Akron Zoo

Akron Zoo in Ohio will deliver specialized, social-emotional learning programming to students who are returning to school buildings after learning remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Programming will support a pre-K and kindergarten population and elementary students in grades 4 and 5. The early childhood program will introduce children to Thistle, a tenrec at the Akron Zoo, and teach them how Thistle adapted to her new zoo by understanding her emotions, forming coping strategies, and making friends. The elementary program will focus on peer relationships and teamwork, with group activities inspiring participants to collaborate on common goals, communicate roles and needs, open themselves up to friendship, and prioritize inclusivity. By the end of the program, the zoo expects students to grow in self-awareness, handling their emotions, and feeling more confident with peers.