Month: November 2017

November 16, 2017

There is a special look that a child gets when they experience something for the first time. Their eyes get wide, eyebrows flick up in surprise. Some get quiet, others let out a shout. It is a unique privilege to introduce students to wildlife and nature, and I feel lucky that this is part of my job with the Seneca Park Zoo Society.

As the School and Group Programs Coordinator, I develop and lead students on a wide variety of expeditions throughout the Zoo and Seneca Park. Expeditions are engaging, interactive lessons that use the Zoo as an outdoor classroom. We have expeditions designed for students in grades K-2, 3-5, and 6-8.

Our expeditions all have a conservation message, whether we are inspiring our youngest learners to conserve water or encouraging older students to be stewards of biodiversity. I work with local teachers to make sure each expedition is tailored to meet the needs of their group. All expeditions are aligned to meet NextGen and New York State Science Standards. We use an inquiry-based approach to learning where students are experiencing science through hands-on activities.One of my favorite expeditions to lead is A Long Walk to Water. This program is for middle school students and is based on the book with the same name. As part of the expedition, students take turns caring a 2.5-gallon jug of water as we walk to Trout Lake in Seneca Park. One of the characters in the book makes daily treks to gather water for her family, so hopefully this helps students realize what a luxury it is to have water available on tap.When we arrive at the pond the students conduct water quality tests. They are so excited to use the scientific equipment, whether it is conducting a pH test or using a net to sample macroinvertebrates. The students take such pride in their results, and it is fun to watch them compete to see who can find the most macroinvertebrates.

At the conclusion of each expedition, I always reiterate our conservation message. I hope that the students have made a personal connection to the animals at the Zoo and care about the fate of those species in their natural range. This quote by Jane Goodall sums up the purpose of expeditions at Seneca Park Zoo: “Only if we understand, can we care. Only if we care, we will help. Only if we help, we shall be saved.”– Gretchen Spencer, School and Group Programs Coordinator

Interested in scheduling an Expedition for your next field trip?

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November 13, 2017

Check out a summary of news coverage of the Zoo two new female sea lions:D&C: 2 young sea lions debut at Seneca Park Zoo

Spectrum: New sea lions introduced at Seneca Park Zoo

WHAM: Two new sea lions come to Seneca Park Zoo

WHEC: Seneca Park Zoo welcomes new sea lions

WROC: Two sea lion pups welcomed to Seneca Park Zoo

WXXI: Seneca Park Zoo welcomes 2 new sea lions

November 7, 2017

It’s a special day at Seneca Park Zoo as one of the Zoo’s four African elephants, Genny C, is 40 years old. Genny C arrived with Lilac in 1979 and has been a favorite among Zoo guests and staff for over three decades. Her beauty and wonderful personality have made it hard not to fall in love with her.

Genny C loves her time with her keepers, especially bath time. Genny C knows over 70 different behaviors, which help keepers and veterinary staff monitor her health. Her favorite reward is a bagel! Genny C and Lilac have spent most of their lives with one another, so the duo are seen together quite often. Genny C always has something to say. If you listen closely, you will likely hear her making some sort of noise.Since Genny C enjoys spending time with her keepers, she has been involved in many research projects that have helped researchers learn more about elephants in conservation care and in their natural range. Some of these include ground breaking work understanding infra-sound (below human hearing) communication among elephants and a multi-institutional study of elephant reproductive cycles. Genny C’s trust in her keepers has also allowed the Zoo to bring in other elephant professionals and zoo veterinarians to learn from her.

Genny C is in good health and weighs in at a healthy 8,214 lbs.! We fully expect her to be with us for many more years.During your next trip to the Zoo, be sure to visit the elephant habitat and spend some time with Genny C She may just inspire you to take action for African elephants. If you want to support efforts that help save this species from extinction, attend a ZooBrew (or ZooBrrrew in the winter). A portion of every ticket goes to International Elephant Foundation. It is estimated that 96 elephants are poached each day, but with your help, we can continue making strides towards decreasing that number.– Lindsay Brinda, Elephant Manager