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Zoo Explorers Club continued

From toddler to teen, Evelyn Vasquez has advanced through zoo programs. For the 2018-2019 school year, the
She credits the programming for giving her confidence and a conservation mindset. chosen topics are “Uncovering Mysteries
in Science and Nature,” “Discovering
Growing up in the Program Living Things,” and “Examining Animal
Health and Welfare.” Each 90-minute
15-year-old Evelyn Vasquez has been involved with the Chicago session includes a STEM-related hands-on
Zoological Society’s outreach programming for as long as she activity so that students can practice critical
can remember. thinking and trial-and-error skills. The
program also includes a year-end field trip.
She started out with the Zoo Adventure Passport (ZAP!) Preparing for the Future
program when she was just a toddler, before moving onto While connecting students with nature
Zoo Explorers Club. Now, she is in her second year as a King and wildlife is a key part of the program,
Conservation Science Scholar. While she has undoubtedly Zoo Explorers Club also goes much
learned a lot from school (she is a sophomore at Chicago’s Lane further than that. Middle school can be
Tech College Preparatory High School), she says the lessons hard. Students might be with a whole new
she’s learned from the Society’s programming are truly invaluable. group of peers, and they are exploring their
interests and personal relationships in a
“The main takeaway I gained from Zoo Explorers Club is the new way. For the first time, they might be
importance of trial and error, and that sometimes the ‘error’ part thinking about their future career plans.
is OK,” Evelyn said. “Exploring and experimenting require us to
try something new, and the results may not always be what we Zoo Explorers Club gives them a
want them to be. At Zoo Explorers Club, we were taught to learn space to develop confidence during this
from our mistakes. If our experiment did not work as we intended transitory period. The groups are kept
it to, as a team, we worked together and tried it again.” small so that participants can become
comfortable speaking their minds,
The programming has also helped her confidence. When she conducting experiments, and growing
started attending, she was reserved and shy. Now, thanks to the as individuals among a trusted group.
hands-on activities and supportive and safe environment, she is It also gives them a strong foundation
comfortable speaking in front of large groups, a skill she knows if they choose to move forward with
will serve her in her future. the King Conservation Science Scholars
program in high school.
While Evelyn is currently undecided on a specific career path—
in addition to her interest in science, she is also involved in visual There is an application process to
arts and music programs—she knows one thing for sure from her become a King Conservation Science
participation in Society programs: she would love to help Scholar, which includes an essay and an
create awareness about the impact humans have on the Earth. interview. Zoo Explorers Club staff are
happy to help participants with the
24 GATEWAYS | ZOO EXPLORERS CLUB application process. Not only will this
prepare participants for the King
Conservation Science Scholar application