On Sunday, January 15, the Houston Zoo is proud to partner with the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra and InterActive Theater Company to present two performances of the children’s classic, Peter and the Wolf. With the intent to “cultivate musical tastes in children from the first years of school,” this beloved story delights and entertains.

At this special event, a small ensemble of River Oaks Chamber Orchestra musicians will play Prokofiev’s composition while actors from the InterActive Theatre Company narrate and act out the story.

This event is included in your regular Zoo admission, and is FREE for Zoo Members. Performances will take place in the Brown Education Center Auditorium, and seating is first come, first served. This event is sponsored by The University of Texas MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital.

Performances are at 2:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Available just in time for holiday reading, a new children’s book for iPad, Chimps Should Be Chimps is now available for download fre free from the App Store.

Published by Lincoln Park Zoo’s Project ChimpCARE, Chimps Should Be Chimps is designed for early readers aged 3 to 8 years of age and offers an interactive and engaging story that aims to educate and inform kids – and their parents – perceptions about chimpanzees.

“Too often, first impressions about chimpanzees are formed by seeing them in human clothes performing in movies or television shows,” said Steve Ross, PhD, founder of Project ChimpCARE.

“Unfortunately, recent research suggests that these impressions can be lasting and have detrimental consequences for this endangered species,” added Ross.

Chimps Should Be Chimps provides kids, and their parents, with a different impression – one that looks at life from the perspective of the chimpanzee. Through rhyming, lyrical prose, the story is told through the eyes of two chimpanzee characters: wise old Poe and his granddaughter Lulu who live amongst other chimps at a local zoo.

The engaging story is highlighted with bright, colorful and playful illustrations which seem to come to life with the stroke of a finger on the iPad screen. The multisensory book includes the sounds of waterfalls, music and birds to bring the characters to life.

The story highlights things that chimpanzees love to do including climbing and swinging in trees, fishing for termites, building nests and playing with other chimpanzees.

The story carefully conveys a message about things that do not make chimpanzees happy, such as being separated from their mother at an early age and being isolated from their peers to be used for performances in movies or TV shows.
“The inspiration for the book came from trying to talk to my own children about chimpanzees,” explained Ross. “The story aims to relate how chimpanzees deserve to be free from these antiquated practices of being dressed up for human amusement. But perhaps just as importantly, it conveys to kids the importance of being yourself and believing in what comes naturally to you.”

Chimps Should Be Chimps was created in partnership with Manning Productions. Find out more about this free iPad book, see illustrations, view the book trailer and get details behind the scenes interviews about the creation of this children’s app and the work of Project ChimpCARE when you visit www.chimpsshouldbechimps.com.

One lucky person could win a brand new iPad! Sign up to win when you visit www.lpzoo.org/chimpcare until December 31. The lucky winner will be notified on January 16, 2012.

Jason and Peter Zhao

 These two fabulous brothers have brought in many interesting items to the shop such as shells, seeds, cones, rocks, and even a dead spider.  When it comes time to pick something to spend their points on they usually pick from our shell or rock and mineral section. 

 The trips to the zoo are usually a family affair for the Zhaos.  We not only get to see Jason and Peter but their mom and dad too!  The entire family has a love of nature and we all learn when they come in.

Peter and Jason are just two of over 1400 kids 18 years old and younger that are trading with us now.  Don’t know about trading in the Naturally Wild Swap Shop?  Click here for more information.

Mystery Box

Many of you who have been in the Swap Shop recently have seen the very large mystery box.  We are happy to finally announce what was in it!  Thanks to a generous donation from The Junior League of Houston, Inc.,  we now have a complete giraffe skeleton.  This was a 9 foot tall  juvenile male giraffe from Florida and died.  The crate was quite large 6′x3′x2′ and had to be brought into the Shop by fork lift.  The articulator (an expert that assembles skeletons) was here on the evening of Saturday September 17, to put it together. 

Articulator Mike working on the skeleton

During the week the box was here we held a contest to let kids guess what was in the box.  The only clues they had were: 1.  It is a skeleton 2. It is an entire skeleton 3. It may or may not be put together already in the box. 4. It is not an extinct animal.  We had so many wonderful guesses- everything from alligator to long horn to zebra.  We held a drawing Friday September 16,  and Cody Molandes was our winner – guessing that it was a giraffe!  He won 100 points to spend in the Swap Shop for his efforts! 

The finished skeleton

You never know what you’ll see in the Swap Shop.

Dont know about trading in the Naturally Wild Swap Shop?  Click here for more information.

Dora and Diego will be near the 4-D Experience in The African Forest on Saturday and Sunday, October 1 and 2 from 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. each day. While they will be out from 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m., they may take a few brief breaks during this time.

Dora the Explorer!

 
Also, guests can watch them in action in the exciting and interactive Dora and Diego’s 4-D Adventure: Catch That Robot Butterfly! at the Zoo’s 4-D Experience. The 4-D Experience is $5 for non-members and $4 for members.
 

Dora & Diego's 4-D Adventure!

Jayden at The Naturally Wild Swap Shop

 On a recent visit, he brought in some wonderful finds from his trip to Pensacola, Florida.  His items included a Gafftop Sail Catfish skull (also called a crucifix fish due to the bones of the lower part of the skull resembling the form of a crucifix) and sand dollar pieces- along  with an excellent journal on sand dollars reflecting the research he had done.  Jayden, and all of our traders, get extra points for knowledge when they have learned about the item they bring in and can tell us about it.

 The Swap Shop is growing and we now have over 1200 young people trading with us! 

Dont know about trading in The Swap Shop?  Click here to find out more.

The zoo will be filled with exciting and challenging games and activities for children and adults.  The Houston Texans, KICKSTART KIDS, and other community groups and organizations will also be here, showing guests how and where they can be active and enjoy nature year-round in the city.

The Naturally Wild Swap Shop

One great way to become more active in nature is to get involved in the Naturally Wild Swap Shop in the McGovern Children’s Zoo.  The Swap Shop is designed for kids 18 years old and under to bring in things they find in nature and exchange their items for points. The points can then be swapped for items in the shop.   

  A very important part of the swap is knowledge.  If the trader has researched and learned  about the item they have brought in, and can tell us about it,  they get extra points for their knowledge. 

For more information about The Swap Shop and a list of items that can and cannot be brought in click here.

On Saturday, August 20 we’re partnering with HoustonPBS/Channel 8 to host three screenings of this fun kid’s movie in the Brown Education Center at 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.

This special screening is FREE with your Zoo admission! This event is FREE for Zoo Members. Seating is limited, so be sure to get there early. Seating is first come, first served.

Families can join Buddy and his adoptive Pteranodon family on a prehistoric adventure as they gather all their theropod friends to travel to the big Theropod Club Convention being held in Laramidia, the “Dinosaur Big City!”

The premiere of Dinosaur Big City marks the start of season two of DINOSAUR TRAIN. From the world-renowned Jim Henson Company, the hit DINOSAUR TRAIN series is seen in over 13 million households every month. The series encourages scientific thinking and other skills as it teaches children about natural science, natural history and paleontology. DINOSAUR TRAIN’s second season will focus on exploring the outdoors and natural phenomena, and will feature “Big Dinosaur Week” and a special based on the fan favorite “Dinosaurs A to Z” song.

The theme of Dinosaur Big City is based on research from scientific advisors who help DINOSAUR TRAIN bring history to life and make science fun and accessible for kids. Laramidia – the “Dinosaur Big City” – describes an island continent that existed during the Late Cretaceous period and stretches from modern-day Alaska to Mexico.

It all started when six third grade students (An, Isaiah, Lillian, Biagio, Vanessa and Kaitlyn) were researching tigers and pandas on the internet. “To me it was random chatter of students who were once again using their wild imaginations to help fulfill a dream that they might accomplish when they were older.” said Kimberly Chapman, third grade teacher at Lee Elementary. But the kids had made up their minds and soon were finding out who might want to help them “save the tigers and pandas.” The Houston Zoo came to their minds and the kids learned the different ways to support the Zoo.

Now that the kids had an idea, they needed to set a goal. They decided to try to raise $3,000, of which $2,500 would go to the Zoo and the rest would go to Lee Elementary’s school library to purchase books about endangered animals. With the permission of their principal, Tonya Goree, the kids began their project. They made posters, hung signs around school, and collected their own money (with a little help from mom and dad) to open the “Animal Shop.”

The Animal Shop was open Tuesdays and Thursdays during recess and offered animal-themed bookmarks, pencils, pens, note pads, whistles and more. The kids also had enough supplies to give each class their own “animal box” for student donations. Teachers showed their support by allowing the kids to explain what they were doing and to come back throughout the week to collect the money. Through it all, the kids never lost sight of their goal. “My favorite thing about running the animal shop fundraiser was having to work with kids and make money,” explained Vanessa.

“Never once did I hear the students worry or complain about how their plan wouldn’t work. They just did what needed to be done and had a goal in mind to accomplish,” said Ms. Chapman. After two weeks, the kids tallied up the money they had raised, which totaled $800! It may not have been the $3,000 goal, but the kids were thrilled with their success. With $100 they each purchased a book on endangered animals to donate to the Lee Elementary school library, and the remaining $700 was given to the Houston Zoo. 

The third grade students who had a vision, and made it a reality

The kids along, with Ms. Chapman, visited the Zoo in June to present their donation and see the animals their gift would help to support. Everyone had a different favorite animal to tell us about. The kids also participated in a giraffe feeding and rode the Carousel. When asked why the Zoo is important, An, replied, “because it takes care of animals in the wild.” Lillian, said “it shows us animals we might not see anywhere else.”

Ms. Chapman shared her thoughts with us about the entire fundraiser “I was speechless and so amazed at the hearts of these six students to devote early mornings, some of their lunch time, and their recess to making this a success. I am so proud of these students who took an idea and acted on it. They encouraged a lot of parents, teachers, and students to just believe and support them no matter how young they may be or how hard their idea may have been to come true.”

The Houston Zoo would like to thank the students of Lee Elementary for their hard work and for choosing to support the Zoo with their Animal Shop Fundraiser. Learn more about how you can support the Zoo by visiting our website.

Taylor Albrecht - Trader # 1000!

He and his parents had a great time looking around the Swap Shop and Taylor decided to spend some of his points to start an insect collection.

We hope that this will be the first of many, many trades Taylor will make as he explores nature. 

The Naturally Wild Swap Shop has been growing by leaps and bounds.  Not only do we now have over 1000 individual traders, but the number of trades has increased too.  For 2011, each month the number of trades per month has increased at least 200% from the same time last year.  Dont know about the Swap Shop and trades?  Click here to find out more.