Halloween festivities and fundraisers at America’s Teaching Zoo
EATM student Jamie Wong, 27, teaches zoo attendees about birds in the wild. It is illegal to own eagle feathers, pictured above, but the zoo was granted permission to use them, she said. Photo credit: Bridget Fornaro
November 1, 2015
Birds, snakes and spiders were some of the animals displayed at this year’s Boo at the Zoo, hosted at America’s Teaching Zoo at the college on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.
The event, also a fundraiser, let guests learn about the animals with a Halloween-spirited twist. Throughout the day, attendees walked around each exhibit trick-or-treating, getting their faces painted and looking at each decorated animal exhibit while learning about different animal characteristics.
The annual fundraiser is used to support the zoo’s expenses. Every ticket sold helps the zoo fund animal care, animal feed and exhibits. With every ticket, guests were given bingo cards to get stamped at each animal station, and when they finished they received a treat.
Mara Rodriguez, a zoo staff member, stated that there’s always something fun to do at these fundraising events.
“We have a decorating competition, the guests at Boo at the Zoo can see the winner,” said Rodriguez. “We have trick-or-tricking, a bake sale, we have crafts for kids and exciting animal shows.”
The first-year Exotic Animal Training and Management students put on a bake sale where the they donated baked treats. Every donation made to the bake sale went toward fields trips for the students.
First-year EATM student Megan Platt, 23, who helped out with the bake sale said that as first year students they need to raise money for field trips in their second year.
“We’re currently first years’, and as second years’ we go onto field trips like to Davis Medical Center and Monterrey Bay aquarium,” said Platt. “These donations cover bus fees and hotels.”
As guests walked around the zoo, they saw exhibits decorated by the student body. This year’s decorating contest did not have an exact winner, as all the EATM students who participated in the competition were declared winners.
“They didn’t do a winner this year,” said Platt. “All of the exhibits won.”
Attendees walking around the zoo really liked the event.
Siblings Emily and Justin Maher, both Ventura County residents, attended Boo at the Zoo for the first time and enjoyed it.
“It was good, we [saw] a lot of birds and monkeys,” said E. Maher. “I also saw a porcupine walking around which was cool.”
J. Maher added, “We got our faces painted, I got my face painted as a snake.”
When guests left the zoo, they turned in their bingo cards for a Halloween treat.
The next zoo event is called Arctic Lights and will be held on Dec. 19-20, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are sold at the door, $8 for adults, $6 for children (2-12) and seniors, and free entry for children under 2.
For more information about America’s Teaching Zoo, call (805) 378-1441 or visit
