Page 19 - Brookfield Zoo Chicago Annual_Report_2024

collective choices impact the natural
world and how we as individuals can
be part of the solution to a major
global issue. Three cohorts, hosted
in Cicero, Pilsen, and at Brookfield connect
Zoo Chicago, engaged participants,
including those participating in our
new KCLA Transition program.
The King Conservation Leadership
Academy hosted our first KCLA
Transition program for rising 9th
graders in 2024, bridging the middle
King Conservation Science Scholars Robert Berlag, Dionisia Stamus,
school approaches and philosophies
Erika Hartman, Emily Lureau, and John Yudt
that shape our King Conservation
Science Explorers programs and
Zoo Adventure Passport! • ZAP!: Conservation Science King Conservation the more independent exploratory
(ZAP) Foundations (ZCSF) provided Leadership Academy approaches of the high school aged
an understanding of specific King Conservation Science Scholars.
Our Zoo Adventure Passport! (ZAP) conservation stories and actions The King Conservation Leadership
programs brought together people Academy (KCLA) is a suite of free,
related to animals at the Zoo. King Conservation
of all ages to foster connections out-of-school, STEAM (Science, Science Scholars
• ZAP!: Conservation Science
between one another, wildlife, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and
Adventures (ZCSA) celebrated In 2024, several hundred teens
and nature. Whether gardening Mathematics) learning opportunities
urban green spaces by exploring
together, enjoying story time at for children, families, teenagers, were enrolled in this learning
Chicagoland’s community opportunity that cultivates the next
the Zoo, listening to presentations and adults.
gardens, parks, preserves, and
from underrepresented voices, generation of conservation-minded,
other natural areas with over King Conservation community-driven leaders.
or learning in community with
1,800 participants.
nature-based educational activities, Science Explorers
Additionally, the Women’s Board
participants grew in their leadership • ZAP!: Story Time with the Zoo
The King Conservation Science of Brookfield Zoo Chicago was proud
and conservation skills. In 2024, (ZSZ) explored nature-themed
Explorers program provided children to recognize and award achievement
over 5,400 participants joined stories, games, and songs to
aged 11 to 14 with conservation in the pursuit of conservation leader-
us for ZAP! sessions. promote early literacy and social
action-oriented and project-based ship through the Women’s Board
emotional development at the
• ZAP!: Conservation through learning opportunities. In 2024, Scholarships for Environmental
Zoo and public libraries with
Gardening (ZCTG) explored the theme was reusing, repurposing, Studies. In 2024, $5,000 scholarships
a total attendance of over 2,000.
everyday actions rooted in and recycling through the creation were awarded to six qualified
sustainable gardening practices • ZAP!: Conservationists in Action of a large-scale all-plastics underwa- students who participated in the
that support local wildlife. (ZCIA) inspired the conservation ter scene. This project offered King Conservation Science
leaders of tomorrow through an opportunity to reflect on how our Scholars program.
sharing culturally relevant
stories of past and present
conservationists.
ANNUAL REPORT 2024 13