A [Virtual] Trip to the Zoo...
"The things he sees are not just remembered; they form a part of his soul." --Maria Montessori
It's hard to beat a trip to the zoo for an educational and fun day for the kids! We love our year-pass
(Thanks, Grandma and Grandad!) and often take a picnic lunch and just enjoy a full day exploring and learning about all the different kinds of animals. Our pass also gets us into the botanical gardens and aquarium, which expands the variety of fun experiences we can have.
Thanks to the pressure-free experience of a yearly pass, we've risked some bad-weather days to see the animals behaving in surprising ways when there's way less crowds--we've seen a polar bear throw a ball up at another toy he got stuck on a rock ledge for 20 minutes, over and over, until he dislodged the stuck toy (or maybe some guy finally used his selfie-stick to help push the stuck toy down..but either way, it was crazy!).
We seen so many cool things: hippos cavorting and playing with massive bouncy balls and gulping down whole cantaloupes; curious penguins as interested in us as we are in them; otters cuddling and owls glaring. We've been privileged to toss snacks to seals, touch jellyfish, pet sharks, and the zoo staff always take plenty of time to answer All The Questions. As a result, the kids have a gained a great appreciation in all manner of biology and practical facts and concepts, from classifications to habitats to enrichment to safety to environmental stewardship.
In a time, now, when we can't go visit zoos, a lot of them have begun to provide online experiences that continue the fun of discovering more about animals and enjoying seeing each and its particular quirks; I've especially enjoyed seeing the relationship between the caretakers and the creatures--it's neat to see the relationships forged so carefully by these people who work to care for the animals we enjoy watching at the zoo. Our favorite online zoo experience has been from the Cincinnati Zoo and their daily "virtual safari," but you might check out your local zoo or bioparks for resources available during the quarantine!
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| Justice, my critter-lovin' boy, sneaking up on a peacock. |
It's hard to beat a trip to the zoo for an educational and fun day for the kids! We love our year-pass
(Thanks, Grandma and Grandad!) and often take a picnic lunch and just enjoy a full day exploring and learning about all the different kinds of animals. Our pass also gets us into the botanical gardens and aquarium, which expands the variety of fun experiences we can have.
Thanks to the pressure-free experience of a yearly pass, we've risked some bad-weather days to see the animals behaving in surprising ways when there's way less crowds--we've seen a polar bear throw a ball up at another toy he got stuck on a rock ledge for 20 minutes, over and over, until he dislodged the stuck toy (or maybe some guy finally used his selfie-stick to help push the stuck toy down..but either way, it was crazy!).
We seen so many cool things: hippos cavorting and playing with massive bouncy balls and gulping down whole cantaloupes; curious penguins as interested in us as we are in them; otters cuddling and owls glaring. We've been privileged to toss snacks to seals, touch jellyfish, pet sharks, and the zoo staff always take plenty of time to answer All The Questions. As a result, the kids have a gained a great appreciation in all manner of biology and practical facts and concepts, from classifications to habitats to enrichment to safety to environmental stewardship.
In a time, now, when we can't go visit zoos, a lot of them have begun to provide online experiences that continue the fun of discovering more about animals and enjoying seeing each and its particular quirks; I've especially enjoyed seeing the relationship between the caretakers and the creatures--it's neat to see the relationships forged so carefully by these people who work to care for the animals we enjoy watching at the zoo. Our favorite online zoo experience has been from the Cincinnati Zoo and their daily "virtual safari," but you might check out your local zoo or bioparks for resources available during the quarantine!
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