The Buffalo Zoo and Erie 1 BOCES Partner to Offer Unique ZooTech School Programs

ZooTech, school programs co-developed by the Buffalo Zoo and Erie 1 BOCES, are now available to all school districts in the Erie 1 BOCES region.

Officially launched in November 2011, the ZooTech programs are designed to incorporate technology with the Zoo’s everyday “living laboratory” of animal residents. Lessons taught under the ZooTech programs are designed for students of all ages and cover a wide variety of subjects. The ZooTech programs have fully been developed as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programs that fulfill education standards in a fun and unique way.

"As part of the program, we will help teachers translate their examples into lessons that will align with NYS Common Core Learning Standards," said Julianna Sciolino, manager of professional development at Erie 1 BOCES. "After instituting their lessons in the classroom, the students will attend class at the Buffalo Zoo to interact with the concepts they have been learning. Finally, the students will utilize technology to create and publish examples of their new knowledge." 

“This is certainly not your traditional fieldtrip,” said Tiffany Vanderwerf, the Buffalo Zoo’s Curator of Education. “By being surrounded by some of the world’s most amazing animal

species, the ZooTech programs allow a variety of subjects to be more deeply explored by using advanced technology. Aside from the STEM-related curriculum connections, a social studies teacher can deepen their students’ understanding of world hemispheres and an art teacher can discuss exhibit design.”

On Friday, May 18, 2012, a Sweet Home Senior High School 9^th grade class, under the direction of chemistry teacher, John Elliot, will participate in a ZooTech program that features the theme “Evolution: Beyond Darwin’s Voyage.” Students will be immersed in an interactive exploration of evolution. By challenging students to act as though they have discovered a new island (“Zoo Island”, this program allows them to experience the breakthrough that Charles Darwin made more than 180 years ago.

As part of the lesson plan, the program implements technology with use of evolution simulations and flip cameras. Students will gain an understanding of common ancestry and create a wildlife documentary that features video they take of the Zoo’s animal residents.

"It is our hope that the Buffalo Zoo trip will be beneficial to students by giving them a chance to use technology (internet research, video shooting/editing) to create a visual examination of evolutionary relationships among live animal specimens,” said John Elliot, chemistry teacher at Sweet Home Senior High School. “This will create an authentic learning experience that will ideally anchor their understanding of evolution and allow them to draw conclusions from events and items they encounter in their day to day lives. They will then share these videos with the rest of the class, allowing them to become educators."

While the students create their documentaries at the Buffalo Zoo, Erie 1 BOCES professional development coordinator, James Dailey, will provide the students with multimedia assistance. On May 22, an Erie 1 BOCES representative will also offer in-class assistance with the importing of the students’ captured video into iMovie.

For more information about the ZooTech programs, please call the Buffalo Zoo at (716) 995-6128 or visit www.buffalozoo.org.

About the Buffalo Zoo

Founded in 1875, the Buffalo Zoo is the third oldest zoo in the United States. Each year, the Buffalo Zoo welcomes more than 400,000 visitors and is the most visited cultural attraction in Western New York.  Located on 23.5 acres of Olmsted's beautiful Delaware Park, the Buffalo Zoo houses approximately 1,200 endangered and domestic animals and offers visitors a variety of events and educational programs year-round. The Buffalo Zoo’s philosophy is to exhibit animals and plants in naturalistic settings that represent their native habitats. The Zoo is dedicated to providing visitors with a better understanding of nature, including how animals relate to each other, their environment and to humankind. For more information about the Buffalo Zoo, including the Zoo’s “Bundle Up For Polar Bears” initiative, which is taking place through March 16, visit www.buffalozoo.org.

About Erie 1 BOCES

Statewide, school districts partner with BOCES in an effort to provide accountability, municipal sharing, efficiency and educational equity. Erie 1 BOCES, one of 37 BOCES in New York State, is a cooperative of 19 school districts surrounding the city of Buffalo. To assist school districts, the organization provides a variety of educational services including professional development. Erie 1 BOCES' coordinators engage teachers in high quality professional development through classroom practices that integrate the NYS learning standards, assessments and technology to support higher student a­chievement. The service area supports: instructional technology, curriculum, assessments, instruction, and NY state education department updates. Learn more at www.e1b.org.

  

About Sweet Home Central High School

Sweet Home Senior High School is part of the Sweet Home Central School District of Amherst and Tonawanda. It is the mission of the school district to empower all students to be cooperative, self-directed and lifelong learners, prepared to responsibly meet the challenges of the future. For more information, please visit www.sweethomeschools.com.

The Life of Hellbenders at the Buffalo Zoo

See inside the Hellbender lab at the Buffalo Zoo. This video shows off the work being done there to raise and release eastern hellbenders, to ultimately increase the wild population.

The Buffalo Zoo Presents Summer Nature Camp 2012

Join In The Fun July 9 – August 24

Buffalo, NY – Registration for the Buffalo Zoo’s for its Summer Nature Camp 2012 is now open!

Our nature camp is designed to enable children, ages 5 through 12 years old, to experience the wonders of summer by attending workshops featuring a wide variety of animal-related topics, including watery habitats, the “bad” reputations of some animal species, animal IQ and what it takes to run the zoo! Workshops run July 9 through August 24 (Monday - Friday) from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Camp themes repeat so you can plan around your summer vacation and not miss a thing!

The registration fee is $150 for Buffalo Zoo members and $165 for non-members. Multiple child and week discounts are offered. A limited number of scholarships, as well as before care and after care, are also available.

Camp activities include exhibit visits, animal information sessions, games, songs, stories and live animal contact. Participants, under the supervision of Zoo staff, will have the opportunity to interact with various mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and arthropods from the Education Department’s animal collection. Summer Nature Camp also includes some outdoor activities, so campers are advised to wear appropriate clothing.

For more information regarding Summer Nature Camp, please contact the Buffalo Zoo’s Education Department, at (716) 995-6128 or visit the Zoo’s website at: www.buffalozoo.org

Zoo School-ing

If you are looking for a way to enhance your class visit to the Zoo, our new on-site school programs can encourage your students to learn more about the natural world!  Classes are offered at elementary, intermediate and commencement levels and are aligned with the National and New York State Learning Standards.  Students have the opportunity to observe animals in our classroom with instruction by Zoo staff, followed by animal exploration activities that will take them to focal animal sites throughout the Zoo. Class size is limited to 20-25 students for maximum interactivity and program quality.


For more information, visit http://www.buffalozoo.org/school_classes.html or call (716) 995-6128.

Zoo Animal Misconceptions: Snakes in a School

Erie Canalway Connections with the Buffalo Zoo

Take advantage of a unique grant-based opportunity for you and your 3rd-5th grade students. The Buffalo Zoo and the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society have partnered together to bring you “Erie Canalway Connections,” an engaging program utilizing two of Western New York’s treasured cultural institutions. 

Your class will first explore the Historical Society to participate in guided museum tours of the Oishei Pioneer Life Gallery, where students can imagine the experience of life in Buffalo more than 200 years ago,  and marvel at their hometown industry in the Buffalo Made exhibit. Through the use of interactive museum exhibits and a hands-on craft, students will discover ways the Erie Canal has affected human  life in the Western New York community. Students will then travel to the Buffalo Zoo, where they will explore the Delta Sonic Heritage Farm. This exhibit replicates a working farm found along the Erie Canal during the 1800s. While at the Zoo, students will observe live animal demonstrations and participate in hands-on activities that help them explore ways the Erie Canal has affected (and still affects) wild spaces.

Your class can participate in “Erie Canalway Connections” for ONLY $100.  All other fees, including admission to the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society and the Buffalo Zoo, as well as all bus fees, will be covered by grant funds. This project is funded in part by the Erie Canalway Heritage Fund.

Available 2012 dates to book this program are:

April 20
May 11, 25, 29, 30
September 14, 21, 28
October 12, 19, 26
November 2, 9, 16

If you are interested in booking this program for your class or you would like some more information, please call the Buffalo Zoo’s education department at (716) 995-6143. 

Limited Opportunity for Grant-Funded Zoo Programs!

Would you like to have your class participate in a FREE zoo program?  We have 2 program offerings available that are funded by a generous grant from HSBC Bank.  Programs are aligned with the NYS and Common Core Learning Standards.  

1.  I Love Nature: An introduction to our natural world

Outreach Program for grades Pre-K -1^st

Young children are introduced to the wonders of nature and encouraged to safely and respectfully explore the outdoors. Basic concepts of natural interrelationships and their own role in nature are discussed. One half of the program is spent outdoors exploring the environment, after which their “discoveries” are discussed indoors. This program also includes one live animal ambassador. 

To register for this grant-funded Zoomobile program (presented at your school), please call (716) 995-6123 or email rsanecki@buffalozoo.org

2.  Conservation Investigators 

Onsite School Program at the Zoo for grades 5-8

How do scientists save endangered species? Students will become Conservation Team Investigators to uncover reasons why animals are endangered and to find out how research can help protect species. Use tools of a field biologist to learn how they find clues to locate animals in the wild. They will then visit Ecostation, the Zoo's modern research field station exhibit, and investigate conservation issues!

The grant funds cover the cost of the class and Zoo admission for your group.

To register for this grant-funded Onsite School Program (presented at the Zoo), please call (716) 995-6143 or email rmuffoletto@buffalozoo.org