Louisville Zoo receives $100,000 grant

The UPS Foundation helps fund School at the Zoo

The Louisville Zoo recently received a $100,000 grant from The UPS Foundation, the charitable arm of UPS. The grant will be used to help support School at the Zoo, a week-long “hands-on,” “minds-on,” interdisciplinary experience designed primarily for middle school students using the Zoo as a “living classroom.”

School at the Zoo began in 1999 and addresses the need for enhanced science education by providing practical learning experiences that motivates students, most of whom come from Title I schools. More than 5,600 students have participated in the program since its inception.

School at the Zoo truly lets students discover, experience and explore the world of science.

“Animals and plants naturally bring out children’s innate curiosity about the world around them,” said Louisville Zoo Education Curator Marcelle Gianelloni. “School at the Zoo connects students to the world of plants and animals by using the Zoo’s ‘living classroom’ and having students ask questions and be problem solvers and critical thinkers so that we can increase their knowledge of environmental and conservation issues. We want them to walk away with a better understanding of how to protect our planet, as well as positive attitudes about animals, plants and the world around them.” 

Curriculum covered throughout the week is aligned directly to the required “Kentucky’s Core Content for Assessment” guidelines covering such topics as animal behavior, life cycles, classification, ecosystems, food webs and organisms and their basic needs. Students’ understanding and knowledge of science and their ability to reason and problem-solve are developed through inquiry and the application of scientific concepts to real-life situations.

“Not only is School at the Zoo fun for the students, it is highly educational and beneficial,” Gianelloni said. “We do pre and post assessments with each student and find that their knowledge has definitely expanded. One teacher told me that she never could have covered the amount of information that students learn at School at the Zoo. ‘This experience made what we have taught in the classroom become real to the kids,’ she said.”

The UPS Foundation has been supporting the Zoo since 1992 and School at the Zoo since 2003.

“Giving back to the communities is an important part of UPS’s nearly 100-year-old culture that’s embraced by our employees through volunteerism, making donations and sharing their unique skill sets,” said Lisa Hamilton, president of The UPS Foundation. “Together with nonprofit partners such as the Louisville Zoo, we work to make a positive impact on the lives of people in need.”

For more information on the School at the Zoo program, contact Marcelle Gianelloni at (502) 238-5328 or e-mail marcelle.gianelloni@louisvilleky.gov.

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The Louisville Zoo, a non-profit organization and state zoo of Kentucky, is dedicated to bettering the bond between people and our planet by providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for visitors, and leadership in scientific research and conservation education. The Zoo is accredited by the American Association of Museums (AAM) and by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

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