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“Volunteering was an excuse to go to the zoo more often.”

Teri Marsh-Souders, Brookfield, Docent and Early Childhood Docent/Play Zoo

When the coronavirus pandemic caused
Brookfield Zoo to temporarily close last
spring, the zoo’s animal care and veteri-
nary hospital staff continued to go in
to care for the animals. But shortages
of personal protective equipment were
common. So a group of 20 zoo volunteers
got to work sewing cloth face masks.
By the end of April, the “Merry Mask
Makers,” as they came to be called, had
sewn more than 700 masks.
Teri Marsh-Souders was one of the
mask makers. Like Rice, she is a long-
time volunteer; a docent since 1986.
She works full time as an operating room
nurse at MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn
and volunteers at the zoo on her days off.
Why volunteer? “I grew up in Brookfield,”
she said. “Volunteering was an excuse to
go to the zoo more often.”
Marsh-Souders’ commitment to the In each of her masks, she inserted a surgical tray wrapper as a
zoo and its animals didn’t waver, even filter liner between layers of fabric. She made more than 460 masks;
after the coronavirus began its deadly each one took about 15 minutes to create.
sweep through Illinois. After working After giving away 60 masks to zoo staff and volunteers,
10-hour shifts at the hospital—at times Marsh-Souders sold the remaining 400 and donated the proceeds
in a COVID-19 ward—she went home to the Chicago Zoological Society’s Animal Care & Conservation
and sat at her sewing machine. “My Fund. The fund supports conservation research and education efforts.
mom was a quilter and left me tubs The Merry Mask Makers received the appreciation of Governor
of fabric, including zoo animal prints.” J.B. Pritzker during a televised COVID-19 briefing last spring.

1977 The docent program was created by Edith 1981 The first Holiday Magic® was planned with
Duckworth and Dr. George Rabb, who was then input from volunteers. Over the years, this and hundreds
president of the Society. Rabb, along with the zoo’s of other special events at the zoo took place with the
curators, taught the first docent training classes, which assistance and support of volunteers. They greeted
prepared trainees to give tours of the zoo to the public. guests; assembled goodie bags for kids; distributed
Classes covered the history and operation of the water bottles to runners; facilitated crafts, games,
Chicago Zoological Society and Brookfield Zoo, the and educational activities; and much more.
zoo’s physical layout, and information about animals
and exhibits. In 43 years, thousands of docents have
contributed their time and talents to the Society.
Today, there are approximately 200 docents.

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