Spreading Our Wings – Connecting Underserved Youth to the California Condor

Program by Oakland Zoo Docents, with assistance from Oakland Zoo Education staff and condor researchers at Ventana Wildlife Society.

Oakland Zoo Mission Statement Our mission is to inspire respect for and stewardship of the natural world while providing a quality visitor experience.

Education Department Mission Statement To create awareness about, foster a sense of responsibility for, and take action to further the preservation of animals and their natural habitats.

Oakland Zoo Naturalist Henry A. Snow established the Oakland Zoo in Dr. Joel J. Parrott, DVM, has been the Executive Director of the Oakland Zoo since We opened our 17,000 square foot, state-of-the-art veterinary hospital, (the largest wild animal veterinary facility in Northern California), in 2012.

Docent Conservation Committee The Docent Conservation Committee was formed in The Docent Conservation Committee was formed in The first project was to create interpretive conservation messaging. The first project was to create interpretive conservation messaging. A 4- part conservation message was created for each animal in the zoo. A 4- part conservation message was created for each animal in the zoo.

Four Part Conservation Message #1 Give a fact about the animal. #2 Discuss threat (if any). #3 What is the Oakland Zoo doing?? #4 What can we do to help these animals in the wild??

Docent Conservation Committee (con’t) After the project of creating messages was launched the docents turned their attention to... After the project of creating messages was launched the docents turned their attention to... Conservation, Communities and Children: Working Together to Preserve Wildlife (CCC) –established in The goal was to raise funds and provide needed resources and educational support in communities living close to wildlife. The goal was to raise funds and provide needed resources and educational support in communities living close to wildlife.

CCC Project – Leopard Village CCC’s first project was to raise funds for rural villagers living close to Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park. Our fundraiser “Beer for Beasts” enabled the creation of a community resource center in Uganda which opened in Spring “Leopard Village” is a community-run development initiative and eco-tourism site. There have been no human-caused carnivore deaths in the three villages we have worked with!!

What’s Next? Docents embarked on a second project involving local participants. This project will be an extension of the existing partnership between Oakland Zoo and Ventana Wildlife Society.

In partnership with the Ventana Wildlife Society, Oakland Zoo made a commitment to help rehabilitate sick or injured condors. The Steve and Jackie Kane Condor Recovery Center opened in We have treated 10 condors at the Oakland Zoo.

The California Condor is in trouble.. It has a wingspan of 9.5 feet. It is one of the largest and rarest birds species in the world. It is critically endangered. The last of the free-flying condors were taken into captivity in California Condors are dying largely from: *lead poisoning *egg poaching *power lines *micro trash

“Spreading Our Wings – Connecting Underserved Youth to the California Condor”

Four Program Components 1.We will provide a Zoo Mobile visit to the school site. *overview of California Condor Recovery Program *introduction to field biology *interactive activity

Four Program Components (con’t) 2. The students will visit Oakland Zoo. *practice their telemetry skills *participate in a tour of our veterinary hospital *take a zoo tour emphasizing conservation messaging

Four Program Components (con’t) 3. The students will visit Ventana Wildlife Society in Big Sir. *40 students from the Oakland Title School *participate in a customized tour conducted by condor researchers and education officers of Ventana Wildlife Society

Four Program Components (con’t) 4.We will provide a final Zoo Mobile visit. *assist students in creating an awareness campaign *tabling event/interpretive opportunity at Oakland Zoo and/or at the school *create an opportunity to share their knowledge and experience with family, faculty, students, and zoo guests

Program Goals Develop a program that can be repeated regularly, in part or in full. Support the zoo and education department mission. Strengthen our relationship with local schools. Incorporate content into our Docent conservation messaging. Provide meaningful experiences to inspire stewardship. Have fun!

When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it is attached to the rest of the world.” John Muir

Thank You! On behalf of the Docent Council and everyone at Oakland Zoo, thank you for your generous donation.

Questions??? All photos courtesy of Oakland Zoo and Ventana Wildlife Society. More questions? Contact Lisa O’Dwyer, Program Director, Volunteer Visit for more information.