Title
High School Wildlife Education Through A First Job Experience: An Evaluation of Rosamond Gifford Zoo's ZooGuides Program
Date of Award
4-6-2018
Semester of Degree
May
Document Type
Open Access Thesis
Major Professor
Elizabeth Folta
CO-MP
Melissa Fierke
Steering Committee Member
Andrea Feldpausch-Parker
Steering Committee Member
Diane Kuehn
Abstract
There are many gaps in research within the field of zoo education. One of those gaps is the experience of young educators onsite. The Rosamond Gifford Zoo’s ZooGuides program hires 20 high school students each year to educate guests onsite throughout the summer. This study evaluated whether Zoo Guides increased wildlife knowledge, interest in wildlife, interest in wildlife careers, ability to educate guests, and gained relevant workplace skills as a result of the program. This evaluation found most Zoo Guides did increase knowledge, interest in wildlife, interest in related careers, ability to educate guests, and gained workplace skills as a result of the program. However, working on exhibit did not always have higher impacts than training alone.
Recommended Citation
Johnson, Jade, "High School Wildlife Education Through A First Job Experience: An Evaluation of Rosamond Gifford Zoo's ZooGuides Program" (2018). Dissertations and Theses. 21.
https://digitalcommons.esf.edu/etds/21