The Blue Willow Journal

The Elephant/Kid Connection

About a year ago I became a docent at the Roger Williams Park Zoo  in Providence and as I've mentioned in a previous post, it's been a joy.

Recently one of the more experienced docents asked if I'd be interested in participating in a collaborative project between the zoo and a school in Massachusetts and of course I said "yes". When I heard a full description of what this was all about I was smiling from ear to ear.

Someone working at the zoo with connections to this Massachusetts school system came up with this idea about four years ago. One of the schools has all its second grades (about 8-10 classes) study elephants. Then a team of docents and the head elephant zoo keeper from RWPZoo travels to the school and works with the students telling them all about our three elephants, Kate, Ginny and Alice, showing them many current photographs and answering LOTS of questions.

Here comes the great part. After the zoo team leaves the school schedules a math family night. As part of the evening there are questions on elephants. For every question the kids get correct they raise money from sponsors to benefit the RWPZoo elephants.

The first year this school did this they presented the zoo with a check for $4,000.00 !!! These kids, teachers and parents have made it possible for the zoo to provide enrichment equipment, special dirt (a very important and expensive item the elephants love) and a host of other provisions for these beloved creatures.

After their fundraising each year the teachers bring the second grade classes to the zoo for a field trip so they can see both Kate, Ginny and Alice and many of the things their work has provided for these animals.

As an educator I find this to be such a terrific model of exactly what we ought to be doing in educating children. First we have kids learning about an endangered and fascinating animal species. Then we have real world people who work with and educate others about elephants visiting these kids, talking with them and answering their questions. Then we have the school showing the kids how they can take some action - through their own hard work - and do something positive for these animals. And finally, these children come and see the fruits of their efforts and enjoy the animals themselves.

I call this brilliant as the English would say!

Here's Alice having a great time in the elephant pool and Kate enjoying the dirt:

Decisons, decisions.......

I saw a notice in the paper last January for a class starting at our zoo in Providence. It was the annual docent training class which required four hours each week for thirteen weeks. I wasn't quite sure what I was getting into but I enrolled and started the class. Fifty people were in the class. We had assignments each week and needed to prepare a short presentation for the beginning of each class. Zoo keepers responsible for the major areas of the zoo came to speak to us about their animals, education staff told us about their programs and the many conservation efforts of the zoo around the world came to light. The more I got into it the more fascinating it became.

I have been working at the zoo since finishing the course in April. While I help people or talk to them about the animals while I am there, I'm the one reaping the greatest benefits from being there. Every day is different, every day something new is happening with the animals. Yesterday we were invited to hear a guy who has spent the last fifteen years living among elephants in Tanzania and studying them. During my last shift we were asked to record the behavior of an anteater new to the existing exhibit. 

Definitely one of my better decisions!