This is how we zoo it…

Wow, this place is a zoo! And not just because we've got animals from anteaters to zebras in our midst. We've also got people, from admissions staff to zookeepers.

Behind the scenes, this wonderfully diverse group of people are working together every day, 365 days a year, to ensure that Roger Williams Park Zoo continues to be the place you come to wonder at wildlife, learn and have fun.

They'll share their stories here in our Zoo Diary, giving you a unique inside look at what it's like to experience the zoo from the other side.

We'll start off with entries from our docents, the zoo's passionate and dedicated corps of volunteers, who provide support for everything from animal care to educational programming, to enhancing the visitor experience.

As time goes on we'll add entries from a variety of other zoo folk who want to share their stories and answer the question, "So, what do you zoo?"

So read on, and check back often!

October 18, 2007
Janet, Docent and member of the enrichment committee

What a great way to celebrate!! One young boy chose to celebrate his birthday by donating enrichment items to the zoo. We were happy to receive bath towels, dish towels, pvc piping ,and a set of screwdrivers.What do these items have to do with a zoo? As you walk through the exhibits, keep an eye out for unusual items in the exhibits. Our keepers are very creative in developing different ways to make our animals lives more interesting. Check out the gibbon exhibit to see how they use recycled fire hose and toddler toys. Or you may notice the giraffe eating from a feeder made of PVC pipe. Now and again the wild dogs and elephants receiver paper bags filled with their snacks. And many of the containers will be washed and dried (towels are needed for this) or our ferrets may have a bath towel in which to snuggle. Keeping our animals happy makes for a better zoo visit for you, our visitor. So thank you to Jack! The keepers and animals really appreciate you efforts.

October 10, 2007
Michelle Tuffile, Docent Day Captain

Good day, my friends! It has been awhile since I have written.  Summer is a very busy time for me, but it gone and Fall is upon us.  October and November are my favorite months to be a docent.  .  The Wetlands are changing into a cornucopia of colors, I can have closer encounters with the animals, the animals tend to be more active (or I just have more time to notice them), and I can have longer discussions with fewer people making exhibit interpretation extremely rewarding.  As docents, we can expect smaller crowds of people and fewer groups.  The folks we tend to find this time of year are members of the zoo who like animals, but don’t like the crowds, homeschoolers, Moms with children in strollers, and families on vacation.

Speaking of families on vacation, a few weeks ago I met up with a wonderful family from Wyoming.  They were standing by the Pronghorn exhibit and they were discussing the frequency of Pronghorns in their area.  “Lots of Lopes,” advised Cate, the Mother of two.  Pete, Cate’s husband, was very friendly and pleasant and was thrilled to be wearing shorts and a t-shirt as he has “already had snow back home!”  The family stayed at the pronghorns for a while and talked about home.  It sort of reminded me of people from Rhode Island coming to the zoo and videotaping the Grey Squirrel eating the French fry in front of the Camel exhibit.  Paying little attention to something they never see, but discussing in great detail the animal they see everyday!  Anyway, back to my nice family from Wyoming with their cousin, Calloway (age 6) from Connecticut.  I walked with the family down the Wetlands Trail and we viewed a Snapping Turtle on the second bridge.  Lily (age 4 ½) really liked the Snapping Turtle so I proceeded to show her the large Snapping Turtle shell we have at the Wetlands Docent Station.  Maggie (age 6) was very helpful at the station.  Calloway told me all about Beavers while holding the Beaver Skull.  All the children awed over the snake skeleton, bat, and the Beaver Skull.  We even discussed nocturnal animals and diurnal animals and Calloway really surprised himself at all of the facts he knew.  We all learned something different that day and I got to give a personal Wetlands tour to a very special family from Wyoming. 

If you haven’t been to the zoo in awhile, now is the time!  If you came last week or even yesterday, come again soon.  Perhaps, you may be highlighted in my entry and receive a special one-on-one tour. 

8/10/07
submission by Janet Noke

Most used word for the day: "WOW".

Visitors said it about the exhibit and about the animal. Docents said it about our 3 year old visitor from New Jersey. Mom brought him to Rhode Island specifically to see the anteater. That is his favorite animal and it all began with an anteater beanie baby.Obviously Mom encouraged his curiosity about this animal. He had all the facts to the point that he could have done the Yakety Yak for us! He was thrilled at the Cantina to be able to hold the anteater skull, and manipulate the tongue in the interactive toy. Yes, he did bring his anteater beanie baby with him to meet Jo-Hay.

 I have to say our anteater is a great hit. He was so active nearly the whole day, and very visible thanks to the new exhibit design.

7/20/07
submission by docents Nancy Carpenter & Pam Laramee (with help from the Zoopremes!)

What a Wonderful Zoo (to be sung to the tune of “What a Wonderful World”)

I see wildebeests; you call them gnus
A two-toed sloth and tree kangaroos
And I say to myself- It’s a wonderful zoo!

I see penguins pose , swimming black and white
Wild dogs doze in a clump so tight
And I say to myself- that’s a beautiful sight!

The colors of the rainbow, reflected in the plants
We even have a mammal who loves to munch on ants!
I watch young and old filled with glee,
Awed by the creatures that they see.

I see elephants, a towering giraffe,
As I watch their antics, they make me laugh.
And I say to myself - It’s a wonderful zoo.

I see docents smile, saying,”How are you?
Enjoy your visit at our zoo.”
And they prove to us all - It’s a wonderful zoo.

Yes, the docents recall - It’s a wonderful zoo.

Lyrics by docents Nancy Carpenter & Pam Laramee (with help from the Zoopremes!)

7/16/07
Submitted by Michelle Tuffile, Docent Day Captain

Hello my friend.  I am happy to take some time to write more of my adventures at the zoo.  Many days go by that I instruct visitors and tell them the reason a flamingo is pink (because of what they eat), or that a turtle is attached to his shell and cannot come out until his demise, or that a bat is not a bird, but a mammal.  I love to hear the “Oh Wow” or the “that’s so cool” response from the visitors.  But, one of my favorite parts of being a docent is to hear the visitor stories and experiences.  The wisdom and knowledge of the visitors is priceless to me.  This month I am a Day Captain.  So, that means I am “in charge” of a group of 8-10 docents.  I arrange the schedule as to location of interpretation and I carry a zoo radio.  Best of all, I walk around and “patrol” and interpret the exhibits to the visitors and assist anyone in need. 

The highlight of my week was when I met Mike, Peg, and their six-year old grandson, Benjamin from Connecticut.  They were stopped at the Pronghorns.  I cannot remember if I approached them or if they approached me to ask a question.  We started chatting about the North American animals.  Mike was recalling an experience when he was living on the Arco side (in the desert) of Idaho.  One day, “I was driving on the highway and to the right up ahead was a large group of pronghorns running toward the road.  I kept up my speed so that I could see them before they crossed the road.  As I got closer, they changed direction.”  I imagined it to look like a wave.  Peg was amazed at the beauty of the Pronghorn and was delighted to see the American eagle so close.  She had “never seen an Eagle so close in all (her) life.”  Benjamin was so patient and attentive to our conversation and not at least impaired by attention span.

I look forward to seeing these folks again at the zoo when the North American trail is expanded and finished.  They will be so delighted and impressed with its beauty, integrity, and authentic design.  These are the stories that remind me of how the animals must appear in their true habitat as I am accustom to seeing them in captivity.  Though we try to keep the exhibits as true to natural habitat, there is something special about the intimate serendipity union in nature!!  Thanks Mike, Peg and Benjamin for all of your insight!

Another group I met up with were some early twenty somethings on a double date.  I bumped into them at the Flamingos and they were enthralled by all of the unique behaviors of the Flamingos.  They approached the birds thinking they were “weird and silly” and were even laughing at their behaviors as if they were putting on a show for the group.  They left the birds saying, “That is so cool that they walk on their toes and the joint in the middle of their leg is the ankle bone.  The knee is not on backward after all”  “I like that they are most comfortable sleeping on one leg.”  “I like how they use their tongue as a pump.”

So, I left the zoo that day with the best of both worlds.  I heard some great stories and learned something new AND I was able to teach a few things as well.
Until next time…

6/18/07
second submission by Michelle Tuffile, Docent

Docent, Gene Burgess, teaching about turtles in the new docent station on the renovated wetlands trail.

Good Day.  A whole month has passed since I last wrote.  I have been to the zoo five times since my last letter.  Many changes have taken place during that time frame.  The Wetlands have awoken from her sleeping hollow.  Red Wing Black Birds, Carpe Fish (the giant fish you notice as you walk over the bridges), Blue Heron, Snapping Turtles, Blue Flag Iris are of the few wonderful sites you will see in the Wetlands.  The new docent station is fun to work.  There is a large Snapping Turtle shell and skull that we exhibit.  It is very exciting when a school trip student approaches the station and says, “Cool, we just learned all about turtles!”  That is my opportunity to “test” his knowledge through narration.  “Tell me what you know about turtles,” I ask.  The children were eager to tell the story and pleased with the amount of knowledge retained.  The teachers were impressed as well.  Most of all, I find it intriguing when I can learn from the young lads and they love to see that a turtle’s spine is PART of the shell.  They can’t come out!-Alive that is. 

The past three weeks I have brought one of my children with me to volunteer. It is an amazing opportunity to be able to volunteer and be able to bring my children with me. I find that many visitors approach me when I have my children to ask me a question. It usually begins with “they let you bring your kids to work with you?” 

The first week I brought my oldest, Cami-age 4. She was thrilled to come to “work” with Mommy for the day. We visited the baby giraffe and spoke with the visitors for about an hour at giraffes. She loves to learn all about Africa so this was her favorite exhibit. She enjoyed telling visitors that “giraffes like to eat the leaves of the Acacia Tree and the thorns do not bother them, but the thorns bother other animals so the other animals do not bother with the Acacia Tree.” Next, we interpreted the Gibbons exhibit. As soon as Cami heard people say, “let’s go see the monkeys.” She would politely say, “There are no monkeys here. These are apes. Monkeys have tails like the “Y” in their name. The visitors loved hearing her stories and were delighted with learning the information she provided. 

The second week I brought my middle child, Tucker-age 2. He enjoyed visiting and interpreting the exhibits. I took a different approach with Tucker to interpret. I asked him many questions about the animals and included all the children at the exhibit and allowed them to answer. They enjoyed “teaching” Tucker all about the different animals. It is amazing how older children love to help out and teach the younger children.

The third week I brought Hollis-age 8 months. I carry Hollis around in a sling so I look very similar to a kangaroo. I, or should I say Hollis, was approached by many visitors. After a brief exchange of name and age, I would interpret an exhibit. Many visitors enjoyed the story of the giraffe’s birth and how he was standing up in less than an hour after birth comparing it to a human child that takes 8 months or so for the child to stand. 

This week, I will go back to volunteering solo. I will miss my children visiting, but will do it again soon. It isn’t that I do more or less when they are with me. It is just an entirely different experience. 

So long for now…until next time…

6/1/200
submitted by Janet Noke, Docent

Oh, the places you'll go!
That is a book by Dr Seuss and it was the way my mentor led me toward retirement. She hired me, knowing I would work only five more years. My goal was retirement. When she met with me to plan my future, I said I would make it easy for her since I was not moving ahead but moving out. Her response"What do you have in place for your retirement?" Together we planned, so I could enjoy myself and still grow! And the plan was THE ZOO. I joined the Docent class of 2000 on Saturday since I was still working. Learned so much and the learning continues today. Once I was on grounds, working as a docent, I always left the zoo feeling rejuvenated. I could go to work on Monday feeling uplifted. I reached my goal and retired. Then I could give more time to the zoo. Over the years, I have worked in the library, the commissary, helped the Zoological Society do whatever, filled in as base operator, lifted hay bales for the elephants , and hung ropes for the gibbons. The special events are always just that "special". We meet so many interesting people and so many bright children. Who could guess I would be speaking with a Brown student who calls Zimbabwe home while we are standing at the giraffe exhibit in Providence? Or sitting on the steps of the penguin pool talking with a three year old girl who was so precocious, and she ended our conversation with that special little girl hug! And Dream Night is just indescribable. I even have been able to present program animals. Imagine my grandchildren's surprise when I showed a snake!
Along the way, I have met many interesting keepers who have always been willing to share their knowledge and obviously have a passion for the animals. Access to a horticulture department that brings beauty to the zoo and is also willing to answer my own plant questions. I have heard a maintenance worker say he could not imagine a place to work that was as much fun.
There is also the social aspect. A friendship forms when you share the same interests and your lives become intertwined.
And so it is true . . Oh the Places you'll go.

5/31/2007
submitted by Clare Durst, Docent

Docent, Clare Durst, in the Amazon

I've been a docent now for seven years, working Mondays and Fridays. My daughter's become a docent too, and she's at the zoo most weekends.  I'll do almost anything I'm asked to, although I don't usually handle the animals myself. Yesterday was a usual day: an hour or so talking to people about biofacts at the Africa table, and another hour observing the baby giraffe for signs of action - we're recording how much he pees and poops and nurses and sleeps, to have a baseline to refer to in case he ever has problems.

My favorite station is the Africa table, in what's called the "fishing village" (though there is no sign of fish).  I love to watch the little kids in their strollers getting wheeled over to feel the soft pelts, and I like to talk to the older kids about the elephant tooth or the zebra tail. With the Nature shows on television now, the kids are mostly well versed in which animal is what, although we have a binder of pictures of all the animals whose parts we show off.

What does a zebra use his tail for? To show he's happy? Good guess, but think again!  The trick is to get the daddies interested, whether they are with their own kids or serving as school chaperones.  It's always a challenge to divert them with something to think about (why do antlers fall off?) so that they don't jump in with the answers to all the questions I ask the kids! And when I've finished my spiel about antlers vs. horns, and elephant tusk vs. walrus tusk, I can always encourage a visit to the elephants to see THEIR tusks, or the giraffes, to see if their tongues really ARE eighteen inches long.

Right now we've passed the season when the carriage trade (strollers) is about all we see on gloomy days, and are into the Yellow Fever season, when the lots are filled with school busses. The school groups are so enthusiastic and most are really interested in the animals, and we're happy to give them the inside scoop on food or care. Sometimes with the stroller crowd, the prime interest of the toddler is steps to climb on his own, more than the animals, and our zoo fortunately is really safe for them.

5/22/07
submitted by Michelle Tuffile, Docent

Here is a picture of me posing with the animal-loving "Stanley" and his goldfish, "Dennis," along with Cami and Tucker. Chuck and baby Hollis are taking the picture!

Good day, my friends.
This is the first chronicle I will send to you about my life these days. One of the highlights of my week is volunteering at the zoo. A few years ago, I became a docent. (That is just a fancy word for a volunteer educator). I found out about the docent program at a dinner party for my husband's work (yes, Chuck and I finally married)! I was so eager to participate in the program as I had recently became a stay-at-home mom after my fast-paced career at the wealth management firm.

My first day reporting to class was such a memorable event. It was so difficult to leave my baby girl, Cami, for a few hours with her grandparents as she was still so dependent on me, but I knew that I needed some time to myself. I parked my car at the rose garden and entered through the back gate. As I walked in through the gate entrance, a cheery little whistle welcomed me. I looked to the direction of this wonderful song and it was coming from a white-faced whistling duck. I turned to him and smiled and said, "Good Morning." Just knowing that I was in the right place to talk to animals and no one would think I was crazy. I had a smile from ear to ear.

My nose knew I was walking by the flamingos before my eyes reached them. Flamingos always have a distinct scent. I can't describe it. You have to experience it for yourself. Once you experience the scent, you know exactly what I mean. One of my fellow docents, Paula (you would know her if you saw her. She has short blond hair and is usually walking around with a wallaby named Vincent) has told me that she could be blindfolded at her home and driven to the zoo and she will know she is in front of the flamingos by the scent.

I completed the docent program through the winter, put my hours in and became an official docent. I got a uniform and a nametag. Now people would know that I worked there and was not some crazy woman that knew everything about the animals.

I go to the zoo every Wednesday afternoon while my parents watch my children. It is 5 years later, over 250 hours of volunteer time, 3 children, and I'm still enjoying the zoo. Many things have happened over the past five years, but I will tell you more about that in later chronicles.

I have gained more knowledge from my fellow docents than I could ever imagine. Their wisdom and experience is priceless. I have learned about animals, habitats, geography, biology, horticulture, and more. I never imagined I could have so much fun learning. Then, getting to share that knowledge with the public is so rewarding. The teacher always seems to learn more than the student. The learning and fun never ends.

Being a part of the zoo is an exciting part of my week. The zookeepers are always welcome to answer my questions or offer a friendly smile. The creativity of the education department is infinite! Watching the video of the baby giraffe's birth is miraculous and tear jerking. Watching him nurse creates warm-fuzzies.

I've got to run for now, but will write more soon. I've got to go feed my baby giraffe.