MBF Spotlight: More Than Just a Zoo

There's more than meets the eye when it comes to the Saginaw Zoo.

Yes, its home to a diverse collection of over 150 animal residents and an iconic train that circles its perimeter usually filled with children and their families. But there's a vast array of other things going on, too.

"Some people see us as just a place to come and see animals," said the zoo's Executive Director, Nancy Parker.

In a season of giving, and spotlighting Great Lakes Bay region non-profit organizations, the Saginaw Zoo - formally known as The Children's Zoo at Celebration Square - is all about improving and giving back to the community.

The Michigan Baseball Foundation, which owns Dow Diamond, home of the Great Lakes Loons, while promoting regional economic development and engagement, has twice awarded grants to the Saginaw Zoo.

In 2010, the MBF awarded the zoo $6,800 for its Loons Feathers and Faces exhibit, while in 2013 it gave $2,300 for picnic tables and receptacles in the zoo's Jungle Play Park. Both are examples of the zoo's continual focus on getting better, education and serving the community.

"We wouldn't be the zoo we are without the support (of MBF)," said Parker. "We share the same values. This is about families, and providing family entertainment and educational opportunities. "

The zoo celebrated its 85th anniversary in 2014. Located at 1730 S. Washington Ave. on Saginaw's East Side, the zoo has continued to evolve and expand. A major change came in the 1990s when it went from being city-operated to a non-profit organization.

In 2009, the zoo took a huge step toward a higher standard of animal care by becoming accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, joining the ranks of over 230 zoos worldwide, including zoos in most major cities. It was re-accredited this year by the AZA.

"It's given us a level of knowledge and expertise we never had before," said Parker. "It gives us a standard we have to live up to. We're measured against all other (accredited) zoos nationally."

Parker said some 75,000 people visit the zoo each year. Its animals are obviously a primary attraction, but there's so much more - including the Loons Feathers and Faces exhibit, the Jungle Play Park, and an incredible, large sample of garden artistry.

"What most people don't know is that we have over 100 gardens within our zoo," Parker said. "That has really become a big thing since the 1990s. When they (the AZA) came through in 2014 for our re-accreditation they commented on what amazing gardens we had."

Parker said that over 80 garden plots are tended by volunteers from the region through its Adopt-A-Garden program. The program has become so popular that there's now a waiting list of people hoping to join.

The Loons Feathers and Faces exhibit - which features information on both the baseball-playing and winged versions of a Loon - is located next to a small baseball diamond that's another recent addition. The diamond was an instant hit, says Parker.

"Right away, both kids and parents were attracted to it," she said. "It's amazing to me, because you'll see kids of any age and they'll just instinctively know how to run the bases."

The MBF also donated funds for the large Jungle Play Park, which was two years in the making and includes a pavilion with a seating area.

"It's been a great addition. I can't begin to tell you what it has meant to us," Parker said. "When parents and children some here in the middle of the day when it's warm, sometimes the animals are sleeping. And the parents are tired, too.

"But (the Play Park) gives them a chance to sit in the shade while their kids and grandkids can play and have fun."

There's yet another facet of the zoo that is vitally important - education. The zoo offers educational programs throughout the year for students of various age groups throughout the region.

"One of our three main goals is to be an educational resource for the community," said Robin Carey, the zoo's Education Supervisor. "We go into schools, but we also provide free busing to bring kids here. And that allows us to reach out to underserved areas and give kids the chance to experience something like this that they might have never thought possible.

"You find that some children learn better in environments other than the classroom."

Parker said that many students who visit the zoo have expressed in interest in veterinary medicine, and the zoo can provide them with an up-close look at that field.

"They come and see what it's really like and whether they really like it," she said. "It's a great opportunity to learn more about it."

While the zoo has 19 full-time employees, it draws heavily from a volunteer base that is at the foundation of everything it does. The also have a Zoo Crew program for kids ages 13 to 18 who work during the summer months.

"You see kids come here with their parents (to interview for a Zoo Crew job) and they're sometimes shy at first. But at the end of the summer they're out there doing every job they can," Parker said.

The zoo offers a variety of membership packages, including a $75 family membership which allows patrons to visit other zoos around the country at a reduced price. Individual memberships are $40 and include a variety of privileges and perks.

Parker said the zoo will continue to evolve in coming years. In 2015 she hopes to initiate a strategic plan to build an educational center on the zoo grounds, while there's also discussion of acquiring nearby property to allow for expansion.

"We want to be a zoo for all people," said Parker. "We're constantly striving to be that."