Teen LEADERS

Lead by Educating with Activities and Demonstrations on the Environment, Resources and Sciences
 

On Tuesday, July 3^rd, we Teen LEADERS embarked on a trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. We took the trek to learn about their Teen Conservation Leaders program (very similar to our Teen LEADERS) and to explore the aquatic world of course. We gladly welcomed the cool coastal weather, as it was quite a transition from Fresno’s heat.

            Upon arrival, we met our guides and were given an exclusive look at the Open Sea Exhibit. After watching the Open Sea feeding, we were led to the beautiful plastic arts exhibit where artists displayed their art made out of 100% single-use plastic items, such as spoons, water bottles, and grocery bags. It really made an impact moved me and the other teens on just how much single-use plastic is weaved into our daily lives and how little thought we put into its use.

             Later on, we got a chance to interact with some interesting sea critters. We were able to feed kelp to abalone and touch bamboo sharks, sea stars, and sea cucumbers. “I loved holding the baby brittle star as it crawled around my hand” said Teen LEADER Christina. Then we made our way to the shore and had a nice lunch break on the beach where we enjoyed the peaceful ocean atmosphere and played games on the sand like hand jousting and link tag.

            After our lunch break, we watched a presentation about how a few older Teen Conservation Leaders applied the skills they learned at the aquarium to their daily and professional lives. It was inspiring to see how young people like us left the program with the skills and motivation to make a change in this world. It helped us realize how we too as young people can make a difference. Then we were taken on a tour of the many exhibits of the Aquarium and were fascinated by marine creatures such as hermit crabs, puffins, tuna, and sharks. Some of us were even able to visit the fun & flashy jellyfish exhibit. Ultimately, our adventure at the bay was full of aquatic wonder and inspiration that we will never forget!

Alondra Lopez

Christina Olague

Teen LEADERS

DINO NITE

Join us at Fresno Chaffee Zoo for an evening of prehistoric proportions! Hang out with Buddy, the Dinosaur, from PBS Kids Dinosaur Train, uncover bones in Dino Dig, see Ross Laird’s Winged Wonders Bird Show, enjoy a screening of ValleyPBS’ top rated children’s show Dinosaur Train. Enjoy arts & crafts tables, dinosaur bio-facts, and vendor booths. Plus, Meet Mr. Steve from PBS Kids!

Ticket prices:

ValleyPBS or Fresno Chaffee Zoo Members:
$12 Adult and $9 Child (ages 2 -11yrs)

Non-Members: $15 Adults and $12 Child (ages 2 - 11yrs)

Children 1yr and under are FREE

Tickets are available for purchase at www.FresnoChaffeeZoo.org and www.ValleyPBS.org, or by calling 559-498-5921 or 559-266-1800

Dino Nite is presented by Fresno Chaffee Zoo and ValleyPBS.

Dino Nite is sponsored by:
California Kidds Pediatric Dentistry, Lennar, Veterinary Emergency Service, Anthem Blue Cross, and EHS Medical Group, Hedricks Chevrolet, Transitions Children's Services, Fossil Discovery Center.

Teen L.E.A.D.E.R.S.

Lead by Educating with Activities and Demonstrations on the Environment, Resources and Sciences

            “The Fresno Chaffee Zoo inspires wonder of our natural world…” This excerpt from the zoo’s mission statement has definitely proven true in my experience as a FCZ Teen LEADER. I believe that volunteering at the zoo allows me to inspire this passion for wildlife in the guests I encounter. However, I have found that interacting with these guests, children in particular, inspires me even more so.

            Volunteering at the cart, I get to play educational games with zoo guests. One game, Let’s Get Wet, is themed around aquatic adaptation. It lets guests stick their

 hand inside a bag insulated with Crisco mimicking the blubber on animals such as whales, and seals. While playing this game with guests, I once encountered a little girl who was sad that seals have to swim feeling cold in the water. After all, “they didn’t have warm jackets like people” she said.  Once I taught about blubber, and she placed her hand in the “blubber glove” submerged in ice water, she was struck with awe. The blubber on a seal is just like a jacket for a person! For the next ten minutes, she begged her mom to let her keep playing the game, and she was even shrieking with excitement.

            Seeing children so excited about wildlife gets me even more excited.  As an animal lover, knowing that my love is able to translate into another child’s appreciation is an ultimate reward.  Although my job as a Teen Leader is to inspire guests about wonder in the natural world, these children continually inspire me.

-Monet Gomes

Teen LEADERS

Producers Ice Cream Zoofari

August 10, 2013
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Beat the heat in this all-you-can-eat ice cream FUNdraiser.
 
Enjoy unlimited ice cream, sherbets, frozen yogurt, sundaes and smoothies with zoo-centric names such as Rocky Toad, Mint Monkeys ‘n Cream, and Cockatoo Cookie Dough. Guests will satisfy their sweet cravings while strolling through the Zoo and getting the latest scoop on their favorite animals. Kid-friendly entertainment will include live music and magic!

This event sells out. Get your tickets early!

 Ticket Prices: Children 1 yr. and under are FREE

Fresno Chaffee Zoo Members: 

Adults (12 years and up) $12.00 

Children (2-11 years) $8.00

Non-Members: 

Adults (12 years and up) $14.00 

Children (2-11 years) $10.00

Non-Member Day of Event: 

Adults (12 years and up) $16.00 

Children (2-11 years) $12.00

Ticket orders made after August 5, will be held at Will Call at the Zoo entrance. 

Order online at www.fresnochaffeezoo.org  , the front admission booth, or by calling 559-498-5921 M-F 9am-5pm. 

Thank you to our generous sponsors: 

 

Teen L.E.A.D.E.R.S.

Lead by Educating with Activities and Demonstrations on the Environment, Resources and Sciences

Sea Lion Cove: Through the Eyes of a Teen L.E.A.D.E.R.

Sea Lion Cove is a breathtaking exhibit. Although it's been open for months, I still can't get past that feeling of awe every time I wander its paths. The sights and sounds, all true to nature, are truly captivating. The only thing better than simply walking through Sea Lion Cove itself is the experience of leading an activity station cart there.

As a Teen L.E.A.D.E.R., I've had the opportunity to teach zoo guests at these carts through fun, yet educational activities and games. Topics range from the life cycle of a frog to the classification of mammals and fish. 

At Sea Lion Cove we theme activities around the animals that live there. As a guest holds a pelican skull replica and learns about its unique beak, they can turn around and see a living example. As another guest examines seal & sea lion puppets to compare their differences, they can tell me about the behaviors they  just saw the animals do. Being close to the animals we're talking about brings our guests a whole new understanding. It makes sense why committing to becoming more environmentally conscious is important and why our animals are so worth protecting. Being a part of this learning environment is a truly rewarding experience.

- Kaitlynn Webster,   Teen LEADER  

Monterey Beach Clean-Up

Approximately 240 students from the  fifth and sixth grades at Yokomi Elementary School in Fresno helped the seashore over 150 miles from home-- at a large beach cleanup on Municipal Beach on the morning of May 22^nd.  They learned about the oceans, how important it is to keep them clean and healthy (no matter where you live), and their own impact on the marine environment even from the Central Valley.

Fresno Chaffee Zoo organized the event and gave presentations to the youth in their schools prior to the cleanup event.  Kids’ Ocean Day, leading up to World Oceans Day on June 8th, is being organized statewide by the California Coastal Commission.  The Monterey event is part of the 20^th Annual Kids’ Adopt-a-Beach Cleanup, a series of Kids’ Ocean Day Adopt-A-Beach Cleanups at six beaches up and down the California coast.  The event for Fresno students involved removing litter from the beach.

Here are the amazing totals of trash and debris removed from the coastline on May 22, 2013. 

Beach Clean-up:
Plastics
         Bags                                        34
         Bottles                                    25
         Caps, Lids, Cups                   138
         Forks, Spoons, Straws          49
        6-pack holders                         9
        Other Plastics                          668
Styrofoam                                         131
Cigarette Butts                                1775
Metal                                                  99
Rubber                                               53
Paper                                                 390
Wood                                                 116
Cloth                                                  25
Glass                                                 285
Fishing/Boating items                     23
Other                                                 344

Grand Total: 4,164 pieces of trash and debris!

Fresno’s Chaffee Zoo runs the program locally by giving presentations at the school site and organized the May 22nd event. “This beach clean-up offers our Fresno students an opportunity to participate in a hands-on activity which fundamentally illustrates how the decisions they make can have a positive impact our Pacific Coast, and how we can make a difference” said Adrienne Castro, Director of Education, Fresno Chaffee Zoo.”

“These children are reminding us of something very important,” said Mary Shallenberger, Chair of the California Coastal Commission. “The ocean is being stressed by human impacts and is changing rapidly. If we take a moment to listen to the ocean, as these children are doing, we would know that this our time to act to save the ocean – to follow the great example of these children and live in a way that is respectful of our magnificent water planet.”  The Coastal Commission coordinates the program statewide and provides financial support from the Whale Tail License Plate Fund.

Fresno Chaffee Zoo provides environmental education programs to visiting students from the Central San Joaquin Valley. As stated in the mission statement, “Fresno Chaffee Zoo inspires wonder of our natural world, provides an engaging learning environment, and creates a passion for conservation.” The zoo allows students to come to one location and learn about animals in a variety of habitats.  

The Malibu Foundation for Environmental Education and the California Coastal Commission started the annual event in Los Angeles in 1994. With funding from the Whale Tail License Plate, this program expanded to serving Central Valley children in 2001. The program focuses on reaching children in underserved and inland schools.  Prior to the cleanup, the program includes a school presentation providing information about the importance of the ocean and how the students’ actions affect it.

The California Coastal Commission is the statewide coordinator of the Kids’ Ocean Day Adopt-A-Beach Cleanup, the year-round Adopt-A-Beach program, and Coastal Cleanup Day. All of these programs are funded by the generous support of the Whale Tail License Plate Fund. Over 213,000 plates have been sold since 1996, raising more than $20 million dollars for marine education and protection.  For more information about the California Coastal Commission’s programs and how to buy a Whale Tail Plate, call (800) COAST-4U or visit www.coastforyou.org.

Mother's Day Picnic

 

May 12, 2013

 Lunch will be served from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

 This Mother’s Day, show your mom she’s the best—by treating her to a unique picnic in the jungles and savannas of the Zoo! Dine on a picnic lunch with your mother and loved ones before exploring the Zoo to see which of our residents are mothers too! Kids can make Mother’s Day gifts for their moms, take silly photos in the photo booth, as well as dance and sing along with live music. Plus, all the mothers in attendance will be entered to win a special giveaway!

Admission prices: (Children 1 and under are FREE)
Fresno Chaff ee Zoo Members:
$20.00 Adults (12 years and up)
$10.00 children (2-11 years)
Non-Members:
$25.00 Adults (12 years and up)
$15.00 children (2-11 years)

To order online click here
To order over the phone, call 559-498-5921 M-F 9a - 5p

Mother's Day Picnic is sponsored by: