Wildlife Zooniversity: This School Is Wild

Hosted by Dickerson Park Zoo

This post was paid for and produced by Dickerson Park Zoo. The Daily Citizen newsroom was not involved in the creation of this content.

At Dickerson Park Zoo, conservation education is evolving.

More than just a name change

“This is more than just changing the name and logo of the education department,” said zoo spokesman Joey Powell. “It’s about introducing a new way of teaching and learning, one that is aligned with research-based instructional strategies.”

Change doesn’t happen overnight. There are elephant-sized plans and dreams for Wildlife Zooniversity, the conservation arm made possible by Friends of the Zoo.

“The vision for Wildlife Zooniversity is for students to enter a completely new environment,” said Rhonda Wise, director of Conservation Education. “Ultimately, we’ve redesigned classrooms and learning spaces with flexible seating options and a creative environment that allows students to take ownership of their learning.”

The Wildlife Zooniversity program also includes classes and experiences for adults. Starting this fall, there will also be classes for the whole family, so everyone can explore and learn together.

Zoo educators provide an environment that supports students in learning in a variety of ways. Every student is different and has different interests, and everyone learns differently. At Wildlife Zooniversity, educators seek to work with parents to support their child’s learning and development.

As conservation educators at a zoo, instructors want students to connect with the wildlife they are learning about and instill the need for conservation. However, looking at how and why people actually learn, classes and camps should take students further in their learning. The goal is to help students learn how to learn and to give students the tools they need to make informed decisions about the information around them and to model how to use those tools appropriately.

Teaching children how to understand the world around them and allowing students to make their own connections is the new educational approach. Through multiple highly engaging, hands-on activities, students learn through an inquiry-based approach. These are current, high-yield, research-based instructional strategies. As informal educators, zoo educators have the flexibility—actually a responsibility—to meet students where they are in their learning and give them the opportunity to explore their interests and provide opportunities for them to succeed in their areas of interest.

As new lesson plans, camps, and classes are developed, changes are also being made in the classrooms.

Reinventing everything is the plan

“We’re reimagining everything,” Powell said. “From the lobby to the classrooms, we want the entire space to really connect to the natural world. Instead of just sitting on a chair at a desk, students can sit on a tree trunk or a stool that looks like a mushroom.”

Dickerson Park Zoo offers fantastic educational opportunities, from discovering the work of a veterinarian to experiencing the unusual sights, sounds and smells around the zoo.

In August, adults 21 and over can participate in a special after-hours Sangria Safari.

Wildlife Zooniversity classes are offered year-round. For more information or to register for a class, visit dickersonparkzoo.org.

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