Trumbull-Based Group Donates To Bridgeport's Beardsley Zoo

Trumbull CT

28 March, 2022

9:54 PM

Description

Press release from Cooperative Educational Services: March 28, 2022 Cooperative Educational Services (CES) has always been committed to enhancing and strengthening learning opportunities for students in the region and a recent contribution to Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo is evidence of that mission. A $10,000 grant from CES to the Bridgeport zoo will go toward the Zoo Career Explorers program, which provides high school students with opportunities to learn about the diverse, rewarding careers within a zoo setting. Guiding young people's passions and discovering skills are key components of the program, which takes place in an educational environment where students of all abilities can encourage each other to thrive. "We are happy to help with the proven, impactful Explorers program that provides unique learning and leading experiences for students from across the region and is an essential part in building their life-long and life-wide skills," said CES Executive Director Dr. Charles Dumais, who is familiar with the zoo's efforts from his position on its Board of Directors. "The generous grant from CES helps the Zoo deliver outstanding youth programming for Connecticut," Zoo Director Gregg Dancho said. "Support from CES allows us to offer more opportunities to more students in our popular Explorers' program." Explorers participants — 38 this year — will attend monthly workshops during the year-long program that highlight different career areas available at zoos, including horticulture, administration, veterinarian, marketing, and more. Zoo staff from each of those areas will present at the workshops to talk about their daily experiences and backgrounds, plus lead students in hands-on activities related to their careers. Participants, who come from a wide variety of backgrounds and communities that CES serves, will also choose an animal to research and complete a project, incorporating all of the various careers they have learned about, that details how that animal would be welcomed into the zoo family.Students can take part over multiple years and take more independent roles each year. The program has been operating for more than a decade and has substantially grown to serve students of all abilities and educational backgrounds. Explorers fits into the Zoo's STEM-focused mission of promoting scientific inquiry, critical thinking and problem-solving abilities by adding a dimension that exposes teens to potential career paths. Funds will help cover the expenses of uniforms for participants, project kits and experimental materials, artifacts that Explorers will present to Zoo visitors, and field trips. The Zoo is at 1875 Noble Ave., in Bridgeport. Learn more about CES at www.cestrumbull.org. Learn more about the Explorers program at www.beardsleyzoo.org/explorers. This press release was produced by Cooperative Educational Services. The views expressed here are the author's own.