Houston Zoo Inc

The Houston Zoo's Conservation Education Department engaged 725,235 participants in 2024 through camps, school partnerships, interpretive programs, and community outreach, fostering wildlife-saving actions. Key initiatives included: - Camp Zoofari: Immersive summer sessions for children ages 6-12, with 2,040 campers enrolled and scholarships provided to families with demonstrated financial need. - Zoo Crew Teen Program: Provided conservation skills training for 68 high school students, fostering leadership in wildlife conservation. (Continued on Schedule O) - School Partnerships and Free Field Trips: Supported 88,000 K-12 students through free field trips, with 80% from Title I schools, many in federally recognized Justice40 communities. Additionally, 17,359 college students from four local colleges visited for free, and 12,031 participants engaged in pre-scheduled programs, including Camp Zoofari, Zoo Crew, Overnights, Animal Encounters, and pro-bono Community Outreach. - On-Site Interpretation: Staff and volunteers facilitated 250,000 guest interactions, promoting conservation awareness through storytelling and demonstrations. These programs underscore HZI's commitment to accessible, impactful conservation education.