It's one thing to visit a zoo and maybe get a glimpse of the animals if they aren't hiding in their enclosures, but the Crealy Great Adventure Park in the UK recently opened up a new 'Animal Keeper for a Day' experience that makes sure kids get the chance to interact with animals. This is even a step up from an ordinary petting zoo, since kids actually get the chance to learn about and experience behind-the-scenes animal care firsthand.
The new program is open year-round and on a typical day, kids will get their own special zookeeper t-shirts to wear and they will be presented with a certificate after a day full of feeding meerkats, petting ponies and grooming wallabies.
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Hands-on Animal Education
- Opportunities for children to learn through interactive experiences with animals are becoming increasingly popular.
- Eco-tourism
- More parks and attractions are developing sustainable tourism practices, with a focus on education and conservation within their programs.
- Experiential Learning
- Hands-on programs like animal keeping are part of a larger trend of experiential learning opportunities that are proving to be particularly effective for children.
Sectors Adopting This
- Theme Parks
- Theme parks and other attractions are seeking to add more unique and educational experiences to entice families and attract visitors.
- Zoos and Aquariums
- Zoos and aquariums are expanding their offerings to include more educational and immersive programs for visitors, particularly children.
- Education
- Educators are increasingly recognizing the value of hands-on and experiential learning opportunities, and are seeking to integrate them into curriculums and programs.
