Brookfield Zoo of the Chicago Zoological Society, Brookfield, Illinois

www.brookfieldzoo.org
Press Contact: Sondra Katzen, 708.688.8351

A family looks into the Brookfield's Pachyderm House. Click image for a larger view.

The primary goal of any zoo, according to the Chicago Zoological Society, is to educate the public about environmental conservation, in hopes of preserving the world’s natural habitats and resources for future generations. Since Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo opened its doors to the public in 1934, it has taken this mission seriously, creating a host of programs to educate students, parents, teachers, and other community members about their responsibilities as world citizens and to inspire them to enter scientific fields.

Nearly 2 million visitors walked through Brookfield Zoo’s turnstiles last year. With cutting-edge exhibits, including The Swamp and The Living Coast, and family-friendly zones, such as the Hamill Family Play Zoo, Brookfield Zoo stands out in its community as a place to learn, play and explore. In addition, the Chicago Zoological Society runs a number of regional and international programs directed specifically at students, from preschoolers through high school and college.

The Society has also developed outreach programs that target greater Chicago and residents from diverse backgrounds, both ethnically and socioeconomically. The Fuller Park and South Chicago communities, both considered underserved areas with high rates of poverty, took part in Grassroots Zoo, a 2006 program that allowed participants to immerse themselves in environment and conservation-based projects. This included lessons about flora and fauna and habitat restoration that they apply in their own neighborhoods to increase green space.

"There’s something magical about visiting Brookfield Zoo," said U.S. Representative Danny K. Davis (D-IL). "The combination of the sights, sounds, and smells instantly transports the visitor to some new ecological niche. Brookfield has been on the cutting edge of exhibit design, education, conservation, and breeding for more than 70 years. The sense of the incredible diversity of life on earth and the message of conservation is everywhere, stimulating the imagination and subtly instilling a real sense of personal responsibility and involvement. Just watch a child standing perfectly still to permit a butterfly to land on her, or a group of youngsters transfixed by penguins diving and swimming and you know something very special and lasting is happening in the minds of those children."

“After almost nine decades of inspiring conservation efforts through interaction with wildlife, I am very pleased to see the Chicago Zoological Society honored for its years of visionary service,” said U.S. Representative Luis V. Gutierrez (D-IL). “Thank you for your commitment to the education of our community and our world.”

“The Brookfield Zoo has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to the development of programs that reach out and deeply affect the communities it serves," said U.S. Representative Dan Lipinski (D-IL). “The zoo is to be particularly commended for its many educational initiatives for underserved communities. I am proud to congratulate this outstanding institution for the high honor of receiving the 2007 National Medal for Museum and Library Service."

"The Chicago Zoological Society’s Brookfield Zoo is a true treasure and a mainstay of our community’s ecological education since the 1930’s,” said U.S. Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL). "Receiving the prestigious National Medal for Museum and Library Services is a wonderful and much-deserved honor. The Chicago area and its many visitors are fortunate to have this outstanding institution."

U.S. Representative Melissa L. Bean (D-IL) said, “Congratulations to the Brookfield Zoo for receiving the Institute of Museum and Library Services’ National Medal. The Brookfield Zoo is being recognized for its leadership in the zoological community and for educating and involving local families and young people in conservation.”

Community Member Luis Mendez -- Young Volunteer Chooses Zoos
Luis Mendez, a 2006 graduate of Illinois State University, chose his career as a science educator based upon his nine-year involvement with the Brookfield Zoo. Mendez joined the summer program as a high school freshman-volunteer, and over subsequent summers, moved up the Zoological Society’s Career Ladder for Youth Program. Mendez has seen an increase in the diversity of Brookfield Zoo visitors, providing endless opportunities for him to interact and engage them in Spanish. He now applies his skills as a science educator for the Shedd Aquarium.