School is back in session, fall is upon us, and teachers are back for another year of inspiring children. Here at the Zoo, I am preparing for two of my favorite things—fall field trips and Teacher Appreciation Day.
The Zoo is a beautiful place to visit in the fall. The cooler weather means that many of the animals are more active. We have many deciduous trees on grounds that turn amazing colors and provide a stunning backdrop for observing the animals. I especially enjoy an afternoon stroll through the Zoo where I can hear the male African lion, Chester, defend his territory, successfully as always.We have several schools that always plan their field trips to the Zoo for the fall. I love that we get to help teachers kick off their students’ learning in such a unique way. Many of these schools enhance their visit to the Zoo by booking an Expedition or Animal Presentation. Both programs are taught by Zoo staff and meet Next Gen and New York State science learning standards. We use an inquiry-based approach during these programs, so the students are actively participating in learning about animals and conservation.On Monday, October 8th (Columbus Day) we will host our second-annual Teacher Appreciation Day. This is a special event where we showcase all the ways that teachers can use the Zoo as an outdoor classroom. Teachers receive free admission to the Zoo and a poster that highlights our formal education programs. They will have an opportunity to meet Zoo educators and see what it would be like for their students to experience the Zoo in a new way.
Fall is an exciting time of year full of new beginnings for teachers, students, and Seneca Park Zoo. Enjoy new experiences and spark your students’ curiosity by planning a trip to the Zoo.
– Gretchen Spencer, School and Group Programs CoordinatorExplore Education Programs
Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo and Seneca Park Zoo officials announced Wednesday the return of female polar bear Anoki to Seneca Park Zoo. Anoki was born at the Zoo to parents Aurora and Yukon in 1996.
Anoki left Seneca Park Zoo in 1998 to go to Albuquerque Biological Park. In 2008, she moved to the Maryland Zoo where she quickly became a guest favorite. Seneca Park Zoo has been home to polar bears for over 55 years. The Zoo has been without a polar bear since April, when Aurora died of natural age-related causes. The return of Anoki was determined through discussions with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP), which manages populations of animals in conservation care.
Today, Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo and Zoo officials cut the ribbon on the new Animals of the Savanna expansion. The five-acre area features habitats for two female Masai giraffes, Iggy and Kipenzi, two plains zebra, two ostriches, and the Zoo’s resident white rhino, Bill. The Animals of the Savanna building includes indoor habitats for those species as well as homes for many smaller species native to the African savanna, like naked mole rats.
The expansion also includes a Zoo tram that will take guests from the front of the Zoo to the new area beyond the elephant barn, and the Savanna Outpost, a brand-new concessions and retail area.
One of the things I’ve learned in my four years at the Zoo Society is that there are many people, nonprofits, and companies that share our passion for protecting the environment and living more sustainably. And they are taking actions in their own lives and in their business practices to ensure our region has a greener tomorrow. Rochester has always been a hub of innovation, and this movement into the ecological age has brought innovations in every type of business, as well as the inception of entirely new organizations. But – so far – no one was recognizing these successes and sharing these stories. We created the Environmental Innovation Awards to honor the efforts of innovative leaders in our region, and, in so doing, inspire us all. But we didn’t want to just host an awards event: we wanted to bring something new to our region, so we invited internationally renowned green design expert Bill Browning to join us. He’ll speak with all of our guests at our awards breakfast about how (and why) we can bring nature into the workplace, and then he’ll be featured in a symposium, “Innovation Inspired by Nature.”
Bill’s expertise in green design and sustainability has been sought by numerous governmental agencies and major corporations including Google, Walmart and Disney. Bill and I recently were featured on WXXI’s Connections program, and you’ll find a link to the podcast here. Take a listen, and you’ll get a taste of how powerful having Bill Browning with us can be. Special thanks to our lead sponsor CPL, whose support for this event is making possible Bill’s participation. If you know of a person or company that is deserving of recognition for their innovative environmental practices, please consider nominating them and helping us share as many great stories as possible. Awards will be given in five categories: Large Business, Small Business, Nonprofit/Civic, Individual, and Youth. Self-nominations are welcome. Click the button below to find out more. But don’t wait – nominations are due September 10 at noon.
And I hope you’ll join us in celebrating environmental innovation and leadership in our region on October 25. Together, we can all help ensure a greener tomorrow for our region.
– Pamela Reed Sanchez, President and CEO, Seneca Park Zoo SocietyNominate an Environmental Innovator
