Posts Tagged ‘Fun on grounds’

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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Nov
03

November: Story Safari at the Houston Zoo!

Posted by in Featured,Fun on grounds,Public Programs,Uncategorized

Colder weather means it’s time to warm up with some hot food, friends and family. So grab your warm beverage from the McCaw Café or Twigga Terrace and join your friends Bennett and Viviana at the Houston Zoo Butterfly Stage for a story that will warm your hearts. To learn more about the Houston Zoo storytellers click here!

Armadilly Chili by Helen Ketteman

During the entire month of November we will be reading the book Armadilly Chili by Helen Ketteman, a Texan tale of Miss Billie Armadilly. “A blue norther’s a-blowing’” and Miss Billie makes hot pot of chili to warm up during those cold desert nights, but despite its savor, the chili taste “flat as a Texas prairie”. Want to find out what is missing from her chili? Join us for Story Safari everyday this month at 10:30a.m. & 11:00a.m.!    

 

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Oct
16

Story Safari at the Houston Zoo!

Posted by in Animal Fun Facts,Classes/Programs,Education Office,Fun on grounds,Public Programs,Uncategorized

Have you met Bennett and Viviana? They are the Houston Zoo’s Story Safari storytellers! Everyday in the Children’s Zoo Butterfly Stage at 10:30AM and 11:00AM, Bennett and Viviana bring to life wonderful and exciting stories for children of all ages. To learn more about them and the rest of the Houston Zoo’s Education staff click here!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“There’s a wolf in the woods and everyone says, “She’s big, she’s bad, she’s old, and she’s HAIRY! Best leave her alone, she is mean and scary. But we wanted to know, so we crept a little bit closer…” 

Want to know what happens next? Come find out with us! We’ll be reading “What’s the Time, Grandma Wolf?” by Ken Brown each day during Zoo Boo – October 14th – 31st. Hope to see you there!

 

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May
06

Introducing… Viviana Valdez!

Posted by in Education Office,Fun on grounds

We got to meet Bennett a while back.  Now it’s time to meet Viviana, the other person on our two-person Interpretive team! 

Name: Viviana Valdez

Department and Title: Education Department; Interpretive Specialist

Job Description: My job includes, but it is not limited to, performing on gounds Educational programs, such as Story Safari, Zooper Challenge, and Zoo Adventures.

Hometown: Houston, TX

Favorite animal and why? Well I’m a big fan of all primates, but my favorite animal is definitely the mandrill. I love their beautiful colors.

Favorite class to teach at HZI: Story Safari.

How long have you worked at the Houston Zoo? 3 years

Describe your education and experience prior to working at the Houston Zoo:  I didn’t have much experience prior to the Houston Zoo. I was fresh out of high school when I joined the Zoo team, with only one year of clerical experience from working an intership at the U.S. Treasury Dept. The Admission’s department hired me as a part-time carousel operator, and I’ve been working my way up the ladder since.

What do you enjoy most about working in the EduTeer Department?  Well, I love my job and that makes working here enjoyable for me. If theres anything I enjoy most about working in the EduTeer Dept is the casual atmosphere within the team.

What animals do you have at home? I have a guinea pig named Mr. Man.  Although, I’m hoping to adopt a dog once I move out of my apartment complex.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself: I like to collect office supplies, especially post-its.

Now that we’ve gotten to the Specialists, be prepared for some more fun responses! The first of SIX Education Specialists is next week!

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Dec
01

Tour of the BEC: Education Office

Posted by in Classes/Programs,Education Office

A look at our colorful education offices!

It should come as no surprise that a group of creative people work in a colorful space.  The walls and workspaces themselves aren’t so colorful (with one very blue exception), but instead it is the personalized decorations that everyone has used to adorn their spaces.  Photos of family, animal pictures from magazines, sample crafts and thank-you certificates hang on cubicle dividers and walls.  I even have an old graphic from the llama exhibit on my wall! 

The Education side of things is a little more populous than the Volunteer side.  We have eight cubicles, six of which are occupied by Education Specialists, and three side offices for the two supervisors, our education manager, and the two members of our interpretive team.  Wondering what those extra cubicles are for? One is the home base for our eight part-time teachers, the wonderful crew who lead our Wild Wink overnights (and yes, they sleep at the Zoo during their programs).  The other is currently not in use, but provides a great workspace for our Camp Zoofari interns over the summer.

The eleven people who occupy these offices (plus the part-time staff who occasionally share it) are responsible for all of our variety of education programs.  From Camp Zoofari and ZooMobiles to on-grounds programming like the Zooper Challenge, for everyone from toddlers in our Wild Wheels program to seniors on our Senior Safari, the team that uses this space does it all!

Our last stops on the tour are well-organized resource spaces – check back for the final post!

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