Zoo-Mates!

Wild Pack

2010-11-23T10:38:00.000-05:00

On November 3rd, the Zoo-Mates were re-united for the first time. The UC volunteer mentors were anxiously awaiting the arrival of their Zoo-Mates, for another fun filled adventure. The mentor-mentee matches met in the Harold C. Schott Education Center. After a brief introduction, the Zoo-Mates were let loose to enjoy the wonders of the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden.

The matches were charged with one important objective: to determine whether primates are right or left handed! During this scientific exploration of the Zoo: "Students...think about their hand preference. Using inquiry and a variety of tools, they...discover whether the Zoo’s primates are right handed or left handed..."

We were lucky enough to have beautiful weather and the Zoo-Mates pairs really got to spend some great quality time with each other, in a a truly wonderful place!

Zoo-Bration!

2010-11-15T17:09:00.001-05:00

The very greatest celebration there has ever been for Zoo-Mates mentor and mentee pairs, otherwise known as the ZOO-BRATION! was our third event of the year.

Mentors arrived early, poised to meet the Bond Hill students they had met the week before, but there was something special about this meeting...The families of the Zoo-Mates were invited to attend, and Zoo-Mates mentor/mentee matches would be revealed for the first time!

Zoo-Mates young and old enjoyed a fantastic meal, catered by City Barbeque. Families got the chance to meet the UC student that would mentor their child for the rest of the year. Then it was on to the main event, pumpkin painting! Zoo-Mates worked together painting pumpkins with wildy vivid colors and imaginative designs--just in time for Halloween weekend.

The pumpkins turned out great, and the memories even better. Zoo-Mates had a fun night to begin to build the bonds that will allow everyone involved in the program, mentor and mentee alike, to grow as people.

The seeds of friendship had been sewn. A few pumpkins were delivered the next day to Bond Hill Academy, and the gracious secretaries and principal were kind enough to coordinate the distribution of this marvelous harvest of art.

Special thanks to City Barbeque, and the admininstrators at Bond Hill for helping make this event a success!

Zoo-Mates Second Event!

2010-11-12T15:35:00.000-05:00

Now its time to get some children involved!

Zoo-Mates had its second event of the 2010-2011 program year at the mentees' school, Bond Hill Academy. This event was a laid back Meet & Great that gave the mentors a chance to meet the mentees, to see the school they go to everyday, and to have some fun!

The day started with introductions, and some super fun games including "Ninja!" Look for the championship Ninja game to be posted on the blog soon!

The next activity was for Zoo-Mates young and old to create their personal trail mix! After deciding which favorite snacks in what proportions should be all mixed up, Zoo-Mates enjoyed their own concoctions of healthy yet delicious trail mix.

Then it was on to more games! The mentees played board games and card games with the mentors to get to know one another. New friendships had been forged, and we were all delighted to have been addressed by the Principal of Bond Hill Academy, who gave some inspirational words to all the Zoo-Mates!

Sadly, after the last round of games it was time to say goodbye, til next week!

It was a great afternoon and another successful Zoo-Mates adventure!

Zoo-Mates 2010-2011

2010-11-12T15:27:00.000-05:00

Hello there Zoo-Mates Fans!

Welcome to Zoo-Mates 2010-2011!

The first event was a mentor training, held October 13th at the Cincinnati Zoo in the Leaf Cutter Ant and Dart Frog rooms of the Education Center. New Zoo-Mates mentors got a chance to hear from David Rosenthal about the exciting digital photography project the Zoo-Mates will be working on throughout the year. The photo project is part of Prairie and will give mentors and their Zoo-Mates a way to connect through the creative process.

Zoo-Mates also got to go on a thought experiment lead by Pat Reiber of the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative, who also informed mentors of the possibility of continuing their relationship with their Zoo-Mate after the program year has concluded.

Then it was on to everyone favorite Ice Breakers, during which Zoo-Mates mentors got a chance to get to know one another, and practice one of the key aspects of Zoo-Mates: having fun!

Mentors were introduced to the issues surrounding homelessness, and children experiencing homelessness by Project Connect. They then were able to interactively explore their own understanding of homelessness, and work together to figure out what talents and assets they brought to the program to make a positive impact on Zoo-Mates.

Finally, mentors learned best practices, and returning Zoo-Mates shared their insights from past experience working with children through the program.

Summer updates

2010-07-12T09:13:00.002-04:00

TrueHero.org: The results will not be official until August, but initial results look good for Zoo-Mates. Keep checking the blog for official results. If you voted, you will get an email from True Hero once results are in!

In the meantime, beat the summer heat by checking out Project Connect/Faces Without Places Youtube channel.

Here's a video from a Zoo-Mates activity:

Two days left to vote!

2010-06-28T09:25:00.003-04:00

There are only two days left to vote for Zoo-Mates at Truehero.org.

Zoo-Mates needs about 70 votes to be awarded money for next year's programming. If you haven't voted yet, please vote. If you have already voted, please pass along this information to friends, family, co-workers, anyone!

Helpful information to forward:

We'd like to ask you to support one of our signature mentoring programs through the UC Center for Community Engagement called Zoo-Mates. If you’re not already familiar, Zoo-Mates is a group mentoring program that pairs 30 UC students with 30 students from Cincinnati Public Schools who are currently experiencing homelessness. A large portion of our funding comes from a voting contest on TrueHero.org where the “Top 8 College Projects” (vote-getters) are awarded project support grants.

Please read about the program and vote here: http://truehero.org/projects/index.cfm?id=242. It takes less than 1 minute; simply type your email address, submit, and validate your address in the confirmation email. For further information about Zoo-Mates, check out our website.

Don’t feel motivated to click the link, yet?
Read the stats below to learn about issues that Zoo-Mates helps to address:
• Children account for the fastest growing segment of the homeless population.
• The average age of a homeless person is only 9 years old.
• Families comprise 40% of the homeless population.
• Children experiencing homelessness change schools 7-8 times per year.

Zoo-Mates movie

2010-06-03T13:47:00.007-04:00

A photo reflection of the past year. Enjoy!

Zoo-Mates Celebration!

2010-05-20T15:57:00.001-04:00

Wednesday was the last Wednesday of Zoo-Mates this year. Mentors and mentees participated in lots of activities to celebrate a great year.

The day began with a trip to the Chipotle on West Clifton Avenue by the University of Cincinnati. The restaurant treated mentors and mentees to a burrito dinner.

Mentors waiting for the bus to arrive.

Tons of burritos!

The mentees arrive at Chipotle.

Chipotle didn't flinch as we filled their restaurant.

Thanks Chipotle! The burritos were delicious!

After filling up on burritos, mentors and mentees went to University of Cincinnati Campus Recreation Center for rock climbing, face painting and some games!

A big thanks to our mentors and mentees, the University of Cincinnati Center for Community Engagement, Project Connect and teachers from Hays/Porter Elementary for making Zoo-Mates such a success!

Check the Zoo-Mates blog throughout the summer for more pictures, videos and the results of the TrueHero.org voting contest. If you haven't voted yet, click here to vote for Zoo-Mates!

Kickball and coloring

2010-05-13T12:00:00.002-04:00

Zoo-Mates is really winding down. Mentors and mentees met at Hays/Porter yesterday for their last activity with Happen, Inc. and some kickball in the gym. Zoo-Mates didn't let the rainy weather spoil the day. There were smiles and laughs all around!

Thank you, again, to Happen, Inc. for teaching us so much every month!

Mentors and mentees created under-the-sea adventures.

The other group played an intense kickball game.

Waiting to kick.

Zoo-Mates will meet for the final Wednesday of the year at the University of Cincinnati campus. We'll play some games and eat some great food!

Last day at the zoo

2010-05-06T15:36:00.001-04:00

Zoo-Mates met at the zoo for the final time of the school year. The weather was perfect for exploring new parts of the zoo and revisiting favorite animals. Mentors and mentees got the treat of riding both the train and the carousel. We also were able to see the Cincinnati Zoo's latest attraction, Zoo Babies!

A mentee gets a ride to the train.

Lucy, our fantastic zoo liason!

Mentor and mentee hanging out on the carousel.

Smiling for the camera.

Don't jump off!

Mentors and mentees took a trip around the zoo to see

animal babies born in the last few months.

We've had learned a ton and had so much fun at the Cincinnati Zoo. A big thanks to the Education Department and Lucy for teaching and guiding us through the zoo.

There are two more weeks left in Zoo-Mates. We'll be at Hays/Porter next week and finish at the University of Cincinnati!

Field day adventures

2010-04-29T09:51:00.001-04:00

Zoo-Mates met at Hays/Porter on Wednesday for outdoor games and activities organized by the Junior League of Cincinnati. Mentors and mentees made picture frames, competed in wacky relay races and learned about healthy snacks.

Parachute games.

Making picture frames.

Playing on the playground.

Thank you to the Junior League for a fun day of games! Zoo-Mates will meet next week at the Cincinnati Zoo.

What kind of tiles can't you stick on walls?

2010-04-22T17:02:00.001-04:00

Reptiles!

Zoo-Mates were able to take advantage of the beautiful spring weather and explore the Cincinnati Zoo on Wednesday. Mentors and mentees enjoyed the thousands of tulips and other plants around the zoo!

Coming back from the Passenger Pigeon Memorial.

Showing off the Indian Rhinoceros.

A Malayan tiger resting in the shade.

Mentor and mentee posing for a picture.

Checking out the reptile house.

A mentee with a Burmese Python!

Mentors and mentees will meet again next Wednesday for a special field day at Hays/Porter Elementary.

Pizza and playing outside

2010-04-15T11:05:00.000-04:00

Zoo-Mates met at Hays/Porter Elementary this week. Mentors and mentees enjoyed LaRosa's pizza, thanks to Children's Hospital Food Services. They also made a clay butterfly with Happen, Inc.

Playing games outside.

Enjoy pizza.

Playing basketball.

Making butterflies with Happen, Inc.

Zoo-Mates will meet next Wednesday to explore the zoo!

Zoo-Mates overnight

2010-04-13T10:39:00.004-04:00

A few weeks ago, Zoo-Mates mentors and mentees had the opportunity to spend the night at the Zoo! They were able to see the Nocturnal House and its feeding area and explore the Zoo after normal visiting hours!

Thank you to Toyota for sponsoring such a wonderful overnight!

Zoo-Mates overnight

Healthy snacks, the great outdoors and clay seals

2010-04-01T14:56:00.000-04:00

What do those three things have in common? Zoo-Mates was a part of all of these things this Wednesday. With Happen, Inc., mentors and mentees made seals and learned about the life and adaptations of a seal. Outside, mentors and mentees played games of "Capture the Flag" and had a healthy snack. We also started working on a very special invitation!

Next week Zoo-Mates will meet at the Cincinnati Zoo!

Learning about art and enjoying spring

2010-03-18T10:16:00.000-04:00

Zoo-Mates toured the Cincinnati Art Museum in a special tour this Wednesday. After the tour, mentors and mentees were able to enjoy the nice weather and play in Eden Park!

Talking about Cincinnati's history

Beginning the tour

Listening to the history behind the art

Some of the museum's artwork

Mentees acting like artwork

Playing outside

Thanks to the Cincinnati Art Museum! Next week is Spring Break for Zoo-Mates. Enjoy the nice weather and see you on March 31!

Pengiuns and art

2010-03-12T10:13:00.000-05:00

This Wednesday, Zoo-Mates came back to Hays/Porter Elementary to create penguins with Happen, Inc. and spend some time hanging out.

Pictures from the Zoo's Nocturnal Adventures Overnight are coming soon!

Zoo-Mates will explore the Cincinnati Art Museum next Wednesday. See you then!

Exploring at the Cincinnati Museum Center

2010-02-25T10:24:00.001-05:00

Zoo-Mates explored several museums at Union Terminal on Wednesday. Mentors and mentees shared a bus ride to the museum. Once at the museum, groups could learn about science and history or just play around!

Exploring the museum!

A frog.

Taking a break.

Hanging out on the bus.

Is this basketball or science? Maybe both.

Zoo-Mates had a great time at the Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal. Thanks to the Education Department for showing us around and thanks to Paetra, from UC, for the great pictures.

Zoo-Mates will meet next Friday for a Nocturnal Adventure at the Cincinnati Zoo!

Zoo activities

2010-02-04T17:14:00.001-05:00

Zoo-Mates met at the Zoo this week. Mentors and mentees met a variety of animals - a sloth, a parrot, and a ball python!

They also learned how to stretch and move like their favorite animals during "Zoo Yoga"

What does an aardvark like on its pizza?

2010-01-20T17:28:00.000-05:00

Ant-chovies

Zoo-Mates met at University of Cincinnati on Wednesday. Mentors and mentees did a variety of activities - they made pizza, played board games, colored, played football and played some video games.

Their pizza is ready to cook!

Just getting started.

Already finished!

Playing the Wii.

A big thanks to Ida, from the Center for Community Engagement, for taking such great pictures!

Zoo-Mates will take a break next week, but will meet again in the beginning of February at the Cincinnati Zoo.

What is the difference between a fly and a mosquito?

2010-01-14T09:29:00.001-05:00

A mosquito can fly, but a fly can’t mosquito.

Insects were the theme of Zoo-Mates today. Happen, Inc. came to Hays/Porter Elementary to talk about insects and help us make mobile insects out of paper. Mentors and mentees also completed an animal scavenger hunt using the internet.

Happen, Inc. tells us about insects and "beatles".

Listening

Making insects together.

Happen, Inc. shows off mentor artwork.

And now some mentee artwork!

Searching the web for animal facts.

Your hair didn't look like that last week!

Zoo-Mates will meet at UC next week to make pizza and explore campus!

Vote for Zoo-Mates

2010-01-13T14:14:00.000-05:00

If you haven't voted for Zoo-Mates yet this year, please vote for the program on truehero.org! Last year, we received enough votes to receive $1,000 in funding. Let's aim for more this year!

Wings of Wonder

2010-01-07T09:41:00.008-05:00

Zoo-Mates celebrated the new year with a great day at the Cincinnati Zoo. We saw the Wings of Wonder Bird Show with lots of interesting and colorful birds: a spotted owl, a kookaburra, a hyacinth macaw named Rio, a parrot named Coco and a few others! The birds could call, mimick, climb and even fly right over our heads! After the Bird Show, everyone made a parrot craft with recycled materials.

Click on the animal names for the Zoo's information about these birds!

Thanks to Eddie, from the Bird Show for introducing
us to so many animals.

Watching the bird show.

A spotted owl.

Rio, the Hyacinth Macaw flies around the room.

Mentors and mentees.

Videos from the afternoon will be posted on the blog soon!

Thanks to the Cincinnati Zoo for a great afternoon. Next week we'll be at Hays/Porter with Happen, Inc.

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-17T09:13:00.009-05:00

Zoo-Mates mentors and mentees were able to celebrate the holidays and a successful first quarter on Wednesday at UC. Friends from Fidelity Investments organized games, pizza, music and some original gifts!

Eating some pizza!

Playing the piano.

A big thank you to Ricky Nye who came and played beautiful holiday music.

Some games and activities.

A hula hoop pro.

Fidelity organized holiday gifts for Zoo-Mates. Everyone got a different hoodie and some warm weather gear to go along with it!

Everyone looked great in their new hoodies and jackets!

A final group picture.

A big thanks to Fidelity Investments and Ricky Nye for a great holiday party! Zoo-Mates will take a break until January. See you then!

A crafty day

2009-12-11T09:55:00.011-05:00

Mentors and mentees met at Hays/Porter Elementary school and had a very crafty day! They made holiday ornaments and picture frames. Happen, Inc. brought clay and paint to make wild snakes!

Working together.

Thank you Happen, Inc!

Making holiday frames.

Next week is the Zoo-Mates Holiday party at University of Cincinnati, with Fidelity Investments.

Adventure at the Cincinnati Zoo

2009-12-02T17:17:00.008-05:00

Zoo-Mates mentors and mentees met on another rainy Wednesday, but this time the activities were inside!

Everyone watched The Polar Bear Express in 4-D. With 3-D glasses and seats that moved, Zoo-Mates felt like they were riding on a train. After the movie, Lucy, from the Cincinnati Zoo, made hot chocolate!

On the walk to and from the movie, mentors and mentees saw polar bears and a female lion.

Then the zoo brought out a Japanese Bantam chicken named "Foghorn". Lucy laid out three types of food for foghorn: pellets, mealworms and corn. Everyone voted on what type of food they thought Foghorn would eat first. He ate mealworms before anything else.

Walking through the zoo to see The Polar Bear Express in 4-D.

Getting ready for the movie.

Cool 3-D glasses.

A Japanese Bantam chicken.

Next week, Zoo-Mates will be at Hays/Porter Elementary with Happen, Inc.

It's all UC

2009-11-19T09:27:00.012-05:00

Mentors and mentees met at the University of Cincinnati this Wednesday. Together, they were able to explore the campus and learn a little bit more about each other. Not even the rain could stop us!

Mentors and mentees begin their tour with the UC Office of Admissions.

Our tour guides were former Zoo-Mates!

"Who likes to swim?" Our tour guides told us about UC's swimming pool.

We even saw Nippert Staduim, UC's football stadium.

Football practice.

Mentees made "All About Me" books with their mentors.

Thank you to UC's Office of Admissions for a wonderful tour. We will take a break from Zoo-Mates next week for Thanksgiving. See you in December!

Art and energy

2009-11-13T10:09:00.014-05:00

Zoo-Mates celebrated our first regular meeting at Hays/Porter Elementary with two very special activities. Happen, Inc. came and presented a special art activity. Happen, Inc. will come to Hays/Porter once a month for Zoo-Mates. Project Connect also arranged for a moon bounce to be set up behind the school.

Happen, Inc. taught us how to make monkeys out of clay, step by step.

Mentors and mentees worked to make great works of art!

Thanks Happen, Inc. We'll see you again next month!

The moon bounce was a chance to jump around and practice some acrobatics.

Waiting for the moon bounce.

There was even time to play on the playground.

It was a good day! We'll see you next week at the University of Cincinnati!

Exploring the Zoo

2009-11-05T14:18:00.003-05:00

Wendesday was the first day that mentors and mentees were free to explore the Cincinnati Zoo. Groups took full advantage of their time at the Zoo by observing lots of different animals!

Zoo-bration

2009-10-29T10:47:00.008-04:00

Zoo-bration, the open house for families and mentors, was held at the Cincinnati Zoo on Wednesday evening! We got to meet lots of Zoo animals, including the giraffes, and ate a delicious meal provided by City Barbeque.

The education department from the Cincinnati Zoo brought lots of animals for us to see and learn about.

We meet an Anatolian Shepherd, a dog that guards sheep to keep them safe from cheetahs in Africa.

Mentors and mentees learned about a bearded dragon.

Project Connect made placemats with games and questions.

Next Wednesday we will be at the Cincinnati Zoo again. Mentors and mentees will be using the Zoo's "Wild Research Packs" to investigate animal behavior.

Meeting & Greeting

2009-10-22T13:08:00.007-04:00

Mentors and mentees met for the first time today at Hays/Porter Elementary school. The annual Zoo-Mates Meet & Greet had games, snacks and a lot of smiles!

We did a scavenger hunt to get to know each other.

Snack time!

We played some board games in the school gymnasium!

Thanks for a fun day, Zoo-Mates!

A New Year

2009-10-15T14:09:00.010-04:00

Welcome to a new year of Zoo-Mates! We began the year yesterday with mentor training at the Cincinnati Zoo. Mentors learned about the Zoo-Mates program and what it means to be a mentor.

A "get-to-know-you" activity

A "get-to-know-you" activity

Listening

Tim Spoleti, from One2One Mentors, talked to us about what it means to be a mentor.

Zoo-Mates spotlighted on True Hero blog

2009-09-28T09:24:00.005-04:00

Zoo-Mates was honored by True Hero again this week, as the Community Service Project: School of the Week on the truehero.org blog (http://trueheroorg.blogspot.com/)!

The blog spotlights great service projects every week to share community service ideas with other schools.

2009-2010 Applications Available

2009-09-18T10:31:00.002-04:00

Applications are available today for the 2009-2010 Zoo-Mates mentors.

Visit the Center for Community Engagement's Zoo-Mates website for a downloadable application.

http://www.uc.edu/sas/cce/Zoo.html

Zoo-Mates wins award

2009-08-26T11:07:00.001-04:00

Zoo-Mates placed in the top seven out of 54 college service projects posted on Truehero.org, an organization that awards money to deserving student service projects based on votes from the community.

Zoo-Mates received a monetary award that will go towards the 2009-2010 Zoo-Mates program.

Thanks to everyone that voted and don’t forget to vote again this year!

http://truehero.org/projects/index.cfm?id=242

Zoo-Mates Joys

2009-05-26T15:19:00.003-04:00

At our mentor closing last week, during which we evaluated Zoo-Mates and made suggestions for next year, we also collected a list of funny and joyful moments from the 2008-2009 program. These included:

Hula hooping at the kids' school

Watching the video on the last day

D. dumping way too much baking soda in the vinegar bottle to blow up the balloon

J. dressing up for the Field Day relay race

Eating worms at the Zoo

P. always wanting piggyback rides

Throwing stuffed animals at each other on the overnight

Yoga

Mentees painting Corey’s face at the Celebration

A baby alligator peeing on a mentor

It was a year full of laughs!

We Love Our Mentors!

2009-05-19T10:39:00.001-04:00

Climbing the Walls!

2009-05-14T16:37:00.001-04:00

Celebration!

2009-05-12T10:16:00.013-04:00

Our final Zoo-Mates event for the 2008-2009 school year was a festive and fun-filled celebration at UC. For many of our mentees, this was their first visit to a college campus.

We played cornhole in the gym.

And also helped each other shoot baskets.

We enjoyed some quality time with our friends.

And worked off some energy.

We showed each other our skills.

Some UC student volunteers joined our celebration to paint our faces. Soon, we had butterflies, tigers, and super heroes swarming the gym!

A mentor works on a scorpion "tattoo."

The transformation of a butterfly.

This mentor donated his face to some young artists!

On the way toward becoming a basketball...

Many of us also got to face the challenge of the climbing wall!

She's happy to be back on solid ground!

Interviewing Spider-Man about his climbing adventures.

Right after this photo was taken, he climbed all the way to the top!

Look how far you've come!

The Project Connect staff cheered us on!

Then the time came to gather together, eat some pizza, and enjoy some final moments with our buddies.

We watched the Celebration video and cheered when we saw ourselves and our friends!

He's a bearcat!

And then it was time to say goodbye.

Thanks for a great year!

Celebration Video!

2009-05-05T19:33:00.004-04:00

Vote for Zoo-Mates!

2009-04-30T15:21:00.004-04:00

True Hero is an organization that rewards money to deserving student service projects based on votes from the community.

Please click this link to vote for Zoo-Mates!

http://truehero.org/projects/index.cfm?id=242

Funding from this award will allow the Zoo-Mates program to continue to connect students experiencing homelessness with strong, positive college student mentors!

Voting ends June 30th. Spread the news among your friends and family!

Field Day!

2009-04-23T10:46:00.014-04:00

For our final Zoo-Mates outing at the kids' school, we had a wonderful Field Day, organized by volunteers from the Junior League. After a gray and cold week, we were all excited to run around in the bright sunshine and play a bunch of fun games!

It takes cooperation to get untangled from the Human Knot.

Everyone loves bubbles!

The wind did most of the work for us!

The day was full of SMILES!

How did a star-shaped bubble wand make a heart-shaped bubble?!

We also played some games with hula hoops. These kids know how to move!

One silly game was the Dress Up Relay Race. One player from each team got dressed in oversize clothes and raced to the end of the field and back. Then the next player had to put on the clothes and run. We laughed a lot watching our friends race around in those huge pants!

An energetic game of duck-duck-goose!

Jumping rope!

Watching the excitement from the sidelines.

We never realized that our Zoo-Mates mentees are gymnasts! They were flipping and balancing and hanging from the jungle gym!

Simon Says pat your head!

In another challenge, we tried to balance candy on a spoon while zig-zagging through a line of trees. Luckily, both winners and losers got to eat the candy at the end!

At the end of the day we decorated duffle bags and ate a snack of yummy clementines.

THANK YOU so much to our new friends from the Junior League! We loved all of the games you organized for us and were so happy to spend an energetic and sunny day together!

Field Day

2009-04-22T13:17:00.000-04:00

Free Day at the Zoo!

2009-04-09T11:42:00.019-04:00

This week we visited the Zoo for the last time. Luckily, the day was lovely and we were able to explore for the entire afternoon.

Our first adventure was to ride the train through the Zoo.

The conductor even let some of us blow the whistle! It was LOUD!

Some folks rode the train two or three times!

We also visited some of our favorite animals, like the flamingos.

The gorillas.

And the rhinos.

The polar bears were eating their lunch.

The cockatoo sat on his tree branch, enjoying a pleasant spring day. When he talked it sounded like a radio!

Two elephants. Can you tell the difference?!

Observing the other Zoo-Mates in their natural habitat.

The Cincinnati Zoo is also a botanical garden.
Tulips of every color were in full bloom throughout the park!

We have a lot of decisions to make. Better check the map!

Mentors, mentees, and manatees...

Come out! Come out!

What does a rhino feel like?

The carousel was closed, so we needed a new plan. Let's go see the wolves!

Our day at the Zoo was fun, relaxing, educational, and a great chance to spend time together.

Diana's Mentoring Experience

2009-04-06T10:02:00.001-04:00

I learned about ZooMates from a friend who lived in the CCE house last year and at the Cincinnatus orientation. He gave positive feedback about the program, and the video at the orientation was interesting. This is my first year in the program. It has definitely been a learning experience. Unfortunately, my first mentee was loss from the program after the first two meetings. The most rewarding part of getting to know her was that I've made some impact on her life in such a short period of time. Fortunately, I was given a new mentee. I'm blessed to be able to further my relationship with her and make a positive impact on her life. This year, "family groups" were incorporated into the program where each mentor/mentee pair has 4 other pairs who they typically stay with; so not only do we get to know our mentee, we're able to impact the other mentees in our group too. I've been having a great time and hope that I can continue ZooMates throughout my college career!

-- Diana Nguyen, freshman, pre-Nursing

Zoo-Mates goes to the Art Museum!

2009-03-13T11:45:00.015-04:00

This week the Zoo-Mates mentors and mentees visited the Cincinnati Art Museum!

We saw famous portraits, detailed sculptures, Monet and Van Gogh and Chagall, and we learned a lot in the process!

Did you know Claude Monet once fell off a cliff and had to be rescued when he was painting scenes like this?

The docent showed us an X-ray of the body of the mummy inside this sarcophagus. It was really old and cool and kinda gross!

We're pointing out all of the fruit we see in this painting of a marketplace.

What did Benjamin Franklin invent?

How does an artist capture so much emotion and action in a heavy bronze sculpture?!

We were able to put art into action as we worked together to spin the Calder mobile!

After we toured the museum and saw all of the beautiful and interesting works of art, it was our turn to be the artists! We worked on painting canvas banners with images of our favorite art from the museum. The mentors painted one half of the banner and the mentees painted the other half. There were many creative collaborations!

Mummies!

Catching up.

More mentor voices...

2009-02-26T13:41:00.005-05:00

“I've been a part of Zoo-Mates for 3 years now and personally it has been a great experience. I've done plenty of community service work around Cincinnati but Zoo-Mates is one that has definitely made a profound impression on me. Working with the kids not only helps out our community but it makes us, the mentors, feel a high sense of pride and accomplishment. I look forward to working with Zoo-Mates for as long as I'm in college and for the program to expand.”
-- Christina Kanaris, junior English literature major

"This is my first year being part of the Zoo-Mates program and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. The best thing about Zoo-Mate is the bond that I have developed with my mentee, he has become like a little brother to me. Being a mentor has help me learn more about myself while making a difference in a child’s life. Spending time with all the children exploring the zoo makes me feel like a little kid again. Zoo-Mates has definitely enhance my experience at the University of Cincinnati."

-- Paul Tran, freshman, College of Allied Health Sciences

The Zoo After Dark

2009-02-26T10:23:00.023-05:00

As part of our Nocturnal Adventure overnight, we got to explore behind the scenes of the Zoo and visit a lot of neat animals! It was so exciting to have the Zoo all to ourselves!

We were amazed by the big and colorful bugs in the Insect House!

Some of the cats in the Cat House look so cuddly!

Making friends...

Can you find the hidden, sleepy sand cats?

After exploring the Nocturnal House and meeting an owl, aardvarks, a bearcat, and many bats, we were invited to go behind the scenes to visit the kitchen where the zookeepers prepare food for the animals.

Here the guide is showing us the mammal blood that the vampire bats eat. We also saw cans of "primate food," mealworms, and "mice on ice." It was so educational!

The Penguins didn't mind the cold February weather!

We started our day with an early morning Zoo hike. Here we are passing the Elephant House.

Quality Time

2009-02-26T09:51:00.023-05:00

The best thing about our Nocturnal Adventure overnight at the Zoo was that the mentors and mentees were able to spend quality time together, laughing, getting to know each other, and strengthening their relationships.

We had time to play.

We had time to learn.

We hung out.

We got to tell stories in the dark at bedtime.

We explored the Zoo together.

We took care of each other.

Animal Adaptations

2009-02-26T09:51:00.020-05:00

We started our evening at the Zoo by meeting another set of animal ambassadors to learn about adaptations. By now we're old pros and we know exactly how to gently touch the animals, but we're still learning to be comfortable with new and unusual kinds of creatures!

Many of us had never touched a snake before. It was warmer and softer than we expected!

This tiny Brazilian Possum is new to the job of being an ambassador and she was a bit skittish, but so soft and cute!

Her big ears are an adaptation to help her hear really well.

These Hissing Cockroaches from Madagascar were amazing! We had never touched such a big bug! It was too loud in the room to hear them hiss, though.

Not everyone wanted to touch the hissing cockroaches!

We also met a Ringneck Dove who was very calm and beautiful.

We are learning so much during our time at the Zoo!

Tile Painting Party

2009-02-25T12:35:00.004-05:00

After our Zoo overnight, we were invited to spend Saturday morning creating artwork that will be incorporated into the children's section of the new Nordstrom department store being built in Kenwood Towne Centre. Each Zoo-Mates mentee painted animal designs onto two ceramic tiles that will be placed on the floor of the store. Other kids also came to paint too, and the event rasied over $9000 to support the Zoo.

Getting some tips from the artist.

After we finished the art project, we were invited to a celebration sponsored by Nordstrom. The buffet was full of amazing snacks, but the most exciting part was getting our faces painted!

On being a mentor...

2009-02-18T10:43:00.000-05:00

"This is my second year being involved in Zoo Mates. I always look forward to going to the Zoo and seeing all of the kids smiling and ready to have a good time. Being a mentor is one of the best things I have ever done. My relationship with my mentee has definitely grown a lot. At the end of the day, I am in a better mood and happier because of the interactions I have had with the kids. It feels great knowing that I have done something good by being a positive role model in a child's life."
-- Corey Marty, sophomore business major

Yoga!

2009-02-12T12:50:00.000-05:00

After the snow canceled our last outing, we were so happy to gather together again at the Zoo this week! And on a windy, rainy February afternoon, we found the perfect activity for stretching our bodies and calming our minds -- Yoga!

Elephant pose! Move your trunk!

Relaxing...

S t r e t c h . . .

Warrior pose.

Our branches were blowing in the wind during tree pose.

The grown-ups learned that kids have amazing balance!

Frog Pose! Have you ever seen such a wild yoga class?!

Downward dog pose.

Centering breaths...

Rock pose.

Headstands!

We also spent more time visiting with some ambassador animals, including a rooster, hedgehog, baby alligator, and an armadillo.

Our next outing is a Zoo Overnight Adventure and we can't wait!

Science in Action!

2009-01-15T11:36:00.000-05:00

On Wednesday, January 14th, the boys from Zoo-Mates and their mentors worked together on a set of science experiments. We were busy making slime, observing chemical interactions, and playing with static electricity. The day was a huge success and a lot of fun! We also learned a little bit about science!

The Salt Volcano experiment was very popular! What happens if you mix oil, water, food coloring, and salt?

It turns out that the salt volcano works just like a lava lamp! They're really fun to watch!

Next we worked with balloons and static electricity. We collected the static electricity by rubbing the balloons on our hair!

Once the balloons were charged, we used them to move cans, stick to our faces, and bend water!

The most popular activity of the day was the Balloon Blow-Up. We combined vinegar and baking soda to expand balloons. It was very exciting!

When the amounts of vinegar and baking soda are changed, the balloons expand to different sizes!

The chromatography experiment was tricky. Did you know that black ink is made up of all different colors? We watched the colors separate as water spread up the paper towels.

Each black marker left a unique pattern.

Finally, we were so excited to make homemade slime! When we followed the directions carefully, we got a goopy, sticky, fantastic blob to play with! Green was definitely the most popular color for our slime.

It was a great day to use our brains, cooperate with our partners, and get our hands just a bit messy!

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-19T13:38:00.001-05:00

To celebrate the holidays and the completion of our first quarter together, the Zoo-Mates mentors and mentees enjoyed a festive and exciting party together at the Zoo on December 10th.

We started the party with a visit from some of the Zoo's most colorful and interesting birds! We spoke with a kookaburra, ducked as a parrot flew over our heads, and learned how owls hunt at night.

Our friends from Fidelity Investments hosted the party for us. They arranged a trail-mix snack station and took a photo of every mentee to be made into a holiday card for their families!

Check out our awesome matching t-shirts!

Hard-working card makers!

Nice hat!

Notice the special thanks to his mentor, Corey!

The folks from Fidelity also organized a coat drive, so each mentee left the party with a brand new coat and a goodie-bag full of surprises! Everyone was so excited and the room was full of laughter and thank yous!

Here come two of Santa's elves!

Thanks, Fidelity! We loved our party!

We had an excellent day and we're looking forward to an even better 2009 together!

Zoo-bration video!

2008-11-21T12:32:00.000-05:00

The folks at PC captured the spirit of the Zoo-bration in this video!

Making Art and Building Connections

2008-11-20T12:59:00.000-05:00

On Wednesday, November 19th, Zoo-Mates mentors and mentees met at the kids' school for another afternoon of fun. A visitor from the Cincinnati Art Museum taught us to make art prints and we imagined all kinds of creative designs!

Showing off his not-too-evil jellyfish design.

Team Bobcat applies paint to their stencils.

Team Jellyfish made a logo for their prints!

A finished pizza print.

Team Iguana hanging out.

The Orangutans!

Armadillo family.

We also spent some more time playing board games together, filling the cafeteria with laughs.

Surgeons in training.

She's a charmer!

Not impressed with her four-in-a-row.

The Tree Frog team removes a funny bone.

See you in a few weeks!

Wednesday at the Zoo

2008-11-06T13:51:00.000-05:00

Our first Zoo outing gave us the chance to get to know our partner and to explore the Zoo on a warm fall afternoon!

We started the day by watching a 4D movie about animals in the wild. The seats shook us, poked us, splashed water on us, and gave us a thrill!

Lucy the Bearcat inspired school spirit in the UC students!

The Moose Team set out on an adventure.

Building team spirit.

The Whales show us some energy!

Happy face on a happy day.

Who has longer tongues -- the Giraffe Team or real giraffes?

Big smiles from Team Toucan!

Visiting Mr. Rhino.

Where are we?!

Mentor bonding.

It was a perfect autumn day!

Zoobration!

2008-10-28T12:36:00.001-04:00

We Zoo-brated our hearts out on October 22 at the Open House for families and mentors. The Zoo-Mates mentor/mentee pairs were officially introduced and given animal team names. We also got to meet and learn about some friendly zoo animals.

Team Herons!Meeting a hedgehog!

We also met an alligator, a rooster, and an old African bird.

The Sloth team is full of energy!The Whales!

We had fun working together on the placemat games!What a soft and fuzzy guinea pig!

Our year is off to a great start!

Zoo-Mates Meet & Greet 2008!

2008-10-28T12:05:00.000-04:00

On Wednesday, October 15th, the Zoo-Mates mentors and mentees met at South Avondale Elementary for the first time to play some games and get acquainted!

We built some great new friendships!