The Zoo Animal Presenter (ZAP) program annually trains and employs 30 low-income teenagers with diverse backgrounds to provide free animal and nature programs to 10,000 underserved children.
Basic environmental knowledge among youth is shrinking. Teens can identify hundreds of corporate logos but less than 10 plants or animals native to where they live. The ZAP program trains Portland area teens to educate younger children about animals and nature, helping both groups develop an appreciation and understanding of the natural world. ZAP teens and their audiences come from low-income, urban backgrounds that might otherwise have limited their access to science programs and nature.
ZAP teens are trained in natural science, animal handling and public speaking. They gain confidence and work experience, and provide low-income children with free nature programs, live animal presentations and overnight camping trips.
ZAP helps teens learn workplace skills that improve their life-long employability. ZAP teens help others develop an appreciation for nature by sharing their scientific knowledge with community members who don't usually have access to nature programs.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
