Teaching Class about Animals

As a Louisville Zoo Docent, one of my main jobs is teaching classes.  Sometimes we teach these classes at the Zoo, and other times we take it on the Road.  A couple of weeks ago I had the oppertunity to go to Chance School Summer Under the Trees Summer Camp.  Most of you have seen the pictures, but I thought I'd show a couple.  This class was titled "Experiencing Animals".

This was the first class for the younger kids.  It was a half hour class.  Here we talked about the Orangutans, how they lived in the trees in the Rainforest.  This young lady, along with 2 of her friends, volunteered to try on the Orangutan Coat, showing how long your arms would be if you were an Orangutan! 

This was the 2nd class which was 45 minutes for the older kids.  Here, we talked about snakes and showed the Corn Snake "Dougie", that each one got to touch.

 

On an "Outreach" Class we are allowed to take along 3 animals, plus a Madagascar Hissing Cockroach if we want.  The cockroach doesn't count as one of our animals.  So, we usually take one along because they are so interesting to talk about and let the kids touch.  Other than animals, we also bring along many "Biofacts".  These are things such as an elephant tusk, snake skeleton, piece of giraffe hide, many types of animal pelts, plus many pictures.  We teach classes on many topics, but usually this class is taught to the younger ones. 

As a Docent, Outreaches are one of my favorite things to do.  I also help with School at the Zoo, Set up outside exhibits and talk to people about the animals at that exhibit, and take animals to meet and greet party's or meetings at the Zoo.  Plus a few other duties.