Contact:
Melinda Arnold, Public Relations Director
417-833-1570 (office)or 417-848-0162 (cell)
marnold [at] dickersonparkzoo.org

For immediate release: January 6, 2010 

Springfield, Mo.– Dickerson Park Zoo is partnering with Boy Scouts of America’s Venturing program for the Zoo Venture Crew.

Venturing at Dickerson Park Zoo will provide youth opportunities to understand husbandry of exotic animals. Venture Crew members will assist zookeepers with daily animal feedings and exhibit cleaning. Additionally, participants will be actively engaged in the zoo’s animal enrichment program through research, development, observation and data entry.

An open house for information on the Zoo Venture Crew will be at 6:30 p.m., Jan. 12, at the Ozark Trails Council Headquarters (Sunshine Street and Hwy 65, across from Harter House). The open house is free, but registration is requested. Please call April Marler, 417-833-4138.

Venturing is a youth development program of Boy Scouts of America. The program is open to males and females ages 14-20 years old (students must have completed the 8^th grade). Youth interested in the Zoo Venture Crew must apply and submit recommendations from two teachers. Application forms and instructions are posted on the zoo’s Web site, www.dickersonparkzoo.org.

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Dickerson Park Zoo is a division of the Springfield-Greene County Park Board and is accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA).With its more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation and your link to helping animals in their native habitats.