Zoo Classes
When I was planning our summer I had the swim, zoo and forest preserve class schedules all lined up. The magic age of 3 allows more opportunities than 2 so we had some things to choose from. Money was limited so I had to narrow down my choices... then Aunt Shanna paid for swim lessons... THANK you! Last year I took Espen to the forest for 2 different classes and they were awesome. Interactive, age appropriate and fun for both of us. This year I decided I would sign him up for 4 of the zoo classes since he was 3 and we would see how that went!
OOOPSS... what a mistake it was. The description in the brochure sounded good (they have a good writer). Our first class was Moo at the Zoo. Mind you the Omaha Zoo has a petting barn and goats, donkeys, chickens. They have a dairy barn simulation. So the brochure and my knowledge of the zoo made me believe we would be at the petting zoo & we'd be seeing something awesome! It was an hour class. To my surprise and bewilderment, we went into a windowless classroom under the tropical forest.
We found ourselves and 12 other 3 year olds and their parents in the caverns of the zoo. The children were to sit at a table and either look at books (far advanced) or color a picture of a cow. The "teacher" explained the rules and showed them pictures of some animals. The toddlers had to decide if the photo was a farm or zoo animal. Then they did a mini project that was inconsequential. Then a volunteer brought in a chicken from the petting zoo. The chicken was placed on the floor. The children could not see it from the chairs they sat in because the tables were in the way. I finally suggested they move in front of the tables and sit on the floor. The volunteer seemed rather surprised at the age of the kids and at a loss of what to say. The kids mostly wanted to pet the chicken. Then they were happy to say goodbye. A snack and the teacher read a story and the hour was up. I was disappointed to say the very least. I made no hesitation when I sent a letter off to the education department about my dissatisfaction. No reply from them.
Our next classes were Fish Frenzy (same room underground) and we saw not a single fish; Cool Cats (underground again) and there were pelts brought in for the kids to touch and a crazy hard art project; and lastly Turtle Time (in a classroom in the petting zoo) and a turtle was brought in but no one was allowed to touch it and they did a painting project (didn't dry in the hour and I ended up with green paint all over me from carrying it). The zoo should be ashamed. Put the 3 year olds in the aquarium and let them look at fish up close. Let them watch a feeding. Take them down to the cat house and talk about the big tigers and lions. Show off the new turtle observation deck and walk into the turtle exhibit. There is no need to complete a silly art project. For a 3 year old an experience is fantastic.
If asked today about his zoo classes, Espen will not remember that he had a class. He will remember that mommy took him to the butterfly house and he caught a butterfly. He will remember his shoe falling off on the skyfari and a giraffe getting it. He will remember the loud train. But not a class... I am not sure if we will go to another.. the benefit of being in a classroom with other kids and the possibility of meeting similar aged kids is fantastic but content and experience for a class is lacking... and indeed now that we have had all four of them, I will be writing a letter and copying it to the zoo foundation and anyone else I think will want to know about my experience as as a zoo member.
OOOPSS... what a mistake it was. The description in the brochure sounded good (they have a good writer). Our first class was Moo at the Zoo. Mind you the Omaha Zoo has a petting barn and goats, donkeys, chickens. They have a dairy barn simulation. So the brochure and my knowledge of the zoo made me believe we would be at the petting zoo & we'd be seeing something awesome! It was an hour class. To my surprise and bewilderment, we went into a windowless classroom under the tropical forest. We found ourselves and 12 other 3 year olds and their parents in the caverns of the zoo. The children were to sit at a table and either look at books (far advanced) or color a picture of a cow. The "teacher" explained the rules and showed them pictures of some animals. The toddlers had to decide if the photo was a farm or zoo animal. Then they did a mini project that was inconsequential. Then a volunteer brought in a chicken from the petting zoo. The chicken was placed on the floor. The children could not see it from the chairs they sat in because the tables were in the way. I finally suggested they move in front of the tables and sit on the floor. The volunteer seemed rather surprised at the age of the kids and at a loss of what to say. The kids mostly wanted to pet the chicken. Then they were happy to say goodbye. A snack and the teacher read a story and the hour was up. I was disappointed to say the very least. I made no hesitation when I sent a letter off to the education department about my dissatisfaction. No reply from them.
Our next classes were Fish Frenzy (same room underground) and we saw not a single fish; Cool Cats (underground again) and there were pelts brought in for the kids to touch and a crazy hard art project; and lastly Turtle Time (in a classroom in the petting zoo) and a turtle was brought in but no one was allowed to touch it and they did a painting project (didn't dry in the hour and I ended up with green paint all over me from carrying it). The zoo should be ashamed. Put the 3 year olds in the aquarium and let them look at fish up close. Let them watch a feeding. Take them down to the cat house and talk about the big tigers and lions. Show off the new turtle observation deck and walk into the turtle exhibit. There is no need to complete a silly art project. For a 3 year old an experience is fantastic. 
If asked today about his zoo classes, Espen will not remember that he had a class. He will remember that mommy took him to the butterfly house and he caught a butterfly. He will remember his shoe falling off on the skyfari and a giraffe getting it. He will remember the loud train. But not a class... I am not sure if we will go to another.. the benefit of being in a classroom with other kids and the possibility of meeting similar aged kids is fantastic but content and experience for a class is lacking... and indeed now that we have had all four of them, I will be writing a letter and copying it to the zoo foundation and anyone else I think will want to know about my experience as as a zoo member.
Maybe what I'm looking for is a part time job! Geez...I could do a heck of a job with little ones in the zoo!!
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