On being a mentor...

"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!

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!

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!