Volunteering at the zoo is great fun and has many creative opportunities.
As you may remember, I assist with a wide variety of artistic projects as a docent. Sometimes I help with photography classes, sometimes enrichment pursuits entertain *me* most, and sometimes it's all about our wee visitors.
Painting cardboard lemur...
Frequently, we make things for the animals to give them something new to do.
When we make enrichment, we often start with cardboard boxes. We're careful to remove any staples and tape and glue that may be harmful to the animals.
Then using flour/water and soy printed phonebook pages, we papier-mâché balloons or boxes to get the shapes we want.
Papier-mâché balloons...
We use non-toxic tempera paint. We make the shapes bright and colorful and fun for visitors and animals alike.
We usually make special enrichment activities for birthdays and festivals and holidays.
Then the animal caretakers stuff the painted boxes and balls and shapes using straw or alfalfa or shredded paper or food. In that way, the animal can search the containers and push them around for a bit of change of routine while browsing.
A cardboard train stuffed with goodies...
This week, I went to the zoo to help make enrichment for the animals for Memorial Day.
Val, our fearless leader, directs activities. Docents come into the zoo's workroom and take turns shaping or painting or detailing.
In the workroom...
Mostly for this holiday, we used patriotic colors and painted flowers for decoration day. Animals and guests alike will have tons of fun!
Boxes ready for the zookeepers to take to the animals...
We here at Seeds of Imagination wish you all a safe and happy Memorial Day...
We know the critters at the zoo will have fun!
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