Volunteer Updates and Opportunities
Guess Fritz’s 1st Birthday Weight!
Hi Volunteers! Our Fantastic Fritz will be turning 1 on August 3rd, and we have a fun way to celebrate. The Africa Keepers are holding a contest for Staff to try to guess Fritz’s weight on his first birthday and we wanted to let the Volunteers and ZooTeens in on the action!
We’re inviting all ALL Volunteer and ZooTeens to guess how much they think the big boy will weigh on his big day. To enter your guess, please complete the form below by 31st.
- The closest guess will win an after hours tour of Africa with 4 Guests on August 7th from 6:30-8:30pm! (There will be one Adult Volunteer Winner and one ZooTeen Winner).
- The second closest guess will win a Hippo Prize Package.
*Only one submission per individual. If there are multiple guesses for the winning weight, a winner will be chosen at random from those individuals.
***********
Parking Update
Thank you to Public Safety for ordering new Parking Cones Labeled with “Reserved” for the Volunteer spaces in the Dury Lot!
Erkenbrecher Lot arms will go down Saturday
Now that all equipment has been fully installed and tested, the gate arms at the new Erkenbrecher Lot (the one across from Education) will be put down and into service this Saturday morning, 7/22. After this time, anyone who parks there will need to badge out of the lot with their prox card or pay $10 for parking.
As a visitor lot, employees are only to park there in special cases, such as when Dury Lot is completely full. Otherwise, we ask that any and all employees/volunteers refrain from using this lot unless they have been given special permission to do so.
Zoo Updates
Congrats on a successful youth Green Career Fair!
A big shoutout to the Horticulture team for another successful Green Career Fair for the city’s twelve Groundwork Green Teams and Groundwork Green Corps members. At today’s event, we connected about 70 young people directly with industry leaders and local green organizations with education and job opportunities in horticulture, landscaping, and arboriculture. The future is bright for these young folks, the people and wildlife in their communities, and the green industry thanks to the many people and organizations working to connect youth with meaningful opportunities!
This is the second summer we have hosted our own Zoo-based Groundwork Green Team through our partnership with Groundwork Ohio River Valley, whose mission is “to bring about the sustained regeneration, improvement, and management of the physical environment by developing community-based partnerships that empower people, businesses, and organizations to promote environmental, economic, and social well-being.” (A side shoutout to Madtree Brewery for sponsoring our Green Team!)
If you would like to learn more about Groundwork ORV or know some young folks interested in joining their team, please visit their website or contact me.
Some nice quotes from the day:
“Interacting with our future! It was exciting learning about student passions and how they relate to education” – Employer
“I didn’t get to finish talking to all the employers because there were so many great conversations happening” – Green Team Employee
“ I really want to stay working in this industry because we need more people to care for the environment. I wonder if I can intern with the Zoo someday?” – Green Team Employee
“I really enjoyed getting a plant from Natorp, I wish I could ask more questions, I just get a bit shy” – Green Team Employee
“Since I am aging out of the Green Team, are there any possibilities for me to continue working with Groundwork? I enjoy the work that we do, but I know I can do more!” – Green Team Employee
*********
Americorps at the Zoo
**********
Zoo Levy Update
The last hearing before the August 7th Vote happened on July 13th! For more information on the Levy, click on the link below:
Click Here for the Zoo Levy Article
***********
Zoo Blog
Dr. Davis strengthens formal science with local perspectives to achieve conservation success! Learn more about his work on conservation issues in the Bahamas. Listen here: https://cincinnatizoo.podbean.com/e/dr-leno-davis-bahamas-national-trust/…
***********
Book Signing
Richard Cowdry will be at the Zoo for a book signing on Fritz’s Bday – Aug. 3. The new Book comes out Aug. 1 and debuts Fritz!
**********
ZooCampers Need Clothes Donations
Message From the Education Team:
“Hello Volunteers,
Summer camp is in full swing with lots of animal encounters and fun! With all of the excitement going on we are running low on kids clothing to use during summer camp’s infamous code yellows and browns. Specifically, we are looking for little girl underpants and shorts that are sizes 4-5 as well as shorts that are sizes 6-7. We have plenty of little boy underpants, but have very few shorts that are sizes 4-5, 6-7, or even 8-9 (S-M). We have quite a few pairs of leggings/jeans/sweatpants, but on a hot summer days if we had more shorts, that would be great! A few additional short sleeved shirts for any gender would be helpful as well.
So what is this message coming to you for? If you have friends or family with little ones in your life and they are growing out of the sizes that we need, please ask them if they want to donate their gently used clothing items to the Zoo!
Thank you!”
All Donations can be dropped off at the Reception Desk at the Education Building.
Plant & Animal Updates
Shout Out for Horticulture and CREW
You may have read the news yesterday that our botanical garden has received the highest level of accreditation given by ArbNet. I would like to recognize our horticulture and CREW teams for collaborating on the very involved application for accreditation. ArbNet considers many factors, and the work that CREW does to propagate and cryopreserve trees and plants really made a difference in us getting a Level IV accreditation.
This video, narrated by Steve Foltz, provides more information about why this is such a big deal. Enjoy!
**********
Saying Goodbye to Hudo
Below is a Message written by Winton Ray, Curator of Ectotherms
“Goodbye Good Boy,
It was with heavy hearts this morning that we said goodbye to Hudo, our 20-year-old Komodo Dragon. Over the last week, his health had been compromised by an irreversible, age-related spinal issue.
Hudo hatched at the Denver Zoo in January 2003. He moved to the Indianapolis Zoo in March 2009 before coming to the CZBG six months later. In his nearly 14 years here, he became a favorite of our guests and our staff. Unlike many Dragons that dull with age Hudo remained beautifully colored. Careful monitoring of his diet kept him lean and youthful looking, even as he aged.
Far from the fearsome beasts of legend, Hudo’s temperament was more akin to that of a Golden Retriever, and it was common for his keepers to describe him similarly. “He’s a good boy” they’d often say. Hudo’s temperament endeared him to his keepers, creating the kind of bonds usually existing between mammals and their keepers. Those bonds, and Hudo’s docile temperament, allowed for a physical proximity people rarely experience with large, predatory animals. Many CZBG staff members had the thrilling experience of “meeting” Hudo.
Hudo was not the first Komodo Dragon to live at the CZBG, and he will not be the last, but he might be the best. The best boy. “
**********
What’s Blooming
Everywhere you look there is Beauty in the Gardens! Have you taken a look around?
***********
MedVet and Zoo Partnership
***********
New Gorilla Bachelor Troop
***********
Juno Update
**********
Fritz Update
***********
Kip Update
**********
Beaudan Update
**********
Imani’s Birthday – July 17th
**********
Moe’s Birthday – July 15th
***********
Ajani Jo Update
***********
Toucan Update
Conservation Corner
What is Community Supported Agriculture?
What is a CSA?
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a crop sharing service that connects consumers to local farmers. Consumers usually “subscribe” to the harvest of a farmer’s crop, pay upfront, and receive a scheduled allotment of produce during the season.
Why join a CSA?
- Support local farmers/farms of YOUR choice instead of ‘Big Agriculture’
- Receive high quality, fresh, and LOCALLY grown produce
- This requires less emissions from transporting/storing produce across long distances
- Know where your food comes from
- CSAs encourage seasonal eating
- Seasonal produce requires less fertilizers, watering, pesticides, etc.
- Produce subscriptions encourage plant-based habits
- CSAs offer exposure to unique foods and encourage creative cooking
How to get involved:
- Choose a CSA offering farm local to you
- Submit application or join waitlist
- Some farms offer fewer shares, requiring a waitlist for the following season
- Make payment
- Many farms require upfront payment for the season, but others offer payment plans
- Receive produce
- Farms offers various ways to receive your weekly share between pickup, delivery, etc.
- Green Acres operates like a market with a preloaded gift card for weekly shopping
Click Here to Find a CSA near You
***********
Wildlife Ranger Challenge
Just For Fun
World Jump Day – 7/20
***********
Hippo Spa Day
**********
National Zoo Keeper Week
**********
World Snake Day – July 16th
***********
Manatee Fun Fact
**********
Rockdale Update
***********
USMNT Visit to Cincinnati
**********
Skink Fun Fact
***********
Gorilla Enrichment
***********
Bonobo
Bonobos were described as a subspecies of chimpanzee until 1933 when they were classified as a separate species. Bonobos are especially known for their ability to get along: unlike humans or chimpanzees, they have never been observed killing one of their own kind.
************
Fiona & Fritz
Additional Updates
CREW Cats up for Adoption
If you are interested in Adopting one of our CREW Cats, click on the link below to learn more and apply!