America’s Teaching Zoo hosted its seventh annual Rendezvous at the Zoo Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018. The event took place under the evening sky and included food, refreshments, a silent auction, awards, and up-close animal encounters.
“It has become a well-attended, popular event with our generous community of support,” said Mara Rodriguez, Zoo Operations Instructional Technician. “It is the only event geared to adults, the silent auction and sponsorship make it a successful evening of fundraising.”
The night kicked off with an open house, giving visitors the chance to walk through the zoo and see the animals in their current enclosures.
Sponsored by Malibu Wines, guests had the opportunity to bid on items while snacking on hors d’oeuvres and sipping wine. Sponsors included local shops and restaurants, and items up for grabs consisted of baskets filled to the brim of goods and paintings. Proceeds from the auction benefited the Exotic Animal Management and Training program and the zoo’s eight million dollar Master Plan, which includes making the big cat homes more naturalistic.
“We have meetings every week and a lot of them the past couple of weeks have been about Rendezvous,” said Paige Van Oordt, 22, first-year EATM student. “It’s a big backbone for us.”
In addition to great food and drinks, attendees mingled with EATM students and zoo residents. Sugar gliders, birds of prey, reptiles, goats, a donkey, and even a monkey were brought out with their handlers so guests had the chance to get up close and personal with the animals.
Event regulars Dawn Cronin and Nancy Johns were all smiles as they enthusiastically described their love for the zoo.
“This is our fifth year,” stated Cronin, from Moorpark. “I brought my kids here when they were little and now I come for myself.”
A highlight of the night came when awards were given out to the evening’s honorees, Hubert Wells, Jim Peddie, DVM, and founding family Lynne Doria.
Clutching a hat made out of the downy fur of the zoo’s very first resident, a grey wolf named Kiska, Doria nostalgically described how she was involved in helping the zoo from the start.
“I am so proud to have spent 35 years of my life with this program,” she said.
Long-time friends and supporters, the three guests of honor were presented with the Platinum Paw Award and celebrated while observers listened to what America’s Teaching Zoo means to them.
“I have been asked many times, what are the high points in your career and I always say the EATM program is what I enjoyed the most,” said Peddie. “This is a tremendous honor.”
Describing the hopes and dreams of the zoo, Rodriguez thanked guests for their support.
“We believe in the welfare of animals, we believe in teaching the public about animals, we believe in each other,” said Rodriguez. “And we believe in all of you.”
For more information about visiting America’s Teaching Zoo, how to sponsor an animal, or to help them reach their Master Plan fundraising goal please visit http://zoo.moorparkcollege.edu/visitor-information/
