Hellbenders!!

Learn about this uniquely named species and why you should support your local salamander

Wines in the Wild Tickets Are Now Available For Purchase!

Limited tickets are available for Wines in the Wild, a wildly popular
fundraiser that benefits the Buffalo Zoo’s Adopt an Animal program. This summertime
favorite will take place on Wednesday, July 25, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. (rain or
shine) at the Buffalo Zoo. Both the Zoo’s Pro Zoo Board and Women’s Board are planning a
wonderful evening for this year’s event, sponsored by Bank of America, 2Find Your Home,
Volkswagen of Orchard Park, 97 Rock, Classic Hits 104.1, Fox 29, MyTV and Buffalo
Spree.


For only $40 pre-sale (sold through July 24) or $50 at the door, your ticket includes a
variety of food and dessert items, wines and beers, as well as some great services
provided by specialty vendors. Other highlights include a basket auction, silent auction
and visits with some of the Zoo’s animal ambassadors. Guests MUST be at least 21 years
or older.


A limited amount of VIP tickets are also available for purchase for $100 each. These
tickets provide guests with early entry, a goodie bag and a champagne toast.
Please note that this event sells out quickly, so tickets may not be available for
purchase at the door.


To purchase tickets, please call (716) 995-6131 or visit www.buffalozoo.org. This event
is very popular so don’t delay—get your tickets today!


The following vendors are currently participating:
Beastro at the Zoo
Buffalo Brew Pub
Buffalo Spree
Bully Hill
Chateau Buffalo
Coca-Cola Bottling Company
Cole's, Blue Monk, Liberty Hound
D'Avolio Olive Oils &Vinegars
Dessert Deli
Fairy Cakes Cupcakery
Flying Bison Brewing Company
Fulkerson Winery
Gates Circle Liquor
Global Group Wine & Spirits
Jack Astor's Bar & Grill
Johnson Estate Winery
Lebro's Restaurant
May Jen
McKenzie's Hard Cider
Merritt Estate Winery
Niagara Landing Wine Cellars
Panera Bread
Pearl Street Grill & Brewery
Pizza Plant Italian Pub
Premier Liquor
Rich's Red Brick Market
Risa's Restaurant & Catering
The Tonawanda Castle
Vetter Vineyards
Volkswagen of Orchard Park
Willow Creek Winery
Yancey's Fancy
Zootique

The Buffalo Zoo and Erie 1 BOCES Partner to Offer Unique ZooTech School Programs

ZooTech, school programs co-developed by the Buffalo Zoo and Erie 1 BOCES, are now available to all school districts in the Erie 1 BOCES region.

Officially launched in November 2011, the ZooTech programs are designed to incorporate technology with the Zoo’s everyday “living laboratory” of animal residents. Lessons taught under the ZooTech programs are designed for students of all ages and cover a wide variety of subjects. The ZooTech programs have fully been developed as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programs that fulfill education standards in a fun and unique way.

"As part of the program, we will help teachers translate their examples into lessons that will align with NYS Common Core Learning Standards," said Julianna Sciolino, manager of professional development at Erie 1 BOCES. "After instituting their lessons in the classroom, the students will attend class at the Buffalo Zoo to interact with the concepts they have been learning. Finally, the students will utilize technology to create and publish examples of their new knowledge." 

“This is certainly not your traditional fieldtrip,” said Tiffany Vanderwerf, the Buffalo Zoo’s Curator of Education. “By being surrounded by some of the world’s most amazing animal species, the ZooTech programs allow a variety of subjects to be more deeply explored by using advanced technology. Aside from the STEM-related curriculum connections, a social studies teacher can deepen their students’ understanding of world hemispheres and an art teacher can discuss exhibit design.”

On Friday, May 18, 2012, a Sweet Home Senior High School 9^th grade class, under the direction of chemistry teacher, John Elliot, will participate in a ZooTech program that features the theme “Evolution: Beyond Darwin’s Voyage.” Students will be immersed in an interactive exploration of evolution. By challenging students to act as though they have discovered a new island (“Zoo Island”, this program allows them to experience the breakthrough that Charles Darwin made more than 180 years ago.

As part of the lesson plan, the program implements technology with use of evolution simulations and flip cameras. Students will gain an understanding of common ancestry and create a wildlife documentary that features video they take of the Zoo’s animal residents.

"It is our hope that the Buffalo Zoo trip will be beneficial to students by giving them a chance to use technology (internet research, video shooting/editing) to create a visual examination of evolutionary relationships among live animal specimens,” said John Elliot, chemistry teacher at Sweet Home Senior High School. “This will create an authentic learning experience that will ideally anchor their understanding of evolution and allow them to draw conclusions from events and items they encounter in their day to day lives. They will then share these videos with the rest of the class, allowing them to become educators."

While the students create their documentaries at the Buffalo Zoo, Erie 1 BOCES professional development coordinator, James Dailey, will provide the students with multimedia assistance. On May 22, an Erie 1 BOCES representative will also offer in-class assistance with the importing of the students’ captured video into iMovie.

For more information about the ZooTech programs, please call the Buffalo Zoo at (716) 995-6128 or visit www.buffalozoo.org.

About the Buffalo Zoo

Founded in 1875, the Buffalo Zoo is the third oldest zoo in the United States. Each year, the Buffalo Zoo welcomes more than 400,000 visitors and is the most visited cultural attraction in Western New York.  Located on 23.5 acres of Olmsted's beautiful Delaware Park, the Buffalo Zoo houses approximately 1,200 endangered and domestic animals and offers visitors a variety of events and educational programs year-round. The Buffalo Zoo’s philosophy is to exhibit animals and plants in naturalistic settings that represent their native habitats. The Zoo is dedicated to providing visitors with a better understanding of nature, including how animals relate to each other, their environment and to humankind. For more information about the Buffalo Zoo, including the Zoo’s “Bundle Up For Polar Bears” initiative, which is taking place through March 16, visit www.buffalozoo.org.

                               

About Erie 1 BOCES

Statewide, school districts partner with BOCES in an effort to provide accountability, municipal sharing, efficiency and educational equity. Erie 1 BOCES, one of 37 BOCES in New York State, is a cooperative of 19 school districts surrounding the city of Buffalo. To assist school districts, the organization provides a variety of educational services including professional development. Erie 1 BOCES' coordinators engage teachers in high quality professional development through classroom practices that integrate the NYS learning standards, assessments and technology to support higher student a­chievement. The service area supports: instructional technology, curriculum, assessments, instruction, and NY state education department updates. Learn more at www.e1b.org.

About Sweet Home Central High School

Sweet Home Senior High School is part of the Sweet Home Central School District of Amherst and Tonawanda. It is the mission of the school district to empower all students to be cooperative, self-directed and lifelong learners, prepared to responsibly meet the challenges of the future. For more information, please visit www.sweethomeschools.com.

Bowling for Rhinos!

In conjunction with the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK), Buffalo Zoo keepers will hold our local Bowling For Rhinos fundraiser at Thruway Lanes near the Walden Galleria Mall on Friday, June 1, 2012. Check-in will begin at 6:00 p.m. Fees are $25 per adult bowler and $20 per child bowler (age 14 and younger). Fees include three games, shoe rental, pizza, soda, t-shirt and admission to the basket auction and raffles. The price for non-bowling guests is $10 per person and includes pizza, soda and admission to the basket auction and raffles. Pre-registration is required. Registration information (including payment) is due by Thursday, May 17. 

This can be your family or company’s opportunity to be a strong voice in the worldwide effort to conserve endangered species. Please consider forming a team to bowl with the Buffalo Zoo keepers! You may also sign up as an individual bowler. For more information, please call (716) 995-6156 (9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. weekdays) or visit
CLICK HERE to download a registration form. 
CLICK HERE to download a pledge form. 

Celebrate Spring at the Buffalo Zoo

Celebrate mothers from a variety of species and enjoy the Buffalo Zoo’s “Celebrate Spring” event, which is taking place on Sunday, May 13. Visitors will have the opportunity to witness sheep shearings at the Zoo’s Delta Sonic Heritage Farm, enjoy keeper talks and animal enrichment and learn more about the Zoo’s animal mothers and babies. The event runs from 12:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. and is free with Zoo admission.

The event schedule is as follows:

12:00 p.m.      Meet the Buffalo Zoo’s new hyena pup, Kanzi (Gazebo Lawn)
12:15 p.m.      Gorilla feeding and baby gorilla keeper talk (Gorilla exhibit)
12:30 p.m.      Sheep shearing (Delta Sonic Heritage Farm)
1:00 p.m.        Baby bird keeper talk (M&T Bank Rainforest Falls balcony)
1:30 p.m.        Black tree monitor keeper talk (Reptile House)
1:45 p.m.        Hoofstock Keeper talk (Addax exhibit)
2:00 p.m.        Sheep shearing (Delta Sonic Heritage Farm)
2:30 p.m.        Baby wallaby keeper talk (EcoStation)

For more information about Celebrate Spring, please call (716) 995-6133 or visit
www.buffalozoo.org.

Treat Mom to the Wildest Place in Town

Mother's Day Brunch at the Buffalo
May 13

Treat mom to a special Mother's Day Brunch, catered by Current Catering! There will be one seating at 11:00 a.m., and pre-paid, non-refundable tickets are required due to limited seating. Tickets include Zoo admission, crafts and a gift for each of the mothers. The prices for non-Zoo members are $20 for adults and $15 for children, ages 2-14. Children under the age of 24 months will be admitted for free. Members will receive a $3 discount per ticket. To make your reservation, please call the Events Coordinator at (716) 995-6133 or visit the Zoo's website.