The Friends' Animal Encounters Program

March 29, 2024

Hello Friends,

In this newsletter, we spotlight the Friends’ Animal Encounters Program, which started offering special zoo experiences to JMZ guests in October. This program is a wonderful way to introduce unique animals to children and their families up close, and was made possible thanks to an anonymous donation to the Friends. If you are interested in helping us to continue offering these special experiences for visitors, please reach out to the Friends’ Development Manager Marie Ivich at marie@friendsjmz.org.    

I hope you will join the Friends on Friday, April 12 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. for National Zoo Lovers Day. We will celebrate with fun interactions featuring some of the JMZ’s popular animals. Friends’ visitor events are free with admission; please remember to purchase tickets to the JMZ in advance.

Lauren Angelo

President, Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo

Program Spotlight: Friends' Animal Encounters Program

Conversation with Lee Harper,

Friends Ambassador & JMZ Senior Animal Care Specialist

What is the Friends’ Animal Encounters Program?

The Friends’ Animal Encounters Program enhances the interpretative experience with animals in the zoo for visitors and sometimes features animals from behind the scenes. During these special encounters, Friends ambassadors, who are animal care specialists, take an adventure through the zoo with families. We act as guides experiencing the zoo with our guests and interpreting what we see together. We may start by observing the raccoons as they explore their habitat for their morning food enrichment. We might even get down on our bellies to get a closer look at our meerkats, and pay special attention to their faces, looking for the nictitating membrane that shields their eyes from dust. Sometimes, we walk with Edward the Tortoise through the zoo. 

Which animal or animals we introduce to guests that day is always a surprise. We like to keep these programs small and personal, so that we really have the chance to engage with visitors in a way that feels special. We usually host programs on Fridays and Saturdays during the afternoon. Every encounter is different, depending on the animals and how active they are that day. The surprise is such a huge part of why this program is always exciting. You never know what will happen until you’re actively joining the experience.

Lee feeds Edward the Tortoise a snack during one of his walks through the zoo. Photo courtesy of Kat Burton.

What is unique about this program?

During these encounters, we use the Socratic style to engage the curiosity of families. As the Friends, our mission is to support and enhance the JMZ’s mission to engage a child’s curiosity in science and nature. Instead of reciting facts to our visitors, we pose questions and encourage them to participate in discovery with us. Kids and adults alike have a lot of fun learning this way– and they’re always surprised to realize how much they actually already know or can deduce.

It’s delightful to watch a child think through why an animal might have a specific adaptation and then engage with us. It’s a great way to encourage young minds and build confidence in their knowledge. Naturally, this is a huge part of the experience as well. Depending on the visitors and what interests them, the encounter and what we all learn together evolves. This adventure includes the entire family.

We’ve worked with JMZ Educators to get their perspectives on which animal behaviors and adaptations would be most valuable to see in classrooms. For example, Pearl the Opossum is a wonderful example of adaptation since opossums are the only North American marsupial. We are developing climbing structures for Pearl that allow guests to see her pouch, a feature unique to marsupials.

Lee introduces a tortoise to JMZ visitors. Photo courtesy of BQ Creative.

How can I support the Friends’ Animal Encounters Program?

A generous anonymous donor gave the Friends a gift to create the Friends’ Animal Encounters Program, which funds additional animal care specialist time and training to offer unique animal encounters. If you are interested in learning more about how to support the program, please reach out to the Friends’ Development Manager Marie Ivich at marie@friendsjmz.org.

Lee and Edward next to the Cichlid Tank in the zoo. Photo courtesy of Kat Burton.

Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo

info@friendsjmz.org | www.friendsjmz.org

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