Footprints Service Learning Projects
Footprints is a new initiative launched by the Zoo to address the unprecedented environmental challenges the Earth is facing today. Reduce your carbon footprint by planting trees as part of our carbon offset projects. We're working to reduce our own carbon emissions through efforts to "green" the Zoo and local community.
Get involved with Footprints through the following projects. These projects provide the opportunity to participate in our Spring 2009 tree-planting event in Fairmount Park, and are great ways to discover the wonders of nature firsthand.
Fundraising Projects
Collect ACME Register Tapes to Plant Trees
Save those receipts! ACME Food Stores generously donate 1% of all net receipt totals, which the Zoo uses to support tree planting. Scouts use math skills as they log, process and prep the receipts for mailing back to the Zoo. Go a step further, and create cloth shopping bags for families and friends. Raise $100.00 from ACME tapes by March 1, 2009, and your group of 30 can participate in our Fairmount Park tree planting event in the spring. This multidisciplinary service learning project incorporates art, math and science.
Carbon Offset Challenge: Calculate Your Footprint!
Use the Zoo's Footprints
Carbon Offset Calculator to calculate your troop's year-long footprint. Take the Carbon Offset Challenge and see how close you can get to "carbon neutral" by March 2009. After working on reducing your troop's footprint, you can plan a spring trip to plant trees in Greenland Woods, Fairmount Park. This multidisciplinary service learning project incorporates science, ecology and math.
Action Projects
My Wild Schoolyard Habitat!
Learn about wildlife and create a habitat in your schoolyard or community! Garden to reduce climate change by using native, drought-resistant plants and even grow food. Participate in Citizen Science Programs or have your garden registered with Audubon Pennsylvania's Bird Habitat Recognition Program. This multidisciplinary service learning project incorporates ecology, history and environmental science.
Wetland Watchers!
Did you know there are more than 4,000 species of amphibians around the world? Healthy wetland habitats are important for amphibian and other wildlife. Learn chemistry and data collection methods, and test wildlife ID skills. Take this project further by participating in Citizen Science programs, like FrogWatch USA. This multidisciplinary service learning project incorporates biology, chemistry, ecology and environmental science.
Themed Wild Workshops
Ever wonder what your carbon footprint has to do with orangutans in Borneo? Want to create a habitat in your own backyard? Wild Workshops meet scouting requirements across all age groups. Choose from a list of themes which includes My Wild Backyard, Frog Frenzy, and Footprints Challenge. Each Wild Workshop includes a craft activity, animal encounter and educational activities. Contact Group Sales at 215-243-5235 for more information.
Custom Overnight Experiences
Grab a sleeping bag and camp out at the Zoo! Activities include keeper talks and live animal encounters.
Click here for more information.