Posts Tagged ‘fun and games’

May
18

May- June: Story Safari at the Houston Zoo!

Posted by in Classes/Programs,Featured,Fun on grounds,Public Programs,Teacher Resources

If you’ve been to Story Safari at the Children Zoo’s Butterfly Stage lately you may have noticed something has changed. Effective May 4th our schedule has changed to 10:00AM & 11:00AM. We are also reading a new story beginning May 20th – June 2nd. Our new book is titled Chickens Aren’t the Only Ones by Ruth Heller.

Chickens Aren’t the Only Ones by Ruth Heller

Chickens are not the only animals that lay eggs “every bird wild or tame does the same”. Animals that lay eggs are called oviparous. But not just birds are oviparous; there are many animals that do the same. So cluck on over to Story Safari and help us name them all!

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May
04

May: Story Safari at the Houston Zoo!

Posted by in Featured,Fun on grounds,Public Programs

Yay, its May! As much as we enjoyed April’s stories, its time for a new book here at Story Safari in the Children’s Zoo’s butterfly stage. Beginning May 6th 2012 – May 19th 2012 we will be reading an awesome sing-along storybook titled The Boy on the Bus by Penny Dale at 10:30AM and 11:00AM.

The boy on this bus drives round and round- but who wants to ride on the bus? Trust us, its not who you’d expect! Hop on board as a very crowded bus full of furry feathery friends oink, quack, and cluck their way through the countryside, in this new version of a classic sing-along!

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Apr
20

April-May 5th: Story Safari at the Houston Zoo!

Posted by in Animal Fun Facts,Education Office,Featured,Fun on grounds,Public Programs,Teacher Resources

We’ve been having so much fun the past couple of weeks reading Mr. Brown Can Moo Can you? By Dr. Seuss during Story Safari at the Children’s Zoo Butterfly stage. We’ve even had some wonderfully noisy animal guests appearances for the 11:00AM Story Safari! Starting April 22nd through May 5th we will be reading a brand new book titled Duck on Bike by David Shannon (no ear plugs needed for this one). Come on out to the Children’s Zoo’s Butterfly stage at 10:30AM and 11:00AM to hear a story of an adventurous duck on his first bike ride!

Duck on a Bike by David Shannon

From Sheep to Horse to Chicken to Goat, everyone has something to say about Duck’s zany idea to ride a bike. But what were they really thinking? And most importantly, what will happen next? Wobble your way over to Story Safari to find out!

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Mar
16

March: Story Safari at the Houston Zoo!

Posted by in Animal Fun Facts,Animal Information,Events,Featured,Fun on grounds

Spring break is upon us and it has been busy, busy, busy here at the Houston Zoo! We’ve seen a lot of new faces at Story Safari just in the last few days. We’ve also had some animal guest appearances during our 11:00AM Story Safari! The only one we’re missing is you, so please come join us during Story Safari at 10:30AM and 11:00AM everyday at the Children’s Zoo’s Butterfly Stage. From now until March 25th 2012 we will be reading a new book titled Leonardo the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems.

 

Leonardo the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems

Leonardo is a terrible monster – terrible at being a monster that is! He’s just not as scary as any of the other monsters and he’s even a little bit cute! Leonardo is determined to scare someone so he looks for the perfect victim, a nervous little boy named Sam. When Leonardo sneaks up on his unsuspecting victim, will he be able to scare the tuna salad out of him? Don’t be a scaredy-cat; join us for Story Safari to find out!

 

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Feb
24

February/March: Story Safari at the Houston Zoo!

Posted by in Animal Fun Facts,Featured,Fun on grounds,Public Programs

Beginning Sunday February 26th through March 10th we will be reading a new story during Story Safari titled Can I Play Too? by Mo Willems. Join us everyday at 10:30AM and 11:00AM at the Children Zoo’s Butterfly Stage.

To learn more about the Houston Zoo storytellers click here!

Can I Play Too? by Mo Willems

 

Gerald and Piggie have made a new friend, Snake. Snake wants to play catch with them but there is only one problem – Snake has no hands to catch with! How are Gerald and Piggie going to solve this dilemma? Come ssssee what these sssssilly friends come up with during Story Safari!

 

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Dec
05

December: Story Safari at the Houston Zoo!

Posted by in Animal Fun Facts,Classes/Programs,Featured,Fun on grounds,Public Programs

December is here and you know what that means? It’s time to bundle up with a new story at Story Safari in the Houston Zoo’s Children’s Zoo. Join us every day at 10:30AM and 11:00AM at the Butterfly Stage to listen to this month’s book: “Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed” by Mo Willems.   

Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems

I know when you think of cold weather the last thing on your mind is naked mole rats. Some of you may even ask yourself “What in the world is a naked mole rat?” That’s all okay because for this story “You only need to know three things: 1. They are a little bit rat. 2. They are a little bit mole. 3. They are all naked. All except Wilbur…” Want to find out why Wilbur likes clothes so much? Well join us for Story Safari to find out! (hey, maybe he’s cold!)

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Jan
11

Snoozzzin’ in Africa

Posted by in Classes/Programs,Fun on grounds

It’s Saturday night…what to do? Go out to the movies? Grab a bite to eat? Sleep in Africa? Hmm…this is probably not the response most people give when asked about their weekends.

If you’re privy to what goes on at the Houston Zoo, you might already know about this one-of-a-kind experience. What experience you may ask? Well, on Saturday, January 15th you can actually sleep inside the brand new African Forest exhibit!

WAIT…it gets better.

1 of our 10 inquisitive chimps checking out the crowd!

Not only can you sleep inside the African Forest, but you will be sleeping inside the Chimpanzee viewing building!

During our Wild Winks Overnight Program the public can spend the night learning, playing games and touring the Zoo. Anyone can sign up for this unique experience as long as you are 7 years or older. The event runs from 6pm to 9am the next day, so be prepared to spend a lot of quality time with the Houston Zoo!

Some of the other things to look forward to during your sleepover at the Zoo are live touchable animals, dinner, a continental breakfast, interactive activities, and free admission to the Zoo the next day! Not to mention touring Zoo grounds while no one else is around!

Our Wild Winks Overnights include visiting with a live Zoo animal!

If you’re feeling really excited about this opportunity, you won’t want to miss out on our Natural Encounters Wild Wink program on April 29th. With this overnight you will have the opportunity to sleep by piranhas, bats, an electric eel and lots more fuzzy, slimy and scaly friends!

And if you are really feeling overzealous, you can check our website to plan your overnights all the way through October 22nd, where guests will be sleeping in the Reptile House!

So, if you’re like me and don’t get the opportunity to snooze in Africa on the weekends, check out this overnight experience. If for no other reason, you will definitely have the best answer to the inevitable ”soooo….what did you do this weekend?” question.

Don’t delay-registration closes this Wednesday the 12th at midnight!

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Jan
05

Kickin’ It Winter Camp Style

Posted by in Camp

While Zoo Keepers deal primarily with animals, employees in the Education Department of the Houston Zoo specialize in working with people…especially kids! We get to practice our skill all year long and the week between Christmas and New Years we open our doors for kids ages 4-12 during our Winter Camp Zoofari!

Our Camp Zoofari kids having a dance party!

This year our week-long theme was continents. In contrast to summer camp (where kids sign up for a whole week) our winter camp kids register by the day. This year, each day was a different continent with the exception being Africa. Since the African Forest opened in December we have so many African animals to highlight that we had to split the continent between Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday we featured Asia, Thursday was South America and we finished the week with North America. Some kids were able to stay all week and they had the opportunity to really get to know the Zoo!

Due to the fact that kids may register by the day we have to pack A LOT in. We play games, do a quick lesson, touch a handling animal, venture out onto Zoo grounds, ride the carousel, eat lunch, do a craft, eat snack and PHEW-the day is pretty much over before you know it.

For the kids who attended the Friday of Winter Camp Zoofari (North America) we had the last minute opportunity to be a test group for trying out the new giraffe feeding station. This was in preparation for Summer Camp Zoofari. Kids ages 4-12 got an up close and personal encounter with one of our Masai giraffes as we fed them leaves of romaine lettuce. There’s nothing like seeing an 18 inch tongue in person to really understand animal adaptations!

Feeding our Masai Giraffes!

Although we encountered a bit of rain it was an all around great camp week. Winter Camp Zoofari always gets us geared up and ready for our summer long camp starting June 6th and running through August 12th, 2011. Our camp brochure is updated on our website so you can peruse which camps to register for now! We hope to see you and your little ones at Summer Camp Zoofari 2011!

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Nov
06

Telling a Story, Leading a Challenge

Posted by in Classes/Programs,Featured,Fun on grounds

Story Safari at the Houston Zoo is always a fun program, especially for our youngest visitors.

We offer a lot of programs and classes in the Education Department, for a variety of ages and covering a variety of topics.  Most of these programs require some advance planning on the part of the participants.  There is, however, one group of programs that we offer every day, for everyone who visits the Zoo.  We call these our Interp Programs.

Interp is short for Interpretation, but that still doesn’t explain the programs.  We offer three different types: Story Safari, Zooper Challenge, and Zoo Adventures.  Each is held twice each day.  Today I get the privilege of working outside my usual role and leading these fun on-grounds programs.

Story Safari is held at the Butterfly Stage in the Children’s Zoo, and the title is self-explanatory.  This is a story time program.  We’ll read a book about an animal and talk a little about that animal.  This is a great program for our younger visitors.  This program is held at 10:30am and 11am most days.

Zooper Challenge is a fun, audience-interactive program, also held at the Butterfly Stage.  Volunteers from the audience are selected to complete challenges based on animal abilities.  These could include things like making animal sounds, catching plastic fish in a “pelican beak” net, or touching something inside the “mystery box” and guessing what it is.  These are our highest-energy programs, suitable for all ages (and yes, I will choose adult volunteers from time to time).  This program is held at noon and 12:30pm most days.

Zoo Adventures is a bit less structured, and takes place near the BEC at a place called Werler Lawn.  On very busy days, this might be a visit from one of our animal mascots; on hot days it might be a water relay or an animal obstacle course.  Most of the time, though, we’ll bring out some of our biofacts and provide kids and adults with an opportunity to look, touch, and learn a little bit about the natural world.  These occur at 3pm and 3:30pm most days.

If you’re planning to come to the Zoo today, you might see me leading one of these free programs.  You can confirm the times for the day by checking out our schedule of daily programs.  Even if your visit is planned for the future, make sure you check out one of our interp programs.  They’re always fun!

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Jul
23

A Dozen Words for Dung

Posted by in Animal Fun Facts

One of the things that we end up talking about a lot at the Zoo is poop.  The animals make a lot of it, so the keepers get to clean it up.  Class and camp topics like “The Scoop on Poop” and “Scat Attack” are always popular, as are match-the-poop games.  We have a recipe for poop cookies.  Even when we don’t plan to talk about it, our handling animals often introduce the concept by relieving themselves during programs. 

So today, for your entertainment, here is a PG-rated list of a dozen fecal terms:

A selection of poop samples from our Collection of Recovered Animal Poop (or C.R.A.P.) box.

Poop

Dung

Feces

Scat

Droppings

Guano

Frass

Crap

Excrement

Doodoo

Turds

#2

Do you have another word for poop? (Let’s keep it PG!)

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