Education Department
The Education Department Staff and Docents conducted:
35 Animal Encounters
37 Outreaches
4 Second Grade Programs – Two To The Zoo
10 Third Grade Programs – Curric-Zoo-lum
1 First Grade Programs – 1st Class Zoo
3 Overnight Programs – Mix of Snoozes and Wild Nights
1 Scout Programs – Mix of Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts
2 Homeschool Programs
1 Create Your Own ZooVenture – Rainforest program
3 Learning Safari Tours
1 Make a Wish with Primate Department
Storytime at the Zoo- every Wednesday in May
Coming Up Next Month:
Night Hike – June 11, 2011 – Zoo Guests will experience the Zoo after dark, without
having to spend the night.
Summer Camp for ages 6-12 begins Monday June 13, 2011 – Already have some
weeks sold out.
Cub Club for ages 3-5 begins Tuesday June 14, 2011
Animal Department
Animal Acquisition:
0.0.2 Silvery-cheeked hornbills hatched. The Animal Staff is busy raising one of the
chicks as it was felt the older chick was outcompeting the younger one at feeding time.
0.1 Baron’s green racer was donated
Animal Dispositions:
0.0.1 New Caledonian giant gecko was sent to Potawatomi Zoo
0.0.1 Everglade’s rat snake died
Medical:
The two-toed sloth #1602, Tipper Too, went to the VMC for a colonoscopy. No
significant findings but biopsies did confirm gastritis and colitis. This has been a
challenging case for veterinarians and staff, but we continue to explore our treatment
options. She is currently on a regimen of Probiotics to assist in re-establishing the
appropriate gut flora in her system.
At that time we also sent a female prehensile-tailed porcupine #1461 to diagnose an
ongoing foot lesion (suspect an imbedded quill) and female cotton-top tamarin #1571 for
an ongoing arm issue (suspect a bite wound). Both are healing slowly.
Other Notes:
 Bonnie Breitbeil attended the AZA Felid TAG meeting hosted by the Henry
Doorly Zoo in Omaha, NE and conducted a Clouded Leopard SSP Master
Planning meeting.
 Danielle Lints attended a Rhino Keepers workshop hosted by Fossil Rim in Glen
Rose, TX.
 Bernie Bartosch and Danielle Lints visited the camel, Gus and goat, Billie at their
pasture to familiarize themselves with handling procedures and general training.
 Through the Florida State Wildlife Grant we received, Jen Stabile has continued
conducting amphibian disease surveys throughout the Central Florida region.
This month areas surveyed were Avon Park Air Force Base and Jonathan
Dickinson State Park, Jupiter, FL. Many of our staff and volunteers have been
able to participate in this important work.
 Bonnie and Courtney Donner met with a Boy Scout to discuss a potential Eagle
Scout project to construct an off-exhibit bird/small mammal enclosure.
 Maintenance, Horticulture and Animal Department Staffs worked hard and very
quickly to complete the renovation of the elephant enclosure to provide a home
for the camel, Gus. Gus is expected to arrive June 8th.
Maintenance Department
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Our work for May has included finishing out the elephant compound to receive
Gus the Camel in June.
We have also been active in the design of our upcoming Otter Exhibit. A trip to
Disney produced some great ideas that we could incorporate in our exhibit.
Based on our latest information from our design engineer, Jorge Borrelli, we
should have the permit drawing near the end of June or first part of July. If
permitting approval takes two months and with eight months of construction time
the otters exhibit should open sometime in April or May of next year. We are
really excited to get this project started.
The remaining portion of the Month went to work tickets and building nesting
boxes for some pregnant mothers.
Guest Services Department
In an effort to take advantage of the hungry ZOOM Air traffic that does not enter the Zoo,
Guest Services opened its new Concessions satellite
at the area of the old “Comfort Station”. On weekends, holidays and during peak times,
this satellite will be open and serving grilled hot dogs & hamburgers, chips, drinks, ice
cream and seasonal fruit.
In the Densch Center in May, we hosted meetings or parties for Mastec Corporation,
Preferred Guest Services, Wilson Elementary School 5th Grade, David Weekley Homes
and the American Cancer Society. We also partnered again with the Foundation for
Seminole County Schools on their annual dinner for participants in their Take Stock in
Children program.
Hard work, time and effort were certainly not exclusive to the Guest Services
Department for our largest endeavor in May. On Friday, May 6 about 300 participants
from 40 teams were here for the 18 hour event that is Relay for Life. This is the
American Cancer Society’s number one fund raiser and the Zoo has now hosted the
Sanford Relay for 5 years. We estimate that on Friday night there were 650 people
(including participants) here to celebrate and fight back. We had a net goal of $92,000
and to date we are at $101,000. There was an incredible collaborative effort by
Maintenance, Horticulture and the Relay Logistics team to transform (in 4 hours) the
area between the Admissions and the Densch Center into a small town for the night.
There was lots of good food available, games to play, music to hear, but, undoubtedly
two of the Relay favorites and best fund raisers of the night are the Zoo’s night tours,
and Breakfast by Joe & team. Big kudos to the Zoo team and its captains, Dawn Danzi &
Shannon Rinninger, we were the only Platinum level team (over $7500 raised) and stood
second only to CPH Engineers at Jade level. Thanks to our sponsors: Central Florida
Regional Hospital, Wharton-Smith, Inc., CPH Engineering and Vitas.
Communications Department
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137 Media pick-ups
Northland Church filmed segments for Summer Camps
Working with professional printer and issued the first upgraded ZOOViews to
quality paper and better design
Added Zoo members to monthly e-blast and view rate increased by 3%
Segway opened and now appears on Website, Facebook, Tweeter and various
print and websites in Central Florida
Developed first draft for corporate memberships
Helped with solicitation of raffle and bag items and worked Tiger Tee-Off Golf
Tournament
Sold mulligan’s and raffle tickets at Ameriprise gold tournament to raise money
for Zoo - $580 raised.
Completed Donor Perfect evaluation and submitted
Held meeting with guest services staff to discuss new changes to membership
policies
Developed new logo for Night Hikes Series
Developed intern program for two summer interns
Developed details for photo contest to begin mid-June
Researched financial planners list for future charitable giving promotion
Attended 12 meetings, six executive events and three leadership seminars, as
well as two Kennedy Center conference calls
Attended via conference call State of Florida Communications Committee
Canceled AAA trip to Costa Rica – did not have enough interest
Worked with Education Department to secure an ongoing certified sign language
contact
Worked with former board member on a potential partnership with Formosa
Gardens, Kissimmee
Worked with Seminole County Public Schools on the summer reading program
partnership
Submitted a State of FL Division of Cultural Affairs grant and updated the rollover
of two existing proposals
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Researched 39 potential grants. Submitted grants to: Bank of America
(hopefully 3rd time is a charm) for GOS; Wayne M. Densch Charities for
education admissions/programs; Ameriprise to continue the invertebrate
outreach program to counties we are normally unable to reach; Wells Fargo
Community Fund; mid-year reports for Magruder; rollover report for Chisholm for
Traveling Zoo Tales; and working on a grant for ZOOart education from the
Knight Foundation.
Nominated for Non-Profit of the Year for Small Business Week with the Seminole
County Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Setting up promotions for July 3rd with Sony Picture’s “Zookeeper” movie,
Stauffer’s promotion, and 2012 Ford Focus Southeast Tour
NY Life did second Child ID program for Party for the Planet
Facebook fans has grown to 3260 (as of 6/6/11)- 165 individual conversations to
maintain
Tripadvisor rating has grown to 2 of 10 attractions for our area, surpassing the
Rivership Romance and several airboat tours. More positive ratings are
encouraged to grow to number ONE! We continue to monitor reviews and
respond to all.
Participated in a “Mother’s Day Giveaway Blitz” through the website,
www.macaronikid.com. Received 43 comments on their page, plus many posted
to their own social media pages
Connected with Orange County Commissioner Jennifer Thompson who provided
Bon Jovi tickets for the golf tournament. She is a fan of the Zoo and will help us
out whenever possible.
Connected with Samantha Rollins, wife of radio talk show host Russ Rollins.
Attended musical production at Midway Elementary with her. Will be meeting
with her again in the near future to discuss how she can connect us to
companies involved with the radio station.
Met with Sharon Sears of the CVB is discuss the current process for Fam trips
and how we could tweak it moving forward
Participated in Segway’s “dry run” to experience the attraction first hand, which
assists us in selling it to the public. Posted on all Zoo internet sites.
May 1
May 5
May 6
May 7
May 7
May 10
May 11
May 12
May 14
May 14
May 15
May 17
May 21
May 21
May 21
May 22
May 25
Playground Magazine Music & Arts Fest, estimated attendance 10,000
Montana Wish Kid – Primate Keeper wish, Dylan and Family
Golf Tournament Pictures
Chairs for Charity Mustard Seed Event, estimated attendance 250
PNC Downtown Branch Grand Opening, estimated attendance 75
Write up for Orange TV – Summer Camps, unlimited viewing
TD Bank tour
SCCVB Luncheon Fashion Show, estimated attendance 100
Family Festival Altamonte Springs Crane Roost, est. attendance 15,000
DeLand Chamber Expo, estimated attendance 100
Jewish Festival Cranes Roost, estimated attendance 500
Oviedo Chicks – summer happenings at the Zoo, unlimited viewing
Environmental Studies Center Wildlife Appreciation Day, 200
Fringe Fest, estimated attendance 150
Sanford Seminole Art Assoc. Train Project Proposal, est. attendance 20
Fringe Fest, Orange County, estimated attendance 100
FAIRWINDS Credit Union