Zoo School: Since 1996, a select group of Brevard County fifth graders have had the opportunity to spend several weeks of class time learning at the Zoo. Dubbed Zoo School, this immersive, educational experience has blossomed into a local success story serving more than 3,500 Title I students from low-income families. Debbie Mahl, a teacher at Sherwood Elementary School in Melbourne, first became involved in Zoo School during the program’s second year. At that time, the Zoo only had two exhibits. Zoo school was nine weeks long and the classroom was a trailer. “There were spiders and holes in the floor, but that was part of the experience,” she chuckled. Having retired in 2020, Mahl is now reflecting on the 23 years she spent with Zoo School. By exploring the Zoo, encountering animals of all sizes and species and just spending time outside, Mahl says her students learned to respect all creatures, “even the bugs.” She found they scored better on standardized tests and she spent less class time preparing for such examinations. The science concurs. Study after study shows a correlation between exposure to nature and enhanced empathy, social skills, self-esteem and academic performance. Mahl herself has transformed from a casual admirer of the outdoors to a true enthusiast, visiting rainforests around the world and one of the Zoo’s conservation partners in Puerto Rico. Zoo School participants take full advantage of the real-world classroom that is the Zoo. On any given day, they may use scientific tools to scoop up algae and view plankton under a microscope, examine animals’ physical adaptations or identify native plant species. Through Zoo partnerships, they may even get their hands on real fossils as they learn about dinosaurs! A highlight for every group is a behind-the-scenes visit to the Sea Turtle Healing Center. Of course, it’s not all science. Virtually every subject is cleverly woven into the Zoo School curriculum. Students use animals to solve mathematical story problems, use passages about the food chain or rainforest plants to develop reading comprehension and sketch Zoo residents to practice art. Zoo School has seen its fair share of changes throughout the years. Sessions were shortened to five weeks to accommodate more students, and thanks to a grant from the Eckerd Family Foundation, the trailer was replaced with three dedicated classrooms, each themed after a different habitat. Even as it evolves, Zoo School remains a life-changing experience for students and teachers alike. Annual Educator Open House Introduced in 1997, this annual event hosts more than 40 organizations and businesses from across Central Florida providing information about the resources and field trips Brevard Zoo offers. We support teachers with science curriculum they can use to offer varied learning experiences that introduce students to new animals, habitats and experiences. Hands-on learning makes a long-lasting impact on a child’s attitude towards wildlife and their surrounding environment. Learning Workshops The Zoo hosts a series of workshops for local teachers, scout leaders and informal educators with organizations like the Brevard County government, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Audubon Society and more. Participants walk away with local resources and new teaching tools to benefit their students. 22