Fort Wayne Children's Zoo

Happy #InternationalDayOfZooAndAquariumEducators! From Kids for Nature Camp to Zoomobile programs in local elementary schools, our Education team is always hard at work connecting kids and animals. Join us in thanking all of our incredible Conservation Educators as they continue to inspire the next generation of conservation enthusiasts!

The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is seeking dynamic and playful actors to join our team of Holiday Atmosphere Performers for Wild Zoo Wonderland! These improvisational characters will bring joy and magic to guests by engaging in fun, interactive performances throughout the Zoo. Requirements: ? Strong improvisational skills & a playful spirit. ? Ability to engage & interact with guests of all ages. ? Comfort in character roles that require guest interaction in a public setting. ? Experience in character work, performance, or a related field is a plus. ? Flexible availability during the Wild Zoo Wonderland schedule ? Performers must be at least 16 years of age. ? Performances will take place outdoors in various weather conditions. ? This is a paid performance opportunity & costumes will be provided. Complete an online interest form in advance. https://lnkd.in/gb5EazQq

We have unveiled the baby giraffe's name - meet Mila! The giraffe naming opportunity was a live auction item at the Zoo’s annual Zoobilee event held September 12. “The Zoo doesn’t have a new baby giraffe birth very often. Then to have her birth perfectly timed with our annual gala, we knew we had to include her naming opportunity as part of Zoobilee,” shares Rick Schuiteman, Zoo Executive Director. “It was the highlight of the evening with quite the bidding excitement. The Zoo is so grateful to the generous support of the Hallow Family.” Jake and Molly Hallow were at Giraffe Platform today with their families to unveil their chosen name, Mila. “Mila was a very easy choice for us,” said Jake and Molly Hallow. “Mila is our daughter’s name, who is quite the giraffe lover, even at her young age. Our Mila, was excited to meet her namesake today.” Thank you to Fifth Third Bank for supporting Zoo babies.

Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is proud to announce that it has received accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) independent Accreditation Commission at this year’s Annual Conference in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.? ? “The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo has been accredited by AZA since the mid 1970’s and was the 13th zoo in the country to receive accreditation. The tradition of excellence in animal care and health, in educational programs, conservation efforts, and guest services is long standing expectation here.?That doesn’t mean we don’t work every day to become even better and to continue to raise the bar of zoo excellence,” says Rick Schuiteman, Executive Zoo Director.? ? AZA accreditation includes a detailed application and a meticulous multiple-day on-site inspection by an independent team of zoological professionals. The inspecting team analyzes all aspects of the facility’s operation, including animal care and wellbeing; veterinary care; staff training; safety for visitors, staff, and animals; educational programs; conservation efforts; financial stability; risk management; governance; and guest services. ? As a result of this year’s accreditation decisions, there are now 252 AZA-accredited facilities throughout the United States and 12 other countries. For a complete list of accredited AZA facilities, please visit?https://lnkd.in/ewE5QWwQ.

A great, big thank you to Julie Scardina for visiting the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo and speaking at our Corks for Conservation fundraising event last week! Julie has spent over 30 years in the wildlife and conservation fields. From working as an aquatics animal trainer at SeaWorld San Diego to co-founding her own conservation organization called Mission Wildlife, her commitment to teaching and inspiring others to care about the world around us shines above all else.

Claps and cheers were heard everywhere at our 2024 Milestones Celebration! Celebrating employees who have worked at the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo for five years all the way to 35 years, we were proud to come together to applaud years of hard work, dedication, and always fulfilling our mission of connecting kids and animals, strengthening families, and inspiring people to care.

Cheers to a great Zoofari! While we are still tallying the number, with the help of our community, we were able to raise nearly $300,000. Thank you to everyone that made our fundraiser a huge success! Your generosity helps fulfill our mission of connecting kids and animals, strengthening families, and inspiring people to care.

Happy Flag Day and Military Appreciation Day! Joined by the National Honor Guard and the Fort Wayne Police Department this morning, today, we honor those who have served our country. If you visited the Zoo today, thank you for joining us in honoring your favorite service person in our Field of Honor across from Peacock Café.

Thank you to everyone who attended our annual Legislator Breakfast at the Zoo yesterday morning. We appreciate your support!? Pictured: Amy Lazoff, Kyle Miller, Melissa Beber, Martin Carbaugh, Tyler Johnson, Paul Lagemann, Josh Hale, Tanner Spencer, Rick Schuiteman Not Pictured: Ronald Turpin, Michelle Chambers, Phil GiaQuinta

Thank you so much to Kayla Connelly and Eddie Bittner from the Projects and Facilities team for their hard work on the brand new Turkey Vulture habitat across from the American alligator exhibit! For overseeing the constructions of this space from the ground up, and providing guests the opportunity to connect with this amazing native species, the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo is proud to present them both our Beyond Excellence Award! Their love of the Zoo, combined with their expertise, will create even more opportunities for us to carry out our mission of connecting kids and animals, strengthening families, and inspiring people to care.?