Zoo and ACS Relay for Life

I was a “Docent” for the local zoo for about five and a half years. The Docent Council is a group of volunteers that help staff educational activities at the zoo. We’re the ones that give the tours, take the Zoo-2-U van out to the elementary schools and special events in the area. The Docents run the “Just Ask” program where we take biofacts out to the garden for people to handle and ask questions about. We assist with special fund-raising events at the zoo, provide slide shows for organizations, help with weekend classes for zoo members at the zoo … that sort of thing. It’s a little more intensive than the other volunteering opportunities at the zoo (such as the Greeters, zoo shop, or Children’s Zoo) because it requires a nine month training program concerning the history of the zoo and the species of animals we have. You also have to learn a little about the veterinary services provided, the nutrition program we have for the animals, the features of the different exhibits that make them appropriate for the species exhibited in each. Lastly, but definitely not leastly, you need to learn the location of every bathroom in the zoo. It’s easily the most common question you’ll be asked.

I loved working at the zoo as a Docent, and was lucky enough to be able to get involved with some “extras” after I’d gained some experience. I did behavior observations for a study being run on meerkat interaction and for another study on aardvark maternal behavior. I helped with a program that was developing an easily stored and transported food for tamanduas (arboreal anteaters). I also helped go through the veterinary archives and prepare them for microfiching, which sounds like a tedious chore but actually turned out to be a wonderful opportunity to get a glimpse of the Zoo and its City at the beginning of the twentieth century.

I’ve missed volunteering there. I’ve missed the opportunities to talk with people about things I love. I’ve missed the friends that I made and worked alongside of there. And I’m really looking forward to returning to “active duty”.

Speaking of volunteering, I just remembered this morning that I’d agreed to participate in the local American Cancer Society Relay for Life June 22nd. I’d best start recruiting donations! There’s a few people here at work who owe me, and this year (unlike the prior two) I intend to collect from them! If I bought Girl Sprout cookies from you this year, if I purchased a hoagie for your son’s soccer camp, if I bought raffle tickets for your wife’s Ladies’ Club, I’m headed your way! Payback time, boys and girls!

I usually walk sometime during the “dead shift”; last year I walked from 2 a.m. until 4 a.m. and I’ll probably do the same this year. I like walking at night. They light the track with luminarias – candles in white bags. The bags go all the way around the regulation sized high school track, and are two deep in some places. They have the names of survivors and victims on them, and it has been a very profound experience for me to do my shift during this time. My father died of lung cancer that metasticized to his brain (this year’s walk is nearly twelve years to the day after his death) and I usually spend a lot of time thinking about him.

The walk is held (on different dates) throughout the country, and raises money for cancer research and treatment through the American Cancer Society. If there’s a walk being held near you, I encourage you to either participate in it or support someone who does. You can support a walker by directly pledging to them (there’s no minimum to the amount you pledge), or you can purchase a luminaria for $5.00 that will be dedicated to someone you knew who lost his or her battle to cancer, or to honor someone you know winning the fight. There are also Relay for Life Teddy Bears available for $10 through most chapters that help raise money for the American Cancer Society. I have one of last year’s Teddy Bears on my desk – he’s one of the best office companions I could ask for!

I’m hoping that, with all the walking I’m doing in the gym, I can manage to do eight miles in the two hours allotted to me. I know that won’t sound like much to you joggers, but a steady pace of 4 mph is a little less than I’m doing on the treadmill at the gym, and I’d like to think I can keep it up on a level track for a couple of hours.