The EDUCATION PROGRAM
at the SALISBURY ZOO

The Salisbury Zoo Education Department exists to promote an understanding and appreciation of wildlife, and to encourage the protection of animal populations, the preservation of habitats, ecological balance and diversity.

WILD Party
Schedule a party at the Zoo -- a unique way to celebrate a birthday or other special occasion!

ZooSNooZ
Which animals are up all night? Explore the Zoo in the dark and then spend the night! Ideal for scouts or other youth groups.

Storytime
4 & 5 year old children are invited to join Wildlife Interpreters for an animal story and related craft.

School Programs & Teacher Training
Bring your curricula to life with a Wildlife Encounter or a visit to our ZooDiscovery Stations. A wide variety of programs are available to meet the needs of students and teachers. We can also bring the Zoo-2-U! Programs are aligned with state and national science standards. To receive more information about programs please e-mail the Education Department or phone us at (410) 546-3440 ext. 5.

Docent News

Zoo to Host Spring Volunteer Training
The Salisbury Zoo Education Department will host a volunteer training course in March 2009. Training will be held every Wednesday in March and the first Wednesday of April from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Volunteers must attend the training course in order to be able to volunteer at the Zoo. Volunteers must submit an application to the Education Department before March 1, 2009. Applications are available on-line, at the zoo, or by calling 410.546.3440. People with an interest in wild animals and nature, a willingness to learn, and some time on their hands should consider becoming a volunteer at the Salisbury Zoo!

What do Zoo Volunteers do?
Education: Volunteers help with education programs such as guided tours, Discovery Stations, and school programs. Volunteers serve as on-site experts for our guests. They share their knowledge of animals, nature, and conservation with visitors to encourage an appreciation of wildlife and inspire conservation of our natural world.
Special Events: Zoo volunteers also help out with special events such as Night of the Living Zoo and Earth Day. Volunteers participate in event preparation, educational activities, games, and fun.
Education Program Animals: Zoo volunteers have the opportunity to help with the care and handling of the Education Program Animal Collection. These animals are used in education programs at the zoo, in schools, and at community events. Volunteers must complete a pre-requisite number of hours and attend additional training to be involved.

What is required of Zoo Volunteers?

• No experience necessary—we will teach you everything you need to know
• Must be at least 14 years of age
• Volunteers must complete 15 hours of classroom training and 15 hours of on-the-job training
• There is a $25.00 training fee to offset the cost of training materials
• Volunteers are required to serve a minimum of 50 hours each year

Questions?
Contact the Zoo Education Department at 410.546.3440 or salisburyzooed@gmail.com.

ZooCamp! - Starts June, 2009
All sessions of ZooCamp teach an appreciation for and understanding of animals and nature through live animal interactions, animal
observations, environmental games, arts & crafts, and many other exciting activities. ZooCamp sessions emphasize the importance of conservation and environmental stewardship. Each session focuses on a different aspect of animal life. Two one-week sessions are offered for children entering grades K-5. One two-week session is offered for children entering grades 6-8. All sessions of ZooCamp are aligned with Maryland Voluntary State Curriculum Standards for Science.

Entering Grades K-1
Blue Birds & Spotted Snakes (A-K1)
Some animals have bright colors while others have dull colors. Some have spots and some have stripes. Explore the Zoo to see animals with different colors and patterns and learn how colors and patterns help animals in the wild.

June 22-26; 9 am - 12 pm
FOSZ member $70; nonmember $85

Round and Small or Thin and Tall (B-K1)
Why are bears big and screech owls small? Why are snakes long and thin while bison are big and round? Go on a Zoo adventure looking for animals with different shapes and sizes. Encounter animals up-close to learn how sizes and shapes help animals survive.

August 24-28; 9 am - 12 pm
FOSZ member $70; nonmember $85

Entering Grades 2-3
Home is Where the Habitat Is (A-23)
Why do macaws live in the rainforest and bison live in grasslands? Different animals live in different habitats throughout the world. Discover animals in the Zoo that live in land and water habitats and learn how animals interact within those habitats.

June 29-July 3; 9 am - 2 pm
FOSZ member $120; nonmember $130

WOW! The Wonders of Water (B-23)
There are many animals that live in water, including otters, fish, beavers, and insects. Explore the Zoo to see animals that live in water. Learn what things affect these animals and what you can do to help protect them.

August 17-21; 9 am - 2 pm
FOSZ member $120; nonmember $130

Entering Grades 4-5
Wild Places with Wild Faces (A-45)
Why do jaguars eat fish instead of macaws? How do different wetland animals survive in their ecosystem? Search the Zoo to encounter animals that live in different ecosystems and investigate how animals rely on, interact with, and adapt to their ecosystems.

July 20-24; 9 am - 2 pm
FOSZ member $120; nonmember $130

Animal Allies (B-45)
What animals are endangered? Why are they endangered? What can you do to help? Discover endangered species in the Zoo and determine things you can do to help save them.

August 10-14; 9 am - 2 pm
FOSZ member $120; nonmember $130

Entering Grades 6-8
Junior Zookeeper (Jr. ZK)
Who wants to be a zookeeper? Go behind-the-scenes to learn what working in a zoo is all about. Junior Zookeepers care for animals, prepare animal diets, design exhibits, andparticipate in enrichment for Zoo animals.

Please note: Maturity and a willingness to follow directions are a must for Jr. Zookeepers. On Thursday, August 2, Jr. Zookeepers are invited back to the Zoo at 6 pm for our Jr. Zookeeper Overnight. The Jr. Zookeeper camp session will end Friday morning, August 3. Jr. Zookeepers will be picked up promptly at 9 am.

July 27-August 7; 9 am - 2 pm
FOSZ member $240; nonmember $260

Know Before You Go
Your child should arrive no earlier than 10-minutes prior to the start of camp each day. We will meet inside the East Gate entrance (near the golf course). Please wait with your child until ZooCamp staff arrives. Campers should be picked up at the same location at the end of ZooCamp each day. Camp times vary, so please check the schedule. If anyone other than a parent or legal guardian will be picking up your child, please notify ZooCamp staff in writing. A snack and water will be provided each day. Campers staying for 5 hours per day should pack a lunch.

Questions?
Please contact the Salisbury Zoo Education Department at 410.546.3440 or salisburyzooed@gmail.com.

ZooCamp FAQ
What activities do campers do at ZooCamp?
Campers explore the Zoo and observe Education Animals up-close everyday. Campers also play games, make crafts, and participate in enrichment for Zoo animals.

What does my child need to bring to ZooCamp?
Campers should bring a lunch if attending one of the sessions from 9 am - 2 pm. The Zoo will provide campers with a snack and water each day. The Zoo will also provide all of the materials needed for camp.

How should my child dress for ZooCamp?
Exploring is fun, but it can get messy! Please be sure your child dresses appropriately. The Zoo will provide t-shirts for campers to wear during camp. ZooCamp will be held during inclement weather. Campers should dress for the weather and wear close-toed shoes– no flip flops or Crocs!.

How do I know if my child is registered?
Confirmation for camp will be sent by e-mail or phone upon receipt of your registration. Zoo staff will notify you by telephone if the session is already full.

Registration and Payment
Registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.Camp fills up quickly, so register early!

Fill out the ZooCamp 2009 Registration Form (click here to download, Adobe Acrobat Reader required) to register for ZooCamp. Please mail your registration form with payment to the address below or fax the form with a credit card number to 410.860.0919.

Registrations are only complete if payment is included. Your payment (check or credit card) is the only way to reserve a place in ZooCamp. Make checks payable to Salisbury Zoo.

To qualify for the FOSZ discount, you MUST be a member at the FOSZ family-level or above.

Confirmation
A confirmation postcard will be mailed upon receipt of your registration.  Zoo staff will notify you immediately by telephone if the session for which you submitted registration is already full. A Camp reminder will be sent by email prior to the start of the session.

Refunds and Cancellations
Refunds are guaranteed if you cancel before June 1. If you cancel after June 1, a refund (less $10 administrative fee) will be issued ONLY if we fill the space from the waiting list.  Please note: If your child is sent home due to disciplinary problems, no refund will be issued.

Salisbury Zoological Park       
Education Department
P.O. Box 2979
Salisbury, MD 21802-2979

Phone: 410.546.3440
Fax: 410.860.0919
salisburyzooed@gmail.com

Now Available!
Extended Care
Morning & Afternoon Extended Care Hours
Morning Care 8:00 am-9:00 am
Afternoon Care 2:00 am - 5:15 pm
Snack provided

K-1st camps
12:00-5:15 pm

2nd-8th camps
2:00-5:15 pm

Fees
Based per child per week
No partial weeks allowed
Morning Care—$10 a week
Afternoon Care K-1—$55 a week
2nd-8th—$35 a week

STORY TIME
The Education Department wants to give a great big THANK YOU and a huge round of applause to our Docent-led Story Time crew. This dedicated group spends a tremendous amount of time and effort preparing educational and fun facts, crafts, songs and activities for our community’s young children that attend their sessions. Over the past few months the same families have been seen coming back to story time over and over; it’s apparent that these families have discovered how informative and interactive these sessions are and how well their children respond to these wonderfully talented women.

During the zoos less active winter months, the Story Time Crew takes a little (well earned) time off. Although we will miss having the crew in house each week, they truly deserve a little down time before they jump back into planning for next year’s sessions. Beginning in January, you will find them planning, cutting, creating and researching topics in the visitor center on Tuesday mornings. The Story Time Crew welcomes anyone interested in assisting with reading the selected story, presenting fact or helping with a loud and uninhibited singing voice.
In order to accommodate the large family crowds that attend Story Time, the sessions will continue to meet in the Education Center when programming resumes next year. If you have never experienced a story time session, place it on your weekly schedule. The Story Time Crew can be found in the education center on Tuesday mornings, rain or shine.

CAT (Certified Animal Team) TRAINING
CAT trained docents are an important part of our education department. The Education Departments mission is to promote an understanding and appreciation of wildlife, and to encourage the protection of animal populations, the preservation of habitats, ecological balance and diversity. With the additional assistance of the Certified Animal Team we are able to expand the number of programs we offer our community and in turn promote our mission in a variety of locations other than the zoo.

On January 10th from 9AM until 3PM docents having completed 100 hours of volunteering in interpretation will be eligible for our revised CAT training. Participants go through hands-on training in order to learn how to care for and handle the Education Program Animal Collection. Individuals must be willing to put in additional time to work with the animals in order to become comfortable with them and must give a presentation about each animal in order to be signed off on each animal. Once signed off on the animals, CAT members are able to help with Wildlife Encounters, Zoo2Us and daily animal care. In order to remain certified there is a minimum amount of required time that CAT members must work. Lara will maintain the records for CAT members and anyone that has lapsed in their certification hours will be eligible for a recertification class. There is a little over a month before training, so if your hours are close to 100, make sure you get those hours completed so you can attend training!

LEAF (Local Ecology Animals and Forestry)

LEAF is a program presented to Wicomico County fourth grade students through the collaborative efforts of Maryland Conservation Corp, Salisbury Zoo Education Department and Wicomico County Board of Education. Students travel through four stations that focus on local animals, Birds of Prey, Forestry and Conservation and Tree and Non-tree products. Within the various stations students interact in small groups to create the prefect ecosystem or decide which products presented to them come for trees. They travel through the zoo to see and learn about several of the local species we have here and as teams, they use the facts presented to them to determine which characteristic is specific to the bird their team has been assigned. The children participate in games, large and small group discussions and have a great time creating their very own sheet of hand made paper to take home with them. No matter the weather, the presenters create an enjoyable experience for students. The students leave the program with lots of interesting facts that they can share with their families and discuss in the science lessons

STARS (Students Targeting Achievement and Reading Success)

Our AmeriCorp member, Jessica Christensen began her service with the Education Department mid September and jumped straight into the presenting of educational programs for the Wicomico STARS program. In the past two months her topics have covered Amphibians & Reptiles as well as native Maryland animals. Jessica has created her lessons in order to be able to give as much information as possible on a variety of animals. She has included live animals as well as mounts and pictures of animals that we do not have in our collection with both the elementary and middle school students so the students can be exposed to as many animals as possible.

Sleepover at the Zoo

Are you a Night Owl? Make plans to spend the night at the Salisbury Zoo and see who else is up late at night. Each year approximately 250 people spend the night at the Zoo. Participants come from all over Delmarva to enjoy this unique experience. Some travel for two hours or more—from Kent Island, just south of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, and from Wilmington, Delaware—for a chance to sleep at the Salisbury Zoo. Our ZooSNooz program is perfect for scouts and other youth groups, a birthday slumber party, or special celebration. Participants enjoy dinner, take a night hike through the Zoo, and watch a movie and have popcorn. And, no sleepover at the Zoo would be complete without an up-close look at some of the Zoo’s inhabitants providing insight into the physical and behavioral adaptations of nocturnal animals. Morning promises a light breakfast and a peek at zookeepers in action as they prepare to feed the animals for the day.

The Salisbury Zoo Education Department has been conducting sleepovers for almost 9 years. Typically offered to scout groups, now friends and family members have the chance to spend the night at the Zoo, too.

Call the Education Department at (410) 546-3440 ext.5 for more information about our ZooSNooZ program. We can’t guarantee that you will get a lot of rest, but you are sure to have a lot of fun!