Habitat Hero programming offered to hundreds of local students 

 A program offered by John Ball Zoo that teaches children about nature and the preservation of wildlife and wild places is expanding in Grand Rapids Public Schools

 

The Habitat Hero program started with five classrooms in 2023. This fall, the Zoo is launching a nine-month program with the goal of reaching 20 classrooms and 500 students.  

 

“Our Habitat Hero program provides an opportunity to engage students in the conservation of wildlife and wild places and inspires the next generation of wildlife enthusiasts,” said Rhiannon Mulligan, director of conservation and education for John Ball Zoo. “We love helping our local communities learn the direct actions they can take right in their own neighborhoods to help save native species.” 

 

In the program, students learn about native plant habitats in their own neighborhoods and schoolyards, and their importance for birds and pollinating species. The students also can plant critical species near their schools to increase local native habitats.  

 

"By interacting with zoo educators, scholars can connect their classroom learning to real-world applications,” said Jessica Vander Ark, science curriculum supervisor at Grand Rapids Public Schools. “This engagement helps them see the relevance of science in their lives and reinforces their place in the learning community as well as boosts their confidence and academic growth." 

 

Habitat Hero also includes monthly engagement with Zoo educators through a combination of visits to the Zoo and on-site school visits in both indoor and outdoor settings. Students will use information and data collected during the school year to create proposals for the addition of native trees and pollinator gardens at their schools.  

 

Habitat Hero is made possible through grant funding from the Wege Foundation and Amway. Wege awarded an additional $150,000 to the program this year. 

 

The program has given local students a new appreciation for the wildlife around them, according to testimonials the Zoo received after the pilot program.  

 

“Thank you for teaching us about birds. My favorite part was when we searched for the bird outside and I learned a new bird, and when you brought the kestrel to school for everyone to see,” one student testimonial read. 

John Ball Zoo