{"id":4309,"date":"2005-06-23T00:00:00","date_gmt":"1970-01-01T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=4309"},"modified":"2017-03-13T14:53:30","modified_gmt":"2017-03-13T21:53:30","slug":"zoo-campers-to-dive-into-ocean-water-exploration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=4309","title":{"rendered":"Zoo campers to dive into ocean, water exploration"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Santa Barbara Zoo Train, courtesy Wikipedia Commons.<\/p><\/div>\n

Summer visitors to the Santa Barbara Zoo<\/a> will look beyond the East Beach view to the vast world of the ocean, as two full years of activities begin to educate the public about the “Wonders of Water.”<\/p>\n

“The populace of the United States is uneducated about the issues concerning water,” said Nancy H. McToldridge, the zoo’s chief operating officer. She is hoping to help change that by weaving water messages into all of the zoo’s events, promotions and educational programs, starting with zoo camp, which began its first session this week.<\/p>\n

“Summer camp, that’s where it all starts. … It’s the most incredible program we have and the most important contribution that we make to the community,” said McToldridge.<\/p>\n

“Anybody who works in a zoo or an aquarium or … in … conservation or anything that has to do with animals and wild places can trace their love of that back to some experience they had when they were very young.”<\/p>\n

Education curator Heather Johnson, who began volunteering in 1986 as a junior zookeeper while attending Dos Pueblos High, is also bringing water awareness into the camp curriculum and school programs.<\/p>\n

Wildlife Academy campers (sixth-seventh grade) will be able to have three full weeks of aquatic biology.<\/p>\n

“That’s a special thing for us because the Wildlife Academy students are at a point in their lives where they are really exploring careers in science,” she said. “So they’re going to be taking field trips to the beach, they’re going to be actually doing a lot of things with the bird refuge, they’ll be taking water quality tests from all of our water habitats here at the zoo and they will be talking with our professionals … to find out how we ensure that there’s healthy habitats.”<\/p>\n

Campers will also learn about native aquatic animals by conducting a census on East Beach.<\/p>\n

This age group is fantastic to work with, Johnson said.<\/p>\n

“They are starting to get very much into Animal Planet and Discovery Channel and choosing what they might want to pursue as career paths. … We’re hoping that we might inspire them to take some more science and math.”<\/p>\n

Younger campers will also experience the wonders of water. First- and second-grade students will be talking about oceans and watery habitats, while Zoo Cadets (third through fifth grade) will learn about “what kind of animals need to live in the deep, deep, deep waters, the funky creatures that live down there in the dark, the ones that are almost see-through and have those funny characteristics that have like lights on their heads and things like that,” Johnson said.<\/p>\n

Energy was high as the camp’s counselors finished up their training last week.<\/p>\n

“You have an incredible opportunity with these 3-year-old, 4-year-old, 10-year-old minds that are wide open and you have the opportunity to be the person that makes a difference in that person’s life,” McToldridge told her charges.<\/p>\n

“You may never know what you’ve done. … That a half-hour that you spent with one child may lead to an incredible discovery that will save animals and save people.”<\/p>\n

Space is still available at the Santa Barbara Zoo’s camp for children aged 3 to entering seventh grade. Sessions run through Aug. 19, with camp hours from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and extended care from 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Cost is $157 per week for camp and $225 per week with extended hours, with discounts for zoo members. For more information visit www.sbzoo.org<\/a> or call 962-5339.<\/p>\n

Ocean Education:<\/b><\/h4>\n

Everyday choices have an impact on the ocean and its many inhabitants. Here are some simple ways that families can help, from the American Zoo and Aquarium Association<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Participate in beach and stream cleanups.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Put trash in its proper place.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Plant native plants.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Make smart seafood choices. For a free guide, visit www.montereybayaquarium.org\/cr\/seafoodwatch.asp.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Reduce oil use and limit run-off.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Save water and electricity.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Be pet smart. Ask your pet store for MAC (Marine Aquarium Council)-certified fish and be sure to scoop up pet poop.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Don\u2019t leave fishing lines behind.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Follow boating laws to prevent problems for wildlife.<\/p>\n

Originally published in\u00a0South Coast Beacon<\/a>\u00a0on June 23, 2005.<\/p>\n

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