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education center with multiple classrooms, allowing
the Zoo to increase its capacity to meet the valuable
education mission. The classroom space has been
designed with retractable walls to allow for large
audience presentations and to accommodate the
Zoo’s Conservation Lecture Series.
Today, the Zoo attracts more than 390,000
guests annually and is an educational resource to
additional 33,200 children annually: Collier County
Schools Distance Learning ZooCon Programs
(18,000), ZooMobile Outreach (1,500), Camp
WILD (200), Preschool Programs (500), and
self-guided student Field Trips (13,000). Naples
Zoo has formal partnerships with Collier County
Public Schools and Lee County Public Schools
that help support their educational goals. The Zoo’s
commitment to education is further demonstrated
by its collaboration with the Florida Department of
Education to develop programs that meet Florida’s
Next Generation Sunshine State Standards. Current
grade-specific programming has been designed for conservation efforts within existing long-term programs locally, nationally and
students from pre-K through elementary students, internationally.
offering a variety of hands-on learning opportunities
in biology, animal behavior, ecology, and species and THE GOALS
habitat conservation. Naples Zoo is a historic Collier County Landmark in the heart of Naples
Naples Zoo is ranked among the top zoos in and is dedicated to increasing the appreciation and conservation of wildlife
the country contributing to field conservation as and seeking ways to better serve and help educate our Southwest Florida
a percentage of total budget. Since 2011, Naples community. Roaring Into Our Future, Naples Zoo’s $25 Million Capital
Zoo has contributed over $1 million dollars to Campaign has three goals:
conservation programs to help animals in the wild. To ensure the very best care possible for Naples Zoo’s growing animal
1.
With a firm belief that what is best for people and collection through a new animal hospital on-site.
wildlife is the same in the long run, Naples Zoo
strives to support conservation efforts that reflect this To inspire stewards of all ages to ensure a positive future for wildlife and
2.
mutual benefit. To maximize use of limited funds, wild places through a new education center and expanded education
Naples Zoo places priority on supporting proven program portfolio.

30 Life in Naples | March 2017