Folsom Children’s Zoo and Botanical Gardens (Visit this link)
The Folsom Children's Zoo and Botanical Gardens board and staff feel a strong responsibility to reach out to the community. This is accomplished by offering quality programs and events that educate and inspire children and adults to conserve our natural resources both at the Zoo and through our education outreach program, “Our Zoo to You!”
The Folsom Children's Zoo & Botanical Gardens was incorporated in 1959 and opened to the public for the first time on July 21, 1965. The Zoo is a private non-profit institution, governed by a private volunteer Board of Directors, an Executive Director and 17 full-time staff and numerous seasonal staff and volunteers.
The Zoo reaches out to the public in a variety of ways. The zoo's education department supports the mission through a variety of materials, activities and events, including; Our Zoo to You, Project Wild in the City, Bug Bash!, Wild Wednesday's, Zoo Camp and Summer Classes. The Folsom Children’s Zoo also has the distinction of housing “Zoo School”. The Science Focus Program is a cooperative partnership between Folsom Children’s Zoo and Lincoln Public Schools and provides innovative educational opportunity for 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students. Our Zoo Crew Youth volunteer program promotes responsibility and teaches area youth how to care for our animals. Each year move than 400 youth donate their time to reach out to our visitors.
The Folsom Children’s Zoo and Botanical Gardens is extremely committed to wildlife conservation and breeding programs for endangered species. The zoo’s living animal collection consists of 300 animal specimens representing ninety-five species. The botanical collection consists of over 400 species of woody plants, cacti, aquatic plants and perennials. All of these animals and plants can be encountered by all ages in a very close and personal way.
The Folsom Children’s Zoo and Botanical Gardens concentrates on meeting the needs of all people, regardless of financial constraints, language barriers, or physical barriers. The Zoo provides free admission to the zoo and summer classes to at-risk children and adults through the C.A.T.Z. (Children’s at the Zoo) program. The Zoo also provides multi-lingual interpretation for the Butterfly Pavilion in three languages and broadcasts opening, closing, emergency and weather information in 5 languages. A Sensory Safari for children and adults with visual handicaps offers the opportunity for those who cannot see our animals to experience their senses in other ways.
Additionally, the 9,500 plus memberships receives a quarterly newsletter that provides information on endangered species, animal habitats, conservation practices, botanical species, etc. to the reader.
As one of only five, non-tax supported zoos in the entire United States, the Folsom Children’s Zoo and Botanical Gardens receives no city or state dollars for operational support. Financial support is received through membership fees, donations, grants, and rental fees. Financial support is always needed to defray various program and operating expenses.
http://www.lincolnzoo.org
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