Winter 2012/2013animal chatter

Oh Whata Year!

HOLIDAY SHOPPING Guide inside!

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Officers and BOard MeMBersLake area ZOOLOgicaL sOcietyDonna Schoenbeck PresidentDale Christensen Vice PresidentSteve Hageman Secretary/TreasurerJeanne Flaherty Board MemberDean Gackstetter Board MemberGeorgia Fishman Board MemberLorraine Rittmann Board MemberBrian DeBoer Board MemberDave Todd Board MemberWill Morlock Board MemberMike Vener Board MemberRebecca Hoover Board MemberSusan Munger Board Member

Park and recreatiOn directOrTerry Jorgenson

Park and recreatiOn BOardJean Doyen Heidi StoickJim Stoudt Mike DanforthScott Johnston Dennis MurphyKim Bellum

BraMBLe Park ZOO staffDan Miller Zoo DirectorJim Lloyd General CuratorJohn Gilman ZookeeperLeAnn Stavig ZookeeperBill Gallagher ZookeeperMichelle Miller ZookeeperJoe Jipp MaintenanceKim Konrad Office/Visitor Services ManagerJaime Stricker EducatorBarb Struwe Roots & Shoots Coordinator

A c c r e d i t e d b y t h e

Everyone can be an

animalat the Zoo!

zoo hoursWinter Hours

10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Daily

admission fees2 and under – Free

3-12 years old – $5.00 + tax13 and over – $7.00 + tax

Fees are subject to changewithout notice.

Call for pricing during special events.

605-882-6269

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Director’s Report Dear Members,

The holiday season often serves as a reminder to offer thanks to all our friends who, in a multitude of ways, support Bramble Park Zoo and all of its programs.

This year will welcome over 63,000 visitors to the zoo, which will be an all time record. The 1,500 Lake Area Zoological Society members and their families helped us achieve this exceptional attendance figure. Thank you for your continued support and interest.

Volunteers who gave generously of their time, talents, and resources are sincerely thanked. Bramble Park Zoo is fortunate to have seven capable and willing volunteers who serve as Watertown Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Board members. We are also thankful for 13 Lake Area Zoological Society Board members who provide their continued support. Mayor Gary Williams and the City Council give us support for which we are very grateful. We are blessed with the Watertown Community Foundation, United Way, AWC Family Foundation, South Dakota Community Foundation, Lake Area Veterinary Clinic, Prairie Lakes Healthcare System, HyVee, County Fair Foods, Midcontinent Communications, KXLG and all the weekly radio sponsors, Power 106, Watertown Radio, Sharp Chevrolet Pontiac Cadillac & Toyota, Sheehan Cycle, Watertown Ford Chrysler, Cowboy Country Stores, Crawford Funeral Chapel, Watertown Flowers, Watertown Monument Works, Redlin Art Center, Watertown Public Opinion, Plains Commerce Bank, Coca-Cola, Reliabank, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Burger King, Chamber of Commerce, CVB, Glacial Lakes and Prairies Tourism, Proud Angler Bait and Tackle Shop, Hurkes Implement, Barkley Truck Lines, Watertown Volunteer Center, Target, Salvation Army, The Wheel Inn, Express Photo, Charley’s, Makepeace Jewelers, Riddle’s Jewelry, Herberger’s, Lunker’s, Minerva’s Restaurant & Bar, JCPenney, 2nd Street Station, House of Wood, Mahowald’s, Sioux Valley Greenhouse, ProBuild, South Dakota Department of Tourism, Stein Sign Display, Cutting Technologies, Tool Time, Duane Hoffman, LATI, SDSU, Upper Big Sioux River Watershed Project and our many event sponsors.

Our zoo staff also deserves heartfelt thanks. All staff, including animal care, maintenance, office, education, part-timers, visitor services, interns, Zoo Crew, Roots & Shoots, Girls Rule, Parks & Forestry, other city departments and all of the rest are appreciated. They work tirelessly to make certain every visitor has a wonderful experience.

To each and every one of our friends, THANK YOU!Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

dan Miller, Zoo Director

“WHO likes the Zoo? I do!”

upcoming eventsBreakfast with santa

Santa Claus is coming to town and he is visiting the Bramble Park Zoo! Bring your Christmas wish list and your appetite to Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 15.

In addition to the meal provided by Burger King, there will be opportunities to visit with Santa and take free pictures with him. Parents are encouraged to bring their cameras. Other highlights include crafts in Santa’s Workshop, animal encounters, and caroling. Tickets are $4 in advance or $5 at the door. Youth two and under are free. Tickets can be purchased at the Zoo. Tickets are limited to the first 200 people.

LAZS Memberships are available with many convenient ways to order. You can order your membership by phone 605-882-6269, by mail at PO Box 484, Watertown, south dakota, 57201, by fax 605-882-5232, by e-mail bpz@brambleparkzoo.com or stop by the Gift Shop in the Discovery Center daily from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.

HOLIDAY SHOPPING

Memberships make

great gifts!

“Wake us when it’s Christmas!”

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS:individual Memberships - $40 per year • Free admission for one person named on membership card to Bramble Park Zoo for 12 months.

family Memberships - $60 per year • Free admission for two adults named on membership card and their dependent children under the age of 18 living in the same household to Bramble Park Zoo for 12 months.

grandparent Memberships - $60 per year • Free admission for two adults named on membership card living in the same household and any three grandchildren under the age of 18 per trip to Bramble Park Zoo for 12 months.

donor Memberships - $100 per year• Same as Individual, Family or Grandparent, plus five free passes to Bramble Park Zoo for the guests of your choice.

sustaining Memberships - $150 per year• Same as Individual, Family, Grandparent or if purchased for a business, free admission for one corporate, business or club member and four guests at one time to Bramble Park Zoo for 12 months.• Ten free passes to Bramble Park Zoo for the guests of your choice.• A sustaining plaque for home or office, and name noted on a sustaining plaque at Bramble Park Zoo.

• Free or discounted admission to reciprocal zoos and aquariums• A one-year subscription to the Lake Area Zoological Society’s quarterly newsletter• Occasional specials for members only• An invitation to the Lake Area Zoological Society annual picnic• Not available for businesses

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Memberships make

great gifts!

“Wake us when it’s Christmas!”

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HOLIDAY SHOPPINGmore

PERPETUAL MEMBERSHIPS:Life Memberships - One time donation of $1,000 or more • Life Memberships are limited to private individuals and their families. A Life Member will be considered a member for the remainder of their natural life. Includes all the benefits of an annual membership.• Same as Individual, Family, or Grandparent, plus ten free passes to Bramble Park Zoo for the guests of your choice, a lifetime plaque for home or office, and name noted on a lifetime plaque at Bramble Park Zoo.

Patron Memberships - One time donation of $2,000 or more • Same as Individual, Family, Grandparent or if purchased for a business, free admission for one corporate, business or club member and four guests at one time to Bramble Park Zoo, plus ten free passes to Bramble Park Zoo for the guests of your choice, a patron plaque for home or office, and name noted on a patron plaque at Bramble Park Zoo.

Benefactor Memberships - One time donation of $5,000 or more • Same as Individual, Family, Grandparent or if purchased for a business, free admission for one corporate, business or club member and four guests at one time to Bramble Park Zoo, plus ten free passes to Bramble Park Zoo for the guests of your choice, a benefactor plaque for home or office, and name noted on a benefactor plaque at Bramble Park Zoo.

• Patron and Benefactor Memberships may be held by individuals, corporations, businesses, and/or fraternal, social or service clubs and includes all benefits of an annual membership listed on the previous page.

One-time use passes & Gift Shop merchandise

GREATstockingSTUFFERS!

BRAMBLE PARK ZOO GIFT SHOPShop our gift shop for the perfect stocking stuffers and gifts. We have everything from clothing to toys, stationary to jewelry, magnets to games, books to figurines. We ordered extra inventory this year just for the holidays and are open 10:00 am - 4:00 pm daily!

daiLy adMissiOn ticketsAdults (13 and over)....$7 +taxYouth (3-12 years).......$5 +tax

behind the scenes tours

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HOLIDAY SHOPPING

GREATstockingSTUFFERS!

Penguin encounter – Your mission: call to schedule a private one hour tour in which you will learn about the daily adventures of the penguins living in Watertown’s Bramble Park Zoo. Fee: $10.00 per personBehind the scenes – Enjoy this unique 1 ½ hour program in which visitors spend time touring with a zoo biologist. This tour allows participants (minimum of four, maximum of eight people) to go behind the scenes, get face-to-face with exotic animals in off-exhibit areas, prepare meals and feed the animals at Bramble Park Zoo. Fee: $15.00 per personBreakfast with the Beasts – Enjoy this unique two hour program in which visitors will have breakfast amongst the prairie gardens or inside the Terry Redlin Environmental Center and then spend time touring the zoo with a zoo staff member. This tour allows participants (minimum of four, maximum of ten) to go behind the scenes, get face-to-face with exotic animals in off-exhibit areas, prepare meals and feed the animals at Bramble Park Zoo. Fee: $20.00 per person

behind the scenes tours

For any of these packages, you will receive a certificate with payment which can be presented to the recipient during the holidays. When scheduling the program, Bramble Park Zoo must have at least two weeks advance notice and tours are subject to staff availability. This program is appropriate for ages 4 and up and all participants under 16 must be accompanied by a paid adult.

animal sponsorships

Give someone the gift of a “Wild Family” this holiday season…sponsor a “Wild Child” in their name at Bramble Park Zoo. Animal sponsorships make great gifts. Your $30 sponsorship fee will be used towards maintaining comfortable living quarters, animal habitat improvements and providing care for an animal of your choice for one year. Anyone can become a zoo parent: school groups, businesses, civic and service organizations, families and you!

NEW! HOLIDAY SPECIAL!

Be the first one to sponsor the new tiger cubs. For $50 you could sponsor both the male and the female

for one year and be among the first ones to learn their names! You’ll get two plush animals with your sponsorship.

————APPLICATION FOR SPONSORSHIP————Date Animal to be sponsored atYour name AddressCity State Zip PhoneEmail address

Name to appear on Zoo Parents’ Board and Certificate (restrict to 20 letters, please)

If this sponsorship is a gift, complete section below.Recipient’s name AddressCity State Zip PhoneOccasion for Gift: (birthday, etc.)

� I will pick up sponsorship materials.

� Please send gift sponsorship materials directly to recipient with a card.(I have enclosed an additional $2.00 for shipping.)

� Please send gift sponsorship materials to me for presentation.(I have enclosed an additional $2.00 for shipping.)

� $30.00 for 1 Year� $50.00 for 2 Years

Lake Area Zoological SocietyP.O. Box 484

Watertown, SD 57201-0484605-882-6269

SponsorshipAmount

Shipping (if needed)

TOTAL ENCLOSED

Sponsor

AWild

Child

Brochure:Sponsor

AWild

Child Brochure 11/7/12 8:49 AM Page 1

$50.00 for 1 Year - 2 tiger cubs

there are many ways to support the Bramble Park Zoo, from designating your cash gift to a particular project

to donations of in-kind goods and services.

Planned giving

Leave a legacy that will make a difference in the future of the Zoo.

Zoo Projects

We are constantly updating older exhibits, or building new ones. See what projects we are working on currently and find out

how to help.

corporate Matching giftMany employers sponsor corporate

matching gift programs that will match any charitable contribution made by their employees, including Memberships. It is a simple yet powerful way to increase your

support of the Bramble Park Zoo.

Memorial & tribute gifts Looking for a unique way to honor a

special person or event? The Zoo has several options to display your

personalized message for years to come.

in-kind donationsThe Bramble Park Zoo accepts in-kind

donations of goods or services that help offset our operating budget.

Ways to

give

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Photos in this issue courtesy of Andrea Jean Pulscher, Keith and Betty Raitz, Cheryl Dunning, Sara Kranz and Bramble Park Zoo Staff.

Endowment

The Lake Area Zoological Society Endowment Fund is a specific program to provide funds for the enhancement and development of the Bramble Park Zoo. This fund generates spendable income from the earnings on the balance, yet preserves and protects the real value of the endowment principal.

A donation to the Zoo’s Endowment Fund means you are contributing to your Zoo’s future. You are helping ensure that the Bramble Park Zoo is here for you, your children and your community to enjoy, to learn from, and to appreciate the wonders of wildlife.

Enclosed in this holiday edition of Animal Chatter you will find a small envelope with big meaning. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation. The Lake Area Zoological Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization; the tax ID number is 237294134.

Fund Donation

bramble park zoo’s endowment fund

Curator’s Comments Another year goes by and once again the animal collection remains in good condition. We have seen some notable additions to the zoo such as timber wolf pups, long horn cattle, baby red kangaroos of all sizes and of course the tiger cubs. What a hit they have been. The black bear exhibit opened last spring and has been working out real well. If you have never gotten nose to nose with a bear before, you can now. The collection is in constant motion. Although the collections do not grow much, it continues to evolve on a daily basis and is as healthy as it has ever been. It gets pretty wild around here trying to keep up with all the characters.

This past year has also has been a year of great generosity in the animal department. I am always amazed how the community supports the animals. There has been numerous times when we have gone out into the community to ask for something we need. Many times it is borrowing a piece of equipment, getting a special medication formulated or just help moving something. Not a day goes by when the phone doesn’t ring with someone trying to donate something to the animals.

These small acts of generosity is what makes this zoo special. It’s not the fact that we are a big zoo in a small community, not the fact that we have supportive community leadership, it is not the fact that the zoo has a 100 year tradition in the area. What truly makes it all work is the individuals and businesses in Watertown. The endless giving is the reason we are able to keep the animal species we do. From the entire animal staff and all the wild creatures at the zoo we thank you for all that you do for us.

Happy Holidays!Jim Lloyd

donation tree at Library trees are set for Holiday fundraiser

Plans for the 3rd annual Watertown Community Foundation Christmas Tree Fundraiser are under way. Nonprofits participating this year are: Codington County 4-H, Codington County Heritage Museum, Glacial Lakes Humane Society, Habitat for Humanity, Lake area Zoological society, Mellette House, Senior Center, Watertown Area Special Olympics, Watertown Area Transit, Watertown Regional Library, Watertown Resource Center and the Watertown Volunteer Center.

The 12 nonprofits will decorate their trees and have them on display at the library. The public is invited to view the trees and donate to their favorite trees/organizations onsite. The Foundation will match up to $250 for each organization’s total donations. The organization with the most in donations will receive an additional $500 grant from the Foundation.

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Endowment Fund Donation

bramble park zoo’s endowment fund

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special events re-cap

MARCH4,500 guests celebrated Bramble Park Zoo’s 100th Birthday and participated in Roots & Shoots activities during free day, courtesy of the Watertown Community Foundation’s Youth Council.

MAY232 people helped

Gwen, the lemur,celebrate her 28th

birthday with homemade cupcakes for all!

JUNEWorld Oceans Day brought 189 visitors to the zoo for activities about the wonders of water.

JULY322 friends came to the zoo for Tika the Tiger’s 21st birthday Bash sponsored by

Glacial Lakes andPrairies Tourism and Great Western Bank.

370 visitors attended Conservation Connections to interact with local

conservation organizations and learn about their goals, missions

and projects.

AUGUST367 members enjoyed a special meal in their honor provided by the LAZS, Hy-Vee and Coca-Cola.A lot of people (4,326 to be exact) enjoyed the zoo during Midcontinent Free Day.

SEPTEMBERThe Watertown RadioChili Cook-off brought

1,373 visitors to the zoo for great chili and fun.

This October 7th and 8th, the Roots & Shoots program at the Bramble Park Zoo hosted the 2nd annual Roots & Shoots Multi-cultural Camp. Participating in this year’s camp was 16 year old Rashaun Bull Bear of Kyle, SD. The multi-cultural camp was Rashaun’s idea from several years ago when he was just 12 years old. While returning from the Bramble Park Zoo and a joint Bramble Park Zoo and Pine Ridge Roots & Shoots Peace Day Celebration, Rashaun expressed an interest in hosting a camp on Pine Ridge for non-native Roots & Shoots youth.

“It was pretty cool!” Rashaun said of the experiences he had at this year’s camp, “I liked the bag-pipers. I’d read about them in history class, but seeing and hearing one play up front and in person. That was cool.” This year, Bill Dempsey, came to play several songs and talk about Scottish culture and the pipes for the youth participating in the camp. It was important to Patricia Hammond, the Roots & Shoots group leader from Pine Ridge, that the Lakota youth get to hear a little bit about the culture and history of the non-native participants as it was her original goal to begin to bridge the gap between native and non-native South Dakotan youth, thus, beginning a greater cultural understanding between the two.

Nine youth from Pine Ridge traveled with Patricia Hammond and Jason Schoch to this year’s camp. Also traveling from Pine Ridge was cultural presenter and Lakota singer, Larry Swallow (aka Swalley). Larry is a fluent Lakota speaker and cultural pre-senter who has performed before the Queen of England. Mr. Swal-low hosted a free presentation for the general public at the Bramble Park Zoo’s Free Day on the 6th

and followed it up on the 7th with a presentation on Lakota cul-ture, treaty rights and language, along with songs and drum-ming for the camp’s participants. Camp participants also got a behind the scenes tour of the zoo, including the most popular, the baby tigers and getting to feed the lemurs. These exotic animal ambassadors really touched the Lakota youth, many of whom had few if any opportunities to visit a zoo before, let alone get to go behind the scenes and see a little bit of what it takes to work at the zoo.

Camp participants also helped prepare a traditional Lakota meal, including a buffalo camp soup and traditional ceyaka (chey-yaka) wild gathered tea. Native youth from Sisseton, SD also participated in this year’s camp and for some, who had trav-eled to Pine Ridge last year, it was a chance to reconnect with Lakota youth they had met just a year ago.

update

OCTOBER832 residents enjoyed the zoo during a chilly Thrivent Free Day event.2,736 trick-or-treaters attendedZOO BOO sponsored by Power106.3 and County Fair. 35 treat stations and six monetary sponsors made this event a howling good time.

roo ts& hs oots

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reHaB Birds statUsRed-tailed hawk Euthanized: AspergillisRed-tailed hawk EuthanizedCooper hawk Euthanized: broken shoulderTurkey vulture Non-releasableRed-tailed hawk Euthanized: possible West Nile VirusRed-tailed hawk Euthanized: very thin, old shoulder breakGreat horned owl Euthanized: right wing compound fractures in three spotsTurkey vulture ReleasedSwainson’s hawk Released

acQUisitiOns2.1 Impeyan pheasant0.0.1 Red-footed tortoise

disPOsitiOns8.2 Pygmy goats2.1 Peafowl1.1 Temminck’s tragopan0.0.4 Fire-bellied toads (loan to school) deatHs 1.0 Reindeer (died under anesthesia) 0.1 Sun conure (unknown)

deatHs cOn’t0.0.1 Arowana (unknown)1.0 Impeyan pheasant (unknown)0.0.8 Northern pintail (Pseudomonas)0.0.1 Inland bearded dragon (broken jaw)

BirtHs & HatcHes0.0.1 American bison

animal update3.2.1 = 3 males, 2 females, and 1 unknown sex. To save space when communicating with other zoos, we use this system to indicate the number and sex of each group of animals.

In Memory of: Contributed by:Bill Scott Rodney & Crystal Bender

zookeeper wish list You can help the zoo animals by donating items from the following list:• Fake plants/trees • Milk crates• Rubbermaid totes • Air kennels

(small and large) • Clean towels/rags• Canned veggies or fruitPlease remember…new, clean, gently used or recycled items are welcome! Monetary donations are also appreciated as there are some special enrichment items that can only be purchased through zoo supply companies.

memorials

Zoo Parent Wild childZachary Connor Hognose SnakeHoly Rosary 3rd/4th Grade DeBrazza’s MonkeyTim & Mei Oviatt Sicilian Donkey

animal sponsorships

Find us onFacebook

We now have over 1,500 facebook fans. Join our facebook family today to keep up with current events at the Bramble Park Zoo. Our page is the Lake Area Zoological Society and the Bramble Park Zoo!

Animal Chatter, the quarterly Lake Area Zoological Society Newsletter, is going GREEN! If you would like to help us save money on printing and postage costs, please drop us an email at bpz@brambleparkzoo.com with the words “Going Green” in the subject line and we will start sending your newsletter electronically. You’ll get the same great information and pictures, without wasting paper and money. You’ll even get the news sooner if you choose to receive Animal Chatter via email!

Going Green

Membership Renewals

zoo membership list . . . These members have joined or renewed since the last newsletter. Become a Lake Area Zoological Society member today.

SUSTAINING - $150 Holien, Dennis & MicheleGray Construction Co.Sodak Pest ControlWatertown Cooperative ElevatorWatertown Rotary Club

DONOR - $100 Spies, Jim & FranceneStone, Rick & Shana

FAMILY - $60 Brown, CerrisaChase, Chris & MaryDeBoer, Tyler & KatieEsche, Lindsey & DustinFonseca, Rebecca Nelson & DaveHaagensen, Teri & JesseHirtz, Carsten & RosemaryHolien, Darrin & CarolynJunger, LeAnn & Troy

Kazemba, Jim & KimKiefer, Dr. Gary & NancyMcNamara, Ryan & AmyPickerill, Tom & AngiReiter, Bob & CherylRies, Jason & LauraRobison, Bill & HeatherSalchert, Rick & MarySchneck, Brian & SherriSiemens, James & Deborah

Smith, Andrea & NicoleVanLandingham, Allan & Carrie

GRANDPARENT - $60 Hiedeman, Patty & SteveLeiner, Wayne & CarolLloyd, Patrick & DarlenePeterson, Gene & GailWalder, Don & PatWaterman, Harley & Betty

The Bear Crossing exhibit was a great addition to the zoo.

We love community outreach!

INDIVIDUAL - $40 Hauge, LoriJohnson, DickLindner, Deloris

LAKE AREA ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY P.O. BOX 484 WATERTOWN, SD 57201

Non-Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDWATERTOWN, SDPERMIT NO. 608

Printed on recycled paperwww.brambleparkzoo.com

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events2013 EVENTS

Saturday, March 23 • 10am-4pm - Roots & Shoots Free Day The Jane Goodall Institutes service learning free day

Saturday, June 8 • 1pm-4pm - World Oceans Day Water activities and canned food drive

Saturday, July 27 • 11am-3pm - Conservation Connections Organizations coming together to promote environmental awareness through hands-on activities

Tuesday, August 13 • 6pm - LAZS Member Appreciation Picnic Food drive and members only grill-out donated by Hy-Vee and Coca-Cola

Thursday, August 15 • 10am-7pm - Midcontinent Free Day Free admission, pop, popcorn, giveaways and canned food drive

Saturday, September 21 • 10am-4pm Watertown Radio Chili Cook-off Chili contest, music, prizes and canned food drive

Saturday, October 26 • 2pm-6pm - ZOO BOO Trick-or-Treating in a fun and safe environment

Saturday, December 14 • 8am-10am - Breakfast with Santa Breakfast provided by Burger King, photos with Santa, reduced zoo admission and canned food drive

Dates, times and fees are subject to change without notice. Please call 605-882-6269 for more information on these events

and other activities presented by Bramble Park Zoo.

Check out our AWARD-WINNING website at

Zoo education programs include a hands-on approach to animal discovery, activities, games,

art and interaction with zoo animals.• Deadline to register is one week before each program begins.• To register, please contact the Bramble Park Zoo at 882-6269.

EARLY OUT ZOO CLASSES Be a competitor in your favorite TV show during these after school programs at the zoo.

Wed., November 28 Minute To Win ItWed., February 27 Gator BoysWed., March 27 Survivor

EARLY OUT TIMES & FEES

Wednesdays – 12:20-4:00 pm includes a snack.

Fee: $15.00 + tax per program

School Ages

ANIMALS A-Z

April 6 – 10:30 am-12:00 pm FEE: $10.00 + TAX

Ages 3-10

new program