Woodland Park Zoo

Purpose: Supporting Lifelong Learning In its Savanna Fully Integrated Program (Savanna FIP), the Woodland Park Zoo will support lifelong learning through intentional, long-term integration of exhibit contexts, education programs, animal management, and conservation involvement. The savanna exhibit was the zoo's first large-scale demonstration of a mixed-taxa, ecological approach. The savanna is the zoo's oldest biome exhibit, and incremental improvements over two decades have resulted in discontinuities best addressed through a "whole zone" approach that integrates the zoo's core functions and mission. This project will forge more effective connections between the zoo's audience and its conservation goals by fully integrating core assets to maximize the zoo's conservation and education impact and improve the visitor experience. Project activities will include (1) updating the content of education programs, signs, and other interpretive media; (2) providing a more seamless immersion experience; (3) integrating and linking the appearance of older and newer portions of the exhibit; (4) disseminating information on zoo-supported conservation projects through interpretive media and educational programs; (5) creating authentic messages about the human cultures of the African savannas; and (6) developing administrative structures and processes to carry out this and future FIPs.