Zoo Miami Foundation recently received a $35,000 gift from Peacock Foundation Inc. in support of the Conservation Teen Scientist program and the brand new ZOOM Ahead program for one year through May 31, 2019.
Both programs promote informal education, build life skills and offer STEM career-focused learning opportunities to advance high school age students in their tertiary and future career choices.
Since its origin in 2012, the Conservation Teen Scientist program (CTS) is an opportunity for ninth-12th graders to develop practical life skills, including public speaking and team building, and to increase their knowledge of environmental sciences at Zoo Miami. Teens learn to interpret at animal exhibits while assisting with customer service and events.
Simultaneously, the students receive the opportunity to network with experts in their field, go on field trips, receive community service hours, and receive animal handling training with ambassador animals after one-year of participation.
The new education initiative, ZOOM Ahead will impact 100 high school juniors at Miami Dade Title I schools (schools with large concentrations of low-income students). The program will focus on students going into junior year who are at a critical point in their lives, making key decisions about college, future career paths, and life direction. As these students routinely face socio-economic challenges, by expanding their knowledge of pathways for continuing education and exposing them to local volunteering or future employment opportunities, participation in the program benefits not only the student but also the local community.
The aim of the program is to provide an educational opportunity and greater understanding of what options are available locally in a key Miami-Dade employer and non-traditional work environment and to emphasize the importance of practical skills, hands-on learning, scholastic achievement and networking. Zoo Miami accounts directly for thousands of jobs in Miami Dade per a recent economic analysis, and offers tuition reimbursement for tertiary education endeavors — of which many students are unaware. Presenting the students with local career options and opportunities is a key focus for the ZOOM Ahead program.
“Zoo Miami Foundation is extremely grateful for Peacock Foundation’s unwavering support since 1989. Their support has allowed us to further educate and inspire young minds at Zoo Miami and provide them with a better foundation for their future,” said William Moore, ZMF president and CEO.
For more information, visit www.zoomiami.org or call 305-255-5551.
