The Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo will take a different perspective when celebrating World Ocean Day on June 5 and June 6.
While many might look at how we can help our oceans with regard to climate change, excess fishing and oil spills, the Teaching Zoo will look at how we can protect our oceans without ever leaving home. With this in mind, the zoo has set up displays and discussions about what we can do to help.
“We want to inspire conservation action,” said Tarah Jacobs, zoo education specialist. “Much of what we create inland eventually finds its way to the sea, so the idea of protecting our oceans from home makes sense.”
Inside the Teaching Zoo’s conservation pavilion a discussion will be held on sustainable seafood choices. The information is based on Seafood Watch, a program started by the Monterey Bay Aquarium in 1999.
There will also be children’s crafts and activities like being a sea turtle researcher, where the child will discover the sea turtle’s nest, and then log the number of eggs found. Santa Fe students will give demonstrations on how zookeepers work with and train animals, and how water is a vital part of their interactions.
Unlike the usual guided tours, zookeepers will be stationed at the exhibits so that visitors can wander the zoo at their leisure and still have access to detailed information about the animals.
Admission
The special event runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day. Admission for adults is $5, children, $4, and SF students, staff and children under 4 are free. Please call the Teaching Zoo if you need more information, 352-395-5601.
CONTACT:
- Tarah Jacobs, conservation education specialist, 352-395-7358, tarah.jacobs@sfcollege.edu
- Julie Garrett, for help facilitating your story, 352-870-2924 (cell) or julie.garrett@sfcollege.edu