At the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens we are all about inspiring people of all ages to help bring our mission to life. Every year, we connect thousands of kids across Central Florida though our school break and summer camps as well as other wildly fun educational programs. Whether it’s a hands-on animal encounter or a cool conservation project, we make learning about wildlife an adventure kids (and adults, really!) won’t forget.
We sat down with Dawn Danzi, our Education Manager, to get to know more about the Zoo and its educational programs.
I have been at the Zoo for 28 years, but it feels like five minutes. When you love what you do, time flies!
We have a large, busy education department, with over 25 staff members and lots of wonderful volunteers, so there is always a lot going on! My job is to oversee the day-to-day running of the department, supporting the staff, working with the Ambassador Animal team, and making sure that we are achieving our mission, vision, and values. We want our programs to always maintain the gold-star standard required of being an AZA-accredited zoo.
Everything! I am privileged to work with an incredible team of people dedicated to the Zoo’s conservation mission of creating connections that inspire people to take action for wildlife. We all have the ability to make a difference, to care wholeheartedly, and to make choices that support the care of our planet. Our team also includes a wide variety of ambassador animals that inspire guests to care about wildlife. Just as the Lorax spoke for the trees, our ambassador animals represent rainforests and waterways, oceans and forests, clean air, and a future where all animals and people thrive together.
Our homeschool programs are an excellent resource for wildlife and conservation education. Students are inspired and challenged as they experience our living classroom during these interactive programs. Different topics are featured every month, and programs include live animal encounters, hands-on science, going behind the scenes, meeting Zoo staff, and much more! We are a wonderful resource for homeschool families and strive to create fun, educational, and inclusive programs.
Environmental education connects us to the world around us. It’s an opportunity to develop an appreciation of nature and a deeper understanding of why it’s important to keep our environment healthy and sustainable for the future. Children who grow up participating in educational opportunities like homeschool ZOOventure programs are much more likely to care about the environment as adults. Watching a rhino play, hearing the call of a kookaburra, wading through a creek to catch tadpoles, or feeling the softness of a feather on your fingertips are experiences that build an appreciation for wildlife that stays with you forever.
As a Zoo that welcomes all, we reach out to teach through outreach programs, homeschool programs, school and group programs, school break and summer camp programs, animal encounter presentations, tours of the zoo, preschool programs such as Storytime at the Zoo and our Cub Club preschool series, scout programs, overnights, and specialty programs such as Kids Night Out, Wild Zoo Art, and Night Hike at the Zoo. This year we also introduced our new Sensory Safari program for children with varying abilities. There is truly something for everyone at our Zoo!
Watching the children grow up here. Seeing their enthusiasm and excitement inspires us and reminds us of the importance of the work we do. We hope that their experiences at the Zoo will lead them to inspire others and to achieve their dreams.
The Zoo’s mission is to create connections that inspire people to take action for wildlife, and that’s just what we do! Every program includes an opportunity to learn, to explore, and to be inspired. We all have the ability to make a difference, and education opens those doors. From butterfly gardens to bearproof trashcans, being an eco-friendly consumer to helping a neighbor, it all matters and it all begins with education.
The goal of the Education Department is to make environmental education fun, interactive, and inspiring! Nature-based learning can help children with critical thinking skills and academic performance, as well as developing their creativity and observation skills.
On your next visit, be sure to meet Dawn and get to know her knowledgeable Zoo team—there’s so much they have to share! To learn more about the Zoo’s educational programs, click here.
