EATM held it’s annual fundraiser Boo at the Zoo at America’s Teaching Zoo, to raise money for future school related excursions for second year students.
“All the money that we fundraised through donation jars and raffle booth goes towards bus money for second year students field trips,” said first-year EATM Student Dianna Snyder of Ontario, CA.
The first year students on the Student Council for the Exotic Animal Training and Management department of Moorpark College had the responsibility of planning and putting on their Halloween themed fundraiser, which took place on Oct. 25-26. The amount of money raised has not been released yet.
Upon arrival at the ticket booth, parents were given Boo bingo cards to hand to their children. The Boo bingo card gave children the opportunity to be interactive with the EATM students by seeking them out in their lion shirts to receive a sticker to put on their bingo cards. Children could see all the animals, while searching for EATM students to complete their bingo cards for a chance to win a special surprise.
Kathy Kushnen is a local of Ventura County, but this was her first time attending the Boo at the Zoo event.
“I love the set up,” said Kushnen. “They went all out with the decorations, and I look forward to coming back next year. My only recommendation is that they opened earlier because the little ones like to nap around 12-1 p.m.”
After guests and their children had a chance to walk around the zoo and participate in face painting and pumpkin carving, everyone accumulated for a special Halloween animal show which was followed shortly by a costume contest at 3 p.m.
EATM first year students received an abundance of help this year through several donations. Walmart donated a $100 gift card for decorations and candy. Underwood Farms provided all the pumpkins and the hay barrels for Boo at the Zoo. The face paint and baskets used for raffles was brought in by EATM students and the public.
“Getting to see these kids’ faces light up in their favorite costumes, and seeing them relate to the animals makes it all worth it,” said Snyder.
