Ed Smith spoke with Pamela Reed Sanchez, the President and CEO of the Seneca Park Zoo Society.
-Pamela gave us an update on the construction and the upgrade project they are doing at the zoo
-She talked about the Community Cleanup events they are doing each month. They started these during the pandemic and people have responded very well and continue to volunteer to clean up different parks in our area.
-She also talked about the City Nature Challenge 2024 where community members join in to help them document plants and wildlife across Rochester. This program is done all across the planet. The data is then collected and then analized by scientists so they can see changes to animal movements and plant life changes that are being altered by climate change and other human activities. People can sign up to volunteer for it.
-Pamela talked about how the zoo continues its education of conservation and bringing people closer to nature so they can better understand it with a variety of outreach programs.
-These outreach programs include a collaboration with the UUU Art Collective and Concerts with Cordancia of Rochester.
-She said that their summer camps are almost completely full as registration is underway.
-Their Zoo Teens programs have been very successful and again this summer it will provide teens an opportunity to be at the zoo twice a week. The Zoo Teens will engage with visitors and explain information about some of the animals. She said they have found this to be very beneficial for young patrons of the zoo, who are more willing to ask a teenager a question about an animal and engage. Many of the folks that have been part of the Zoo Teens program go on to successful careers in science and other fields.
-Pamela previewed a few of their upcoming fundraising events like Birds, Bees and Brews on May 10th and Zoobilation on June 1st.