zoomazium sensory social story

5500 Phinney Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98103 | ph 206.548.2500 fax 206.548.1536 | www.zoo.org

ZOOMAZIUM SENSORY

SOCIAL STORY

THIS STORYBOOK WAS CREATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BOYER CHILDREN’S CLINIC.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

3 Welcome

4 Arrival

5-6 Entrances

7 Zoomazium

8 Entry

9 Front Desk

10 Cubbies and Restrooms

11 Quiet Corner

12 Outdoor Patio

13 Toddler Zone

14 Larger Mountain

15 Fig Tree

16 Stage

17 Creature Feature

18 Puppet Theater and Tent

19 Nature Nook

20 Going Home

WELCOME!

We look forward to having you visit

Woodland Park Zoo!

This storybook will help you get ready for

your trip to Zoomazium.

ARRIVAL

Today I am going to the zoo!

I will begin my visit in the parking lot, and

will look for the parking kiosks.

This is where we will pay for parking. There

might be a line, so we will need to wait our turn.

We need to put the ticket back in our car.

Now we can begin our adventure!

ZOO ENTRANCES There are two ways to enter the zoo:

South Entrance and West Entrance.

This is the South Entrance, where you wait in line for tickets.

This entrance is near the African Savanna and Family Farm.

This is the Guest Services – South building. This is where you can rent

strollers, wagons and wheelchairs. This is also where you can go if you get

lost or hurt. Our security staff are trained emergency medical technicians.

ZOO ENTRANCES

This is the West Entrance, where you wait in line for tickets. This entrance

is near the penguin exhibit, and is the closest to Zoomazium.

This is the Guest Services – West building. This is where you can rent

strollers, wagons and wheelchairs. This is also where you can go if you get

lost or hurt. Our security staff are trained emergency medical technicians.

ZOOMAZIUM

This is the front of Zoomazium. There is a set of regular

doors for adults and small doors for children. Do you see the small

doors on the left?

There is a button to automatically open the doors if needed.

Park your stroller or wagon on either side of the entrance.

Make sure to bring snacks inside and store them in the cubbies

away from crows and squirrels.

Before you go in, check out the big sign in front of

Zoomazium listing what programs are happening today.

ZOOMAZIUM ENTRY

There is a pretty tree decorated with lights

and flowers in the corner that I can see before

I go through the doors to Zoomazium.

The decorations change each season so they

may be different next time we visit.

FRONT DESK

Friendly staff are always at the Front Desk to help.

If you need any assistance or directions, please ask!

We have a variety of sensory supports you can borrow –

including headphones, fidgets, sensory brushes, weighted scarf

and weighted lap items – just ask!

The front desk is where you can go to get help finding your

grown up or if you get hurt and need help.

If you like to color, we have crayons and coloring sheets

we can bring out.

CUBBIES AND RESTROOMS

The cubbies are a safe place to store jackets,

snacks and other belongings.

The family restrooms are right next to

the cubbies, and have two toilets, two

child-level sinks and a changing table.

NURSING/QUIET CORNER

The quiet corner is located in a less busy

area of Zoomazium.

There are comfy chairs to sit in and

lots of books to read.

This is a great place to take a break and relax!

OUTDOOR PATIO

The outdoor patio is another good place

to go if you need a quiet spot to relax.

It is shaded and usually cool.

TODDLER ZONE

The Toddler Zone is a gated area with a

small mountain, a crawl-through log,

a fish tank and cave to explore!

Every day at 11:30 am, zoo staff will bring

out maracas and play nature themed music!

There is also a screen with animal videos

and drums to make music.

LARGER MOUNTAIN

The cave area is dark and has video screens

with bats and bees in their hive. The videos

change with the seasons so next time I come

they might be different.

There is a wobbly bridge, and lots of space

to climb, crawl and slide.

STRANGLER FIG The entrance is located

behind the tree in the

corner.

This very large tree is

somewhat dark, and tends

to be loud and busy.

It has a climbing structure

and slide inside of it.

If you decide to try going

inside, but feel scared,

there is a special door on

the side of the tree that

zoo staff can open to help

you out.

STAGE

This is our stage!

When programs are not happening,

anyone can play on the stage.

There will be a video of animals at the

zoo playing on the screen.

CREATURE FEATURE Creature Feature happens

every day at 10:30 am

(subject to cancellation) on

the stage. Stage lights are on

and the presenter uses a

microphone.

For the first 15 minutes or

so, a presenter tells a

story using puppets or

sometimes leads an activity

about animals.

After the story there is a chance to

touch one of our ambassador animals.

They might be covered in fur,

feathers or scales.

Usually the person at the front desk

can tell you what creature will be

featured on the day you visit.

After you touch the animals,

someone will give you “magic soap” –

a foamy hand sanitizer – to wash

away the germs.

PUPPET THEATER AND TENT

At the Puppet Theater, you can put on your own

puppet show using a variety of stuffed animals and

puppets found in Zoomazium.

Stop by the tent and see what activities are out!

They might include blocks, puzzles, games

and other interactives.

NATURE NOOK

Everything in the Nature Nook can be touched,

but be careful because some things are delicate

and/or heavy. Please ask staff or your grown up

for help if you want to see something up close.

There is a tank of carnivorous plants, books,

drawers filled with items from nature and a

table with exploration tools.

GOING HOME When I am all done playing in Zoomazium,

I will get ready to leave. I will get all of my

things out of the cubbies.

I may feel sad to leave, but I will be able to

come back and play another day.

Thank you for visiting us! We hope you had fun!

zoomazium sensory social story

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