program allows all of our staff be champions for wildlife conservation! Last fall we started the program to create opportunities for staff to be more involved with conservation efforts, as well as raise money for our global partners doing important work in the field.
During the Festival of Lights season, the Visitor Experience and SSA teams had a friendly competition in who could ask the most visitors to Round Up for Wildlife. At the ticketing windows, restaurants, and gift shop, the teams were super successful, and we’re excited to share the results with you!
Make sure to celebrate and congratulate these rockstar teams for kicking off the Round Up for Wildlife program with such success.
VE Team Results: During FOL 2022 the Visitor Experience Team convinced 2,649 visitors to Round Up For Wildlife and raised $6,522.53
SSA Team Results: During FOL 2022 the Visitor Experience Team convinced 5,872 visitors to Round Up For Wildlife and raised $3,132.00
Check out this quick video celebrating the top donation-raisers from the teams during FOL:
Click Here to watch the Round Up for Wildlife FOL Winners Video
Staff Info
Meet the CZBG Americorps Team
Imagine waking up each day, knowing that you have the power to make a positive difference in someone’s life while being surrounded by breathtaking wildlife and lush greenery at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Would you seize that opportunity?
Our AmeriCorps service members do just that, as they explore the Zoo world through the lens of service to our community. AmeriCorps is a national service program that provides individuals with opportunities to give back through service in various organizations across the country.
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden currently hosts 16 AmeriCorps Members serving in the Education, Conservation Impact, Animal Excellence, Wild Encounters, CREW, and Horticulture Departments. Through conservation, education, research, guest interactions, and community engagement, our AmeriCorps members play a vital role in advancing the Zoo’s mission.
March 12th-18th, we celebrated AmeriCorps members not only here at our Zoo but around the country. Their hard work and dedication make a meaningful impact on our community and the environment.
