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One of the most exciting features of the new Junior Museum & Zoo will undoubtedly be the new state-of-the-art treehouse. The JMZ’s Executive Director, John Aikin, and Exhibits Director, Tina Keegan, gave the Friends the inside scoop on all that went into designing this amazing new outdoor feature. Read on to learn more about what will surely become one of the biggest draws for families with children of all ages and abilities. This is the latest installment in our newsletter series with all the latest news about the new Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo! |
The Junior Museum & Zoo Treehouse |
What inspired the design for the treehouse? The design came from image research, to provide a sense of whimsy to the zoo, and the desire to have it look as if it were homemade. It also had to fit many qualifications and functions, like preventing birds from roosting and pooping on the roof and being large enough to accommodate exploration and play with a sizable chunk of our audience each day. |
The Treehouse Design |
What were the steps involved from initial drawings to completion? An early goal was to find a way for children to explore animals that live in the trees; we call it “up” (“down and under” were monikers for underground and underwater). The original concept was a canopy-walk, but the treehouse fit within the zoo more easily and it also fit with our “neighborhood” feel. The attached sketches captured the feeling we wanted but those had to be translated into construction drawings, then shop drawings by the steel fabricator. Finally the carpenters had to take new wood that was beaten with chains and stained to look like old wood, and the net installers rigged the nylon netting to look like Manila rope nets. A tremendous amount of thought went into the design and how it would all come together. |
Canopy Walk |
What are some of the materials used and how were they sourced? As in most construction projects, the look and feel can end up radically different from how you plan to construct something due to playground standards, safety standards, building codes, and seismic codes. The boards look old and beaten but are new, distressed wood. The framework is all steel, and in fact the treehouse frame was constructed first and the big tree’s branches were attached onto it after. The wood is sustainably sourced cedar that has been left to age over time. The net walls, railing, and tubes look like they are made of jute, sisal, or manila rope, but they are actually UV protected nylon, which is much more durable, stronger, and will hold up to moisture and UV light. |
The Treehouse and The Big Tree |
What are some of the most unique features of the treehouse? This tree house is fully accessible, which is probably the most unique and surprising part about it considering how interactive it is. The net tubes make it a fun destination for adventurous kids because they can climb right out over the zoo onto platforms or to a vertical climber – where you can ascend or descend through a giant hollow tree. Instead of walking a plank, there is a contorted limb where kids can practice their balance as they cross between rooms of the treehouse. There are so many features embedded in the treehouse for kids to explore and discover different aspects of science on their own. |
The Big Tree |
How has accessibility been considered in the design? Accessibility for people with disabilities is important to the Junior Museum and Zoo. Our Accessibility Advisory Team reviewed preliminary designs of the new JMZ including the treehouse. All of the recommendations were addressed in the final designs. A wheelchair lift between the ground and the canopy level was installed. Hand railings on the stairs were added for both children and adults. We broadened treehouse walkways to provide turning and passing areas for wheelchairs, as well as adding places to park a wheelchair and small “perches” for guests with mobility challenges to rest. At the suggestion of our advisors who are blind or in wheelchairs, we added hooks to hang a cane and a transfer station to enable people to get out of their wheelchairs and climb into the net tubes. There is even an access panel in the vertical climber to assist a person in need. In the rest of the zoo, our signage meets the Smithsonian Museums’ Standards for Accessible Design with the addition of Braille and audio labels. We also have detailed bronze statues of animals for people who are blind or visually impaired and sensory-rich interpretive exhibits. These improvements truly make a better experience for all museum visitors! We can’t wait for you to see and experience the magic of this treehouse for yourselves this fall! |
A Bird’s Eye View |
The JMZ Treehouse was designed and constructed by:Keith McClintock, Principal, SH/R Studios – Conservation by Design: Zoo and Treehouse ArchitectVance Brown Builders: General ContractorA Thru Z: Net tubes, railings, and wallsBambacigno: Treehouse and The Big Tree steel fabricationNassal Company: The Big Tree branches, theming, paintingRick Slater Construction: Wooden walls, floors, stairs, and seats |
We are pleased to share that last night the Palo Alto City Council adopted the Finance Committee’s recommendation and lowered the JMZ admission fee from $18 to $10. Over the past year, the Friends have worked tirelessly to ensure that the JMZ reopens with a ticket price that makes the JMZ as affordable and accessible as possible. Thank you to all of you that attended and spoke at Finance Committee and City Council Meetings, wrote City Council Members, and spread the word on social media in support of our efforts. Your voice made a difference! Although the $10 admission fee is what comparable children’s museums and zoos in the area charge, we know the jump from “free to fee” may be disappointing for many Palo Alto residents. The Friends remain committed as ever to expanding access to science education in our community. For more than 20 years, the Friends have funded a program in which JMZ educators provide the same science lessons taught in Palo Alto schools to children in East Palo Alto and other underserved communities. As we look to the future, it is our goal to make the JMZ, and the richer experience the new museum and zoo will provide, as open and inclusive to all as possible. We are busy planning for the October reopening and are eager to introduce the reimagined Junior Museum & Zoo to the community. We know this will be an incredible destination for young children and their families to engage in hands-on play and early-science education, and to interact with new and beloved animals in the zoo. Thank you again for your support. We cannot wait to welcome you to the new JMZ soon.
Sincerely,
Lauren Angelo Board President, Friends of the JMZ
Exhibit ideas come from many places. Developers and designers find inspiration at other museums, zoos, parks and public places, in books, from nature, and from creative people such as artists, scientists, teachers, friends and of course, our visitors.
We spend time watching children play and explore. We observe how caregivers interact with children and support their learning. We also pay attention to the social dynamics of families, caregivers, and school groups. Learning, exploration and play happens differently for each child, so we look for a variety of ideas. We want everyone to find something that engages their curiosity. |
Young visitor’s play with the Junior Museum’s exhibits. |
What is the process for turning the ideas and design into reality? Ideas always seem to work really well in your head — which is why it is important to create a design early on and then build a prototype to test it. With a prototype, we are evaluating a few factors: 1) Does it function as intended? 2) Does it communicate the concept that we were aiming for? 3) Do users like it? Does it engage their interest? The last criterion is very important because even though visitors come to a museum to learn, they also come to have a good time! Prototypes are tested with staff, visitors of various ages and abilities, and expert advisors. We may iterate several times on a prototype. Sometimes we know from past experience that an exhibit will be successful, and we may skip the prototyping phase to save time. However, skipping this step means we may miss valuable insights as well as the opportunities for innovation that arise from observation and the creativity of other people. The last step is to create a detailed design for building. But the process still doesn’t end after an exhibit is built! We often find kids do surprising things or can break something that we thought was bullet-proof. So remediation is always planned for after an exhibition is open to the public. |
The Collections Corner |
What influences or guides the design? Many factors influence the design. We consider esthetics, durability, maintenance, building costs and methods, materials, acoustics, ergonomic needs, sanitization, and environmental sustainability. These design constraints require research and thoughtful consideration. For example, to design for ergonomics we must consider our audience, which spans birth to adults. A toddler’s height, reach range and physical capability is vastly different from a 9 year old’s and even more so than an adult caregiver that will also use the exhibits. We also follow Universal Design principles so our facility and exhibits are usable by all people, regardless of age, disability or other factors. This adds an added level of complexity but the reward of engaging ALL visitors is worth the investment! |
How do you maximize the audience for the exhibits? We try to engage multiple users at each exhibit and provide more than one station for experiences. That way groups can work together, and you don’t have to wait to use an exhibit. We also pace a visitor’s experience by having benches, snacking areas and quiet, sensory-free spaces where people can take a break and re-energize. Museum fatigue is the technical term, and it affects adults and kids alike. Tantrums are an outcome of this, so be sure to check out our Calming Nooks. How do you decide what materials to use and where do you source the materials? Materials are chosen for aesthetics, durability, cost, ease of sanitization and environmental sustainability. We balance our choices by weighing these variables. For example, we may spend more money on a material that is durable, sustainable and can be sanitized, but this investment becomes a savings in the long run because the material lasts, requires less staff maintenance, can be easily cleaned and has a smaller environmental footprint. Because our exhibits are custom designed, the main cost is in the labor, not the materials so we must make careful choices. They are often sourced locally or online. Sustainable materials are also important given our mission and the City’s commitment to environmental responsibility. This takes more research but the benefits often go beyond the environmental footprint since many eco-friendly materials are healthier for our staff and guests. |
Magnetic Sand Tray |
Who is involved in developing the exhibits? Our exhibits are developed and designed by an in-house team that includes myself, Koen Liem (Senior Exhibit Designer), George Carpenter (Exhibits Builder), Leo Knapp (Exhibits Builder) and Lisa Eriksen (Accessibility Coordinator). We also involve other staff, interns, expert advisors for accessibility or scientific content, and contractors, such as text writers, graphic designers, evaluators, builders, artists, and other specialists. It is truly a team effort! Can you talk about your favorite exhibit(s)? I always enjoyed our old Ball Machine as much as the kids did! I loved watching the balls move in surprising ways and enjoyed how the kids collaborated to make it work — developing their sharing and social skills at the same time. There is something about ball machines that fascinates children and adults alike. Our new machine, developed by Koen Liem, still requires kids to work together, but it adds a new beauty with fascinating mechanisms and surprising sounds and payoffs as golf balls roll through the machine. |
What makes the JMZ exhibits different from other museums? We create hands-on and developmentally appropriate exhibits for young children. They are developed, prototyped and designed in-house by a small team. Many are also built by us in our workshop and are mostly built using green, sustainable materials. We have a comprehensive accessibility initiative, called Access from the Ground Up, that is funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services to design for accessibility for people with physical and developmental disabilities. The new JMZ will be an international model in this regard for other museums and zoos. Lastly, the needs of caregivers and visitors are highly considered, and we believe they are essential to creating an excellent visitor experience. How many new exhibits have been added with the rebuild? We have really packed the exhibits and play experiences into the new museum and zoo — not an inch has been wasted! It is difficult to count exhibits because usually one exhibit accommodates multiple users. We think it is often more fun to do things with new or old friends! In our new space, our main exhibition, called Curious by Nature, offers science exhibits that encourage experimentation, such as the ball machine, creating time-lapse movies, making paper helicopters, building mobiles, spinning tops, and more. The Collection Corner offers a scavenger hunt with sensory-rich interactives amongst our natural history collection artifacts. The Build! area will change every few months with innovative blocks to build and topple. The Baby’s Meadow welcomes our crawlers and toddlers with activities just right for youngest visitors.The Garden offers a Gravel Dig, a water and sand table and active play experiences to keep kids busy in nature. It is also a beautiful place for adults to relax with one another while they watch their children. |
Since 1999, the Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo has addressed inequality in education through our Science Outreach Program. Through this program the Friends provide funding to JMZ educators to go into elementary schools in East Palo Alto and eastern Menlo Park to teach the same STEM science lessons they teach in Palo Alto schools. The goal of the program is to ignite a love of science and lay the foundation for success in middle- and high-school science and math. For more information on the program, or if you would like to donate, please follow this link. We reached out to our Science Outreach teachers to get a taste of what it’s been like bringing science lessons to multiple schools remotely this past year. Here’s a glimpse into their process and what the experience has been like for them (spoiler alert: their efforts have been Herculean). JMZ Educator Jenny Nelson was kind enough to answer some of our more pressing questions on the topic of providing Science Outreach during a global pandemic. |
What is your background and when did you get involved with Science Outreach and the JMZ? I studied Marine Biology and Geology and have worked for several Bay Area zoos, aquariums and marine science non-profit organizations. I have worked at the Junior Museum since 1998. I’ve always had a passion for sharing my love of science with kids. I just love teaching science! While at the museum I have taught preschool programs, after school programs and summer camps. What I’ve enjoyed most, however, is developing new K-5 curriculum and teaching in the Palo Alto and Ravenswood School District schools. |
JMZ Teacher Jenny Nelson teaches a virtual science class on lungs. |
How many schools are still receiving Science Outreach lessons? How many students are being served? Annual Contract Schools Overview 2020-2021East Palo Alto: 3 schools, 1566 studentsSanta Clara County Funded Title One Schools: 3 schools, 810 studentsPalo Alto Unified School District: 6 schools, 2,112 studentsTotals: 12 schools and 4,488 students What has the process of pivoting to online lessons been like for you? Last April, after “in-person school” shut down, a few of us in the Education Department sat down and began to discuss our options for offering remote science lessons in a virtual format. Being that the plans for local schools were in a fluid, ever changing state, we had to plan for a variety of options. Our primary goals were to be able to continue to provide: The high quality science lessons that our schools are used to receiving from us. The personal JMZ staff to student to teacher relationships that our schools expect and enjoy. The back and forth interaction with the kids, that is so important to us as JMZ educators. We had no idea at that time what “school” was going to look like…..whether the schools would be in-person with modifications or fully remote or something in between. We knew for sure that kids were not going to be able to work together in groups or share any of the materials needed for our lessons. Since we normally offer over 60 different individual science lessons, we needed to first review each lesson to determine whether it would be feasible and practical to teach in a virtual format. Some of our lessons use expensive scientific equipment like measuring devices and microscopes that we simply cannot provide to each child. We also use some very valuable materials in our lessons like fossils or animals/biofacts that we could not loan out to every child. And, still other lessons use certain chemicals that we did not want the kids using without supervision. In the end we narrowed down our options to about 6-8 lessons for each grade level. We then had to modify some of the activities for each of the lessons so that kids would be able to participate as easily as possible, while learning mostly on their own without adult supervision. Next, we researched and purchased the products that would: Work for the lessons;Be easy to use for the kids;Be as earth-friendly as possible since our materials would be totally consumable; and,Not break the budget. We have not increased the prices for our programs but in reality, the materials cost has ended up being very expensive this year. |
We prototyped the new activities and modified accordingly as we saw what worked and what didn’t. We even tried out some of the activities during our summer camps. During the summer we reached out to teachers, principals and even school district staff to inquire about what would be happening in the schools in the Fall and whether we would be allowed on campus or have to be purely remote. As it turns out, we are fully remote. Understandably, the schools and teachers were overwhelmed with the ever changing plans for how the kids would be educated this year. Even some of our long standing schools just couldn’t add us into the mix this year. In the end, most of our schools voiced an interest in keeping us as a part of their curriculum plans. We are teaching in most of our normal contracted and grant-based schools, but with maybe a few less lessons at certain schools. | Jenny prepares materials for a virtual lesson on lungs. |
A few schools have us teaching asynchronously by providing recorded lessons for the kids to view on their own time. Most schools have us teaching “live” on a remote basis. Some kids are at home learning remotely all the time. Others are in a hybrid situation where they are sometimes at school and sometimes at home. This has made scheduling very difficult. One big challenge for us was “studio” space for our virtual programming. With the sheer number of programs we are offering this year and the need for JMZ staff to socially distance, we have needed at least 8 operational studios set up with computers, monitors, cameras, lighting and sound. We currently have studios at Cubberley, the new Junior Museum, the Baylands Interpretive Center and even in some staff homes! We have continuously adapted and pivoted as needed to make things work. Finally, I can happily say that everything is flowing along quite nicely! How have the students responded to these lessons? The kids seem to have adapted pretty well to our science lessons. They know how to use a computer better than most of us! If I have a question or am having a problem with the computer, they help me! They seem excited to see me and talk with me and they enjoy the lessons and activities we are providing. I think they also really enjoy the bag of goodies they receive for each lesson and they are always so happy to hear that they get to keep all the supplies! Understandably it has proven to be a little difficult for some kids to not be able to get the hands-on help from an adult when they experience a problem working on a particular project or to not being able to work together in groups, but we are trying to teach patience and resilience through the “scientific process”. |
Jenny drilling caps for a virtual Potential/Kinetic Energy lesson. | What has been most eye opening about this shift to virtual lessons? The logistics of making remote learning work has been an eye-opener. It isn’t as simple as opening a Zoom meeting and just talking to the kids. We are teaching science which is inherently hands-on and project-driven, especially our Junior Museum science lessons. The students benefit from the materials actually being in their hands when learning and experiencing the concepts we are covering. And, with all the Covid safety measures in place, there is a process that must be followed to get the materials to the kids for that to happen. It is amazing how much time it now takes to prep each lesson. To make sure that the materials are Covid safe for all the students, each child gets their own packet of materials. |
We are constantly assessing our supplies and reordering to keep up with the demand. And, because the museum is not yet open, most of the materials are shipped to our private homes and then we act as the delivery drivers bringing them to the museum. We use all of our available open spaces at the museum to prepare our materials. Many times the staff prep in their own homes. Our homes have “mini-assembly lines” set up in order to pack up all the individual parts for each lesson. Most of the time we are preparing materials for 50-100 students at a time for just one lesson. Then we need to package up and deliver those materials to each school before each lesson. It all has to be timed around “material pick-up dates” the schools set for families with children learning remotely to come and pick up the materials from school. To make it more complicated, each school and even each grade level has different pick up dates. The logistics of it all has been overwhelming. Our work calendars now include not only the dates of our lessons for each classroom, but also our material drop off dates, our teaching materials sign out dates and our studio sign up dates. Each of us triple checks our calendars to make sure we are not missing anything! What are you most looking forward to when we are back to normal in-person lessons? I know all of us are clinging to the hope that we can return to in-person teaching in the Fall. We miss the hands-on learning, our teaching relationships with the kids, and the sense of being part of a school community. Most of us have been working with our local schools for years. Many of us are assigned to entire schools and so we get to know kids and their families as the kids age up from K-5th grade. We genuinely miss the kids! And, we miss the personal interaction we get working with the kids in a classroom setting. The kids miss us, too! They constantly ask me “when are we going to see you again” or “when are you coming back to our school”? |
JMZ Teacher Jenny Nelson teaches a virtual science class on lungs. |
As we shared at the end of last year, our flamingos are settling nicely into their new home at the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo. This month, JMZ Executive Director John Aikin takes us behind-the-scenes to teach us even more about these unique animals! |
We can’t wait to share the new JMZ with our community. We look forward to reopening after the pandemic when we can safely welcome all of our friends! |
Flamingos and Scarlet Ibis’ at the New Palo Alto Junior Museum & ZooPhoto credit: Lee Harper |
If you have driven by the Junior Museum & Zoo recently, you have probably wondered what’s been going with construction of the new museum and zoo! We are lucky that we’ve been able to push along construction, even with all of the obstacles that COVID-19 brings. We are thrilled to share that the animals are moving in, the paint is dry, and exhibits are being installed. Here are some videos that give you a peek into the new JMZ. We can’t wait to re-open next year when it’s safe to do so. |
See the beloved Rainbow Bridge, which crosses over Flamingo Creek and is accessible for all to enjoy. Follow the tracks with animal footprints throughout the JMZ. Check out Edward’s new home at the JMZ. |
Treehouse in the New Zoo |
I recall the first time that I hand-fed a flamingo because it was an extraordinary experience. As I stepped into the flamingo enclosure at the San Diego Zoo, I was struck by how impressively tall the birds were as they stood right next to me – my heart fluttered. I was handed a clear plastic cup of water with a half dozen pellets floating inside, which I recognized as the birds’ lunch – flamingos in zoos are fed a pelleted diet designed just for them. As I held out the cup, a bird named Marge approached, looked me straight in the eye, craned its neck and then inserted its bill into the cup. The cup began to shake and I could hear and feel a piston-like pumping of water sloshing about. I remember learning that flamingos use their tongue to pump water through their bill to filter food from the water, just like a whale. In that moment, connecting what I had learned with the actual experience of feeling the pumping was incredible. |
This experience caused me to see and understand these birds differently. These odd birds, with impossibly long bones in their legs, their long curved necks and upside-down-shaped bills, their anatomy and its role in nature somehow added to the intrigue of these mystical animals. This colorful creature was shaped over time, and had honed a powerful technique to extract small crustaceans and algae from shallow brackish and saltwater by pumping water through its bill. My firsthand experience and emotional reaction with the flamingos were a powerful and memorable experience, which we could replicate and share with the JMZ community. |
With this in mind, during the design of the zoo we planned an area adjacent to the flamingo’s new home where we could bring groups of people, a few at a time. Smaller groups of people are easier to monitor and manage, and so easier to keep everyone calm and focused – all important things when working with animals. This area, called Wildlife Circle, is where most of the animal feedings will occur once we reopen. |
We also designed the pool to be a place where the birds would want to be. One of the challenges of caring for flamingos is that they can injure their feet from standing on the concrete floor of a pool, so we designed our ponds and our stream to have a floor of pebbles, which provides the birds a soft substrate that is good for their feet. They also like to forage for algae and will move the gravel around with both their feet and their bills. Once everything was ready, we found six American flamingos in Brownsville, Texas. We chose that type because they are the largest and calmest of their kind and they also have the brightest colors; nearly all of their feathers are infused with the most amazing shades of apricot, pink and red. However, it’s not as easy as you may think to get these birds to Palo Alto. Flamingos do best by walking on their own, or even hand carried short distances. Their crates are too tall to fit onto an airline carrier, so the best option here is to drive. After 23 hours on the road in the back of a horse trailer, and quarantining for 30 days, we are thrilled to have our flamingos acclimated to their new home at the JMZ! |
The CZU Lightning Complex wildfires have had a profound impact on the lives of Bay Area residents, especially those who were forced to evacuate. The evacuation orders affected not only people but also their animals, including large animals such as horses, donkeys, and llamas. Our Animal Ambassador, Lee Harper, has spent the past few weeks sheltered in place on the coast, caring for many of these rescued animals – including several alpacas and a camel. In this newsletter we shine a spotlight on just some of the work our magical ambassador Lee does when she isn’t working for the Friends.
Zookeeper Lee and Willy the Camel. Photo Credit: Miguel Martinez |
Do you have a question for Zookeeper Lee? Let us know by replying to this email, and we will post Lee’s responses in our next edition. |
Q: Before Covid-19 temporarily closed the JMZ, can you describe your role at the JMZ?
Lee: At the JMZ, I work as a zookeeper, exhibit design/construction/fabrication and also as an Animal Ambassador for The Friends. We have Super Family Sundays, appreciation days for families who have children with physical disabilities and learning differences. There is so much joy in sharing the animals with these families. Everyone blossoms. It is a very positive and liberating experience. We also had a Club JMZ program sponsored by The Friends. This was a little gem. It developed into a place to build core relationships with members, to engage more deeply and grow their animals skills. The members that became involved in this program were able to create their own trust bonds with the animals. We often focused on Behavioral Enrichment. That is a crucial element in animal care. Many of the Club JMZ families continue to send videos and stories about the Behavioral Enrichment they are creating for their own animals at home.
Q: What is your favorite thing about being an Animal Ambassador?
Lee: One of my favorite things is developing a trust bond with animals, children and caregivers. It allows me to safely bring an animal out for the children and caregivers to experience them in a much deeper way. It is a delight to witness the gasp of wonder as they gently stroke the back of our giant tortoise, Edward. I love to share the experience of engaging with families and the animals. I have so missed sharing those moments with our guests.
Q: What makes the JMZ special to you?
Lee: The JMZ is extraordinarily special . We are able to build close relationships with the families. The membership is so devoted and they stay involved. They aren’t just looking at these animals, they are knowing these animals. They can “get in the thick of it” and have a one-on-one experience. That is one of the many ways the JMZ so special.
Willy the Camel. Photo Credit: Lee Harper |
Q: Now that the fires have impacted so much of the Bay Area, how have you pivoted in your work with animals?
Lee: I have been at the ranch where I live on the Coastside, south of Half Moon Bay. We have been sheltering animals that were evacuated from their homes. I have been volunteering with the San Mateo Large Animal Evacuation Group, an astoundingly resilient and devoted group of people. We received an urgent call that they were working on getting a camel trailered and evacuated from his home. We needed to put up a large camel corral and set-up accommodations in the paddocks and barn stalls for goats, a ram, and two frightened alpaca. We prepared an environment where they could feel safe.
The people who head up the rescue organization are from Half Moon Bay Feed and Fuel, and they are the heartbeat of this community. Robin, Laura and Brianna Camozzi head up the organization.These three women are the most amazing and steadfast beings. It is incredible what they are able to accomplish. We are all on standby until at least mid-October. This is only the beginning of the fire season. We continue to build more corrals and places where we can shelter more animals.
Q: What has been the unexpected highlight of this experience for you?
Lee: Years ago I worked with camels. I never dreamed there would be a big, glorious camel in my front yard. William (Willy) the camel is at least 1,000 lb. He is 13 years old. The last time he was trailered and off his property was 8 years ago. This was a startling change in his bucolic life. Slowly I developed a rapport with Willy. You behave in a way that is very predictable for the animals in your care. You gently begin to build trust. I would lay on the ground and mimic Willy’s behavior, picking up sticks and grass. He eventually would lay down and pick up sticks and grass with me. Soon he offered his head to be rubbed. It’s a sweet, slow groove. From my experience, camels do not do as well with alpha handling behavior. If you are warm and kind around them, there is no need to push them. You are just offering them safety and predictability. That rapport we built was helpful when we had to trailer him for his return trip home.
One of the highlights was to lay down near Willy and listen to the comforting sounds he would make. We were a soothing presence in each other’s lives. That was the biggest surprise, I had become a bit sad being away from the children and caregivers I am used to sharing with at the JMZ. When this all happened with Willy, my heart lit up. Willy’s presence brought all sorts of neighbors out of nowhere and a sweet camaraderie blossomed in our little rural community. Willy is safe and sound and back with his family now. They missed him so much. We will be visiting him soon. It was a joy to have the opportunity to help Willy.
Willy the Camel and Zookeeper Lee. Photo Credit: Lee Harper |
Q: What excites you most about the new JMZ facility and your re-entry back to work upon reopening?
Lee: People will be in wonder when they see it! It is absolutely magnificent. When I am there and look around, I get this feeling that this is the sort of place that will stay in people’s memory for ages after they leave. The impact is so much more than what can be seen with the eye. Your senses feel heightened. The sounds, the water flowing, the colors. Oh and wait until you experience the astounding botanicals! It just feels enchanted there. Edward, the giant tortoise, has a fabulous new enclosure with an elephant foot tree in the middle. A warm cave you can see into. There is even a soaking pond for him. There are infinite opportunities to explore, above and below ground. The children will be able to climb into caves and see the animals in their night quarters resting. You get to be with them in their quiet places, and in their burrows. You can go up in the treehouse and see everything from a birds eye view. My favorite part of the whole experience is that it is ALL ACCESS. Everyone can enjoy the experience and share the wonder. There are places to unload out of your wheelchair and you can climb down inside caves and burrows. You can take an elevator to see areas of the JMZ from above. You have all sorts of ways to experience the Junior Museum and Zoo. It will be a welcoming environment for all abilities.
Interview taken on September 2, 2020Read more about the Bay Area Animal Evacuations HERE.
Willy the Camel and Zookeeper Lee. Photo Credit: Miguel Martinez |
On Monday, September 10, the Rotary Club of Palo Alto presented the Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo (Friends) with a $100,000 grant to support a new Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo (JMZ) facility.
Aletha Coleman, Friends’ Board President, says that the organization is proud to partner with the Rotary Club to re-imagine and rebuild the JMZ. “The Friends’ Board of Directors is thankful to the Rotary Club of Palo Alto for helping make possible a new Junior Museum & Zoo. Their support and partnership has been an instrumental part of the Friends’ successfully raising $25 million to construct the new facility.”
This gift from the Rotary Club, along with the generous support of other donors, helps to ensure that the Junior Museum & Zoo will be revitalized so that it can continue to serve children and their families for generations to come. Ginny Lear, Rotary Club President, believes that the new Junior Museum & Zoo will be a wellspring of rich educational opportunities. “This grant to support the JMZ is a perfect match for us as we begin to focus on our Club’s Centennial year, coming in 2022. We are proud to help to continue providing exceptional science experiences for our youngest community members and look forward to future partnerships.”
Built in 1941, the old Junior Museum & Zoo building had become inadequate for the extensive early-education science programming that the JMZ provides both on-site and in local elementary schools. The new Junior Museum & Zoo will include safer access, improved facilities and increased access for visitors of all abilities. The building will be modernized while retaining the kid-friendly and intimate qualities of the old facility, providing even more unique, educational experiences that are invaluable to children.
Construction began in June 2018 and the new JMZ will open in 2020. The current architectural designs and a project timeline can be found on the Friends’ website: https://friendsjmz.org/building-new-jmz/.
The JMZ is open at Cubberley Community Center during construction, located at 4050 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto. Visitors can continue to enjoy many of their favorite exhibits, including the Kid-Powered Ball Machine and the giant Climbing Web. Some animals are also located at Cubberley, including the snakes, skinks and hedgehogs.
1451 Middlefield Road
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Email: info@friendsjmz.org
Phone: 650-326-6338