Brookfield Zoo

The Brookfield Zoo will build the capacity of K-12 educators to advance conservation leadership through student-centered, inquiry-based instruction with multi-disciplinary connections. Building on a pilot teacher professional development program, this phase of the project will develop a sustainable and robust model through outreach to expand the educator applicant pool, especially among those who teach in schools with low-income populations. Project activities will include revising and developing training curriculum; implementing eight cohorts for teachers of grades K-5 and 6-12; and implementing a series of networking events for program alumni. Zoo staff will also offer one-hour virtual field trip preparation workshops free of charge to all educators. The project will be evaluated using an in-house analysis tool of the rubric data.