Ellington

What if instead of reading about birds, reptiles and mammals in a textbook, students had the opportunity to have a hands-on experience to interact and learn about different species? The Chattanooga Zoo’s Education Department seeks to enrich the lives of children as it provides a new view of the world through its Zoo for You and its Zoo to You educational on- and off-site programs. All education programs are aligned to Tennessee science standards and benchmark curriculum and objectives for Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama, along with national science education standards.

Did You Know?

In line with the mission of the zoo, to provide an educational and recreational opportunity for all citizens of the community, the zoo aims to provide free educational programming to all students in Title 1 and Head Start schools. Last year, the Zoo provided over $45,000 worth of free programs to school children in the Hamilton County area.

Q and A

Rachel Rowland from the Chattanooga Zoo Education Department:

What would a typical program be like?

One program that is really well received is called “Fur, Feathers, and Scales.” During this program, we bring out a bird, a reptile and a mammal for students to see, feel and experience the unique characteristics of each animal. With each animal we introduce to the kids, we’ll give an overview of the animals’ habitat and diet, where the animal can be found in the wild and the conservation efforts that are being made. When we bring the animals out, we offer several opportunities to pet and interact with the animal as well.

What are the benefits of having children come to the zoo versus learning about something in a classroom?

The education programs at the zoo have the ability to take you from the immense rain forest of Latin America to the Himalayan Mountains of Asia. I always say that the programs the zoo offers are so beneficial to students because they have the ability to build on what kids have already covered in school, which will enhance the learning process. For example, if students have just learned about endangered animals they can come to the zoo and not only see these endangered animals up-close, they can learn about them through our endangered animals program.