Denver Zoological Foundation Inc

THE DENVER ZOO WILL INCORPORATE INTERPRETIVE EXPERIENCES ACROSS ALL 12 ZONES WITHIN ITS TROPICAL DISCOVERY BUILDING THAT USE BEST PRACTICES AND INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO ENGAGE GUESTS AND MOTIVATE THEM TO CONSERVE TROPICAL HABITATS. IN TROPICAL DISCOVERY, GUESTS WALK THROUGH AN IMMERSIVE SPACE – FROM CAVE HABITATS TO RAINFORESTS AND CORAL REEFS – AND, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 30 YEARS, THEY WILL ENCOUNTER A BACKWARDS-DESIGNED INTERPRETIVE EXPERIENCE. THE PROJECT TEAM WILL DEVELOP INTERPRETIVE SIGNAGE, OFFER LIVE INTERPRETATION PROGRAMS, CREATE NON-LIVE INTERPRETIVE ELEMENTS LIKE TACTILES AND COMMUNITY ART, AND INCORPORATE A CONSERVATION ACTION EXHIBITION TO SHOWCASE CONCRETE CONSERVATION ACTIONS THAT VISITORS CAN TAKE AS THEY DEPART THE BUILDING. FINDINGS FROM THE PROJECT WILL BE APPLIED TO EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS ACROSS THE 84-ACRE CAMPUS.

THE DENVER ZOO WILL IMPLEMENT TWO INTERRELATED DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION INITIATIVES. THE FIRST WILL ADVANCE ACCESS TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN ZOOKEEPING FOR TRADITIONALLY UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS. THE SECOND WILL CREATE INCLUSIVE RECRUITMENT, HIRING AND RETENTION PRACTICES TO REACH TARGET AUDIENCES. THE ZOO ALSO WILL HIRE A DIVERSITY CONSULTANT TO REVIEW CURRENT PRACTICES AND IDENTIFY SPECIFIC AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT. SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS WILL WORK IN PARTNERSHIP ON THIS EFFORT, INCLUDING HUMAN RESOURCES, ANIMAL CARE, EXTERNAL RELATIONS, AND AUDIENCE RESEARCH AND EVALUATION. THEY WILL APPLY SUCCESSFUL LESSONS LEARNED WITHIN THE ANIMAL CARE DEPARTMENT?S INTERN AND APPRENTICE PROGRAMS ACROSS THE INSTITUTION

THE DENVER ZOO WILL IMPROVE THE CARE OF ITS ANIMAL POPULATIONS BY PURCHASING CRITICAL CARE EQUIPMENT AND VIDEO TECHNOLOGY FOR ITS NEW ANIMAL HOSPITAL. THE EQUIPMENT WILL SUPPORT A LARGE ANIMAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AND A SMALL ANIMAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT, BOTH VIDEO-ENABLED, ALLOWING VETERINARIANS TO REMOTELY MONITOR ANIMAL PATIENTS AND PROVIDE LIFE-SAVING CARE FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE-THIRD OF THE ANIMALS IN THE COLLECTION, MANY OF WHICH ARE THREATENED OR ENDANGERED SPECIES. IMPROVEMENTS IN STAFF SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY WILL BE MEASURED WITH THREE STAGGERED SURVEYS DESIGNED AND ADMINISTERED BY THE ZOO'S RESEARCH AND EVALUATION TEAM.

THE DENVER ZOO WILL ENHANCE AND EXPAND ITS NATURE PLAY PROGRAM FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNERS BY REFINING ITS WORK WITH FAMILY GROUPS. TARGETING AT-RISK STUDENTS AT THREE URBAN SCHOOLS, THE ZOO WILL CONDUCT A NEEDS ASSESSMENT, EXPAND ITS ADVISORY FAMILY GROUP, AND OFFER NATURE PLAY MODELING AND COACHING WORKSHOPS. THE ZOO WILL REDESIGN ITS CURRENT FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMMING AND OFFER NEW ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS POP-UP LEARNING EVENTS AND TAKE-HOME KITS. THE PROJECT WILL HELP PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS BECOME ACTIVE PARTNERS IN THEIR CHILDREN'S NATURE EXPLORATION DURING THEIR 3- TO 5-YEAR-OLDS' CRITICAL BRAIN DEVELOPMENT PHASE. THE ZOO'S NATURE PLAY FACILITATION TRAINING MODULE WILL BE ENHANCED TO FOCUS ON THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF AN URBAN AUDIENCE, AND ZOO STAFF MEMBERS WILL ATTEND ENHANCED NATURE PLAY FACILITATION TRAINING.

MONITORING ARROYO RESTORATION - RIO MORA

ASSESSING, QUANTIFYING & MONITORING ARROYO RESTORATION @ RIO MORA NWR

WORKING WITH INVASIVES AT RIO MORA NWR

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION ON THE RIO MORA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE