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wild spaces |
wild animals |
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Education is imperative to develop environmentally conscientious citizens, but to truly protect, conserve and regenerate the Earth’s depleting natural resources it takes action. During a 2003 field trip, Zoo Camp kids collected over a dozen bags of garbage from the Warsaw Caves, much of which was recyclable. Removing the litter not only improved the aesthetic value of the caves, but also removed potentially dangerous materials. Items as broken glass and plastic wrapping were a potential threat to wildlife that use the grottos as homes, including porcupines, raccoons and garter snakes. The caves are also a conduit for the Indian River, so any pollution (such as toxins from old flashlight batteries) could end up downstream. In 2004, Safari Zoo Camp made a commitment to Otonabee Conservation, the organization responsible for managing and maintaining this park, to keep the caves litter-free. One day each week we explore the caves, collecting any refuse we find. Garbage is separated from recyclable material and properly disposed of. Due to this effort, Otonabee Conservation recognizes Zoo Camp kids as JUNIOR STEWARDS in CAVE CONSERVATION. We look forward to expanding this clean-up initiative to other parks in 2005. |
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What's around us?Canada contains more than 70 000 described species within the terrestrial and marine realms. Many children know more about exotic plants and animals, like palm trees and zebra's, than what's in their backyard. Canadian wild life is something to be admired and respected. Each summer Zoo Camp kids are asked to report any wild species they discover, both on the zoo grounds and in a nearby forest. Everything from butterfly's and trees to Great Horned Owl pellets and racoon footprints, have been found and photo-documented. This census allows children to become familiar with the local flora and fauna. This data also gives us some idea of the biodiversity- the variety of living organisms- living in our region. This is an excellent way to monitor the health of our environment.
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WELCOME | PROGRAM | STAFF | ANIMALS | SAFARI
3667 Concession 6, Orono, Ontario, L0B 1M0, Canada
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