MEMBER MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2014
Cultivating Wonder
Contents
AUTUMN 2014
PEOPLE
ANIMALS
PROGRAMS
Life in the Gardens
Creating Healthy Habitats
and Delectable Diets
Just for Members
Meet the people behind the plants
at the Calgary Zoo. Page 3
We LOVE the Calgary
Co-op Kids’ Zone
Meet Yann Gagnon and see how he and
the zoo’s horticulture team makes sure
the animals have plants that both sustain
and entertain. Page 7
Get advice on how to make the most of
the Calgary Co-op Kids’ Zone from two
of our pint-sized members. Page 6
The Zoo in Bloom
Inspire member Judy Bilinski goes behind
the foliage to see what really goes on in the
zoo’s gardens. Page 11
Members-only events & benefits. Page 20
Education Programs
For kids and adults – of all ages
and interests. Page 21
KIDS
CONSERVATION
Wild Life Kids
Nature’s Ecosystem Engineers
See how prairie dogs have some serious
horticulture skills. Page 6
Make pinecone bird feeders that give
the feathered visitors to your backyard
a late fall or winter snack. Page 18
Photo Contributors: Sed imperdiet eros turpis, a suscipit est consequat.
WILD LIFE AUTUMN 2014 PAGE 2
Life in the Gardens
Meet Our Horticulture Team
What a year this has been for our little band of merry
gardeners at the Calgary Zoo! While resiliency is
always a requirement of gardening in Calgary, our
mettle was certainly tested with the events of June
2013. Diligently working to restore and improve our
garden post flood – and we do consider the whole
of the zoo a garden – is a small group of dedicated
professionals. It is my pleasure to be able to
introduce you to our team in this issue of Wild Life.
Amazing animal habitats
Can you imagine an animal habitat without the texture, colour and vibrancy
of plants? Yann Gagnon, our habitats gardener, works closely with the folks in
Animal Care to develop spaces that showcase our animals to visitors, while still
providing stimulating, safe and secure environments for the animals that call
these spaces home.
There are a myriad of details to consider when designing a great habitat – and
everything starts from the ground up. Substrates are chosen to help protect
feet, withstand trampling, provide a stable matrix for diggers, allow nesting
or that offer a place to enjoy a good old roll. Topography is important as well.
Creatures need options – places to go, opportunities to exercise and a variety
of vantage points so they can watch one another and see you watching them.
As you will discover in this issue, habitat gardening is a complex discipline that
requires extensive botanical knowledge and familiarity with animal husbandry.
WILD LIFE AUTUMN 2014 PAGE 3
The horticulture team (L-R) : Boyd Nave, Bonnie Phillips, David Herrington, Yann Gagnon
CO NTI NUED O N
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Life in the Gardens - Continued
Beauty Outdoors
Tropical Paradise
Bonnie Phillips cares for the formal botanic
garden –the Dorothy Harvie Gardens. Thousands
of annuals are planted each growing season (over
17,000 this year), providing the vibrant colour
our guests have come to expect. Bonnie and
team then turn their attention to maintaining our
Chinook-hardy collection of plants. Hours are spent
weeding (wondrous new weeds floated in with the
flood waters), top-dressing beds, installing new
plants and renovating tired displays. And all the
while, making sure the work of the garden doesn’t
interfere with our guests’ enjoyment of the space –
we know this as the magic of horticulture.
In our gardens under glass is where you’ll find our
resident professor of horticulture, Boyd Nave. A
natural educator, Boyd is often found riveting
guests in the ENMAX Conservatory with stories
about the plants under his care. Boyd and team
maintain all the tropical plant collections at the
zoo, including those in Destination Africa. This
team also supervises the butterfly collection in the
Garden Gallery, mounting chrysalis, growing nectar
plants and plating slurries of fruit for the butterflies
that have a taste for rotting produce. As butterfly
season wanes in the fall, the team transforms the
space into a colourful palette of seasonal blossoms
– more horticultural wizardry.
Great Grounds
David Herrington is our grounds gardener and he is
responsible for the 125 acres outside the habitats
and the botanic garden at the zoo. David and
team look after our urban forest, lawns, numerous
planting beds and acres of natural plantscapes. It’s
a huge portfolio that requires good organization and
a team with heart. David has impressive creative
and technical abilities and structures like the kiwi
arbour at the newly opened restaurant, Grazers,
and our topicary panda, “Ping,” demonstrate his
skills. He’s also our renaissance man – in his off
hours he just happens to be a concert violinist.
WILD LIFE AUTUMN 2014 PAGE 4
Behind the scenes, Boyd’s team grows bamboo and
other dietary essentials and treats for our animals.
Gingers have proved to be a favourite and we
discovered that animals rejected basil across the
board. We learn as we go.
I hope you enjoy meeting our team as you read the
next few pages. And if you bump into one of them on
grounds, don’t hesitate to stop for a chat. They know
where all the really cool plants are hidden.
Corinne Hannah
CALGARY ZOO HOR TICULTURIST
“...habitat gardening is a complex discipline that requires extensive
botanical knowledge and familiarity with animal husbandry.”
Z O O G A L A
P R E S E N T E D
2 0 1 4
B Y
T H E C A L G A R Y Z O O W O U L D L I K E T O T H A N K
A L L O F I T S S P O N S O R S F O R H E L P I N G T O M A K E
T H I S E V E N T S U C H A G R E A T S U C C E S S
See you next year!
Nature’s
Ecosystem
Engineers
Prairie Dogs Show Off
Their Horticulture Skills
Tucked deep in southwestern
Saskatchewan, Grasslands
National Park and its surrounding
areas are home to Canada’s only
black-tailed prairie dog population.
Known as “ecosystem engineers,”
these hardworking rodents play a
big role in creating unique habitats
for other species that share their
grassland ecosystem.
Just like gardeners work the soil and prune
plants to keep their gardens healthy, prairie dogs
also transform landscapes in ways that benefit
their ecosystem. In a sense, they’re the animal
equivalent of prairie horticulturalists.
WILD LIFE AUTUMN 2014 PAGE 6
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Nature’s Ecosystem Engineers - Continued
Digging Underground Mazes
High-Stakes Pruning
Prairie Dog Bonsai?
Below ground, prairie dogs create an extensive
network of burrows, providing homes for several
other species, including endangered black-footed
ferrets and burrowing owls.
Above ground, prairie dogs use their teeth to
clip down tall vegetation throughout their colony,
covering areas of up to 100 hectares in Canada.
They eat some of the clippings or use them to line
their burrows, but their main purpose in “mowing”
the grass and “pruning” the shrubs is to give
themselves a clear view across the prairie. Tall
grass is the perfect place for predators to hide,
so keeping it at the right height isn’t just about
making things looking nice – it’s about survival.
When our research team is out studying the
population dynamics of prairie dogs, they say they
can’t help but notice the intricate landscapes the
prairie dogs create.
Using their sharp claws and powerful legs, they
dig twisted tunnels that can sometimes reach 25
feet deep. These impressive underground homes
filter water and aerate the soil, creating the perfect
environment for the prairie grasses to grow.
Trimming the vegetation also gives new plant
species a chance to grow. And those new plants
attract prairie grazers, such as bison and
pronghorn antelope onto the colonies.
These rotund rodents always keep busy – nibbling
vegetation or digging dirt around their burrows.
Some prairie dogs mow down all vegetation
in their path, but will leave a little bunch of
flowers at the entrance to their burrow. Others
nibble down small shrubs, shaping them to look
a bit like bonsai trees. While beautiful, these
manicured landscapes are all about survival
with the big fringe benefit of creating healthy
grassland ecosystems.
Tall grass is the perfect place for predators to
hide, so keeping it at the right height isn’t just about
making things looking nice – it’s about survival.
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR
WORK WITH PRAIRIE DOGS
WILD LIFE AUTUMN 2014 PAGE 7
Creating Healthy Habitats
and Delectable Diets
Meet Habitat Gardener Yann Gagnon
Have you ever wondered where the branches the zoo’s
giraffes munch on come from? Or where the bamboo
the red pandas eat grew? Yann Gagnon, the zoo’s
habitat gardener, has the answers. Making sure the
animals have food that not only sustains them, but also
allows them to perform natural behaviours that are so
important to their welfare, is a big part of Yann’s job.
As the zoo’s habitat gardener – one of only a handful
in North America – Yann makes weekly visits to species
around the zoo, including gorillas, bears, snakes, caribou,
and pretty much every other species, but the giraffes are
some of his biggest customers.
WILD LIFE AUTUMN 2014 PAGE 8
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Creating Healthy Habitats and Delectable Diets - Continued
Keeping the
Herbivores Happy
New Greenhouse Grows
Exotic Animal Food
Giraffes in the wild spend their days stripping
leaves and bark off of branches – and they can
eat a lot of it. Providing year-round foliage is tricky
business in Alberta where outdoor greenery is hard
to come by in the winter months. Historically, hay
has filled the gap between fall and spring, but a
unique new food-storage program is changing that.
Silage isn’t the only way the zoo’s horticulture
team makes sure the animals have the freshest
food every month of the year. Yann says that a
brand new greenhouse built this spring – likely
the only one of its kind in Canada – is dedicated
to growing food for the animals.
Yann, along with a number of volunteers, collect
leaves throughout the summer months and pack
them tightly in large barrels, making sure that
there is as little air as possible inside. Up to
60 barrels weighing up to 70 pounds each are
labelled and stored inside Penguin Plunge – a
controlled environment that stays at between four
and six degrees. Six to eight months later, when
the last leaves have fallen off the trees in Calgary,
they are opened up to reveal a silage product that
is rich in protein, fibre and is a more natural food
choice for animals that eat leaves and bark, known
as browsers.
It’s about more than just preference for the
giraffes, says Yann. “Giraffes are designed to eat
leaves and leaves only,” he says. “Giving them this
type of food enriches their lives and improves their
general health. It’s also a chance for them to show
natural behaviours and keeps the giraffes busy
doing the same thing they would do in the wild.”
Tucked behind Penguin Plunge, the new
greenhouse is 17 feet tall by 72 feet long and
filled with plants destined to be exotic animal
food – sugarcane, bamboo, cardamom and other
tropical plants.
Yann says that delivering the food and watching
the animals enjoy it makes all the hard work
worthwhile. “There’s a great deal of satisfaction
in what I do,” says Yann. “I split myself in 100
different ways each day, but when I see the
gorillas getting their exercise as they climb up in
the trees to eat hibiscus flowers and hear them
making their happy noises, it’s really something.
When we see these positive behaviours, we know
we’re making a difference.”
“Giving them this type of food enriches their lives and
improves their general health. It’s also a chance for them to
show natural behaviours and keeps the giraffes busy doing
the same thing they would do in the wild.”
WILD LIFE AUTUMN 2014 PAGE 9
CO NTI NUED O N
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Creating Healthy Habitats and Delectable Diets - Continued
Constructing Creative Landscapes
Growing and harvesting food for the animals is only part of Yann’s job. He also
handles landscape construction and habitat gardening.
“The link between animals and plants is key,” says Yann. “People should see
the animals blend in really well with their habitat and watch them eating with
and living with the plants they find in their natural environments.”
Between restoring animal habitats after the flood and creating and updating
homes for rhinos, mandrills, bison, rhinos, alpacas and peccaries, Yann has
been busy. Rockwork, water features, planting trees, moving logs and creating
spaces that stimulate natural behaviours is all in a day’s work, but Yann says
his biggest challenge was making a new home for mandrills.
“We had to create their habitat when the soil was partly frozen and because
the mandrills were on their way, we had a deadline,” explains Yann. He also
had a 25-foot wall to contend with. There wasn’t a door into the enclosure, so
Yann had to use a crane to lift thousands of pounds of rocks, trees, mulch and
substrate, as well as the equipment he needed to do the job over the wall. And
he had to do it when the zoo was closed.
“It’s complex work, but it’s great to be able to help make a space for new
animals, especially ones with a conservation story,” says Yann. “The Animal Care
department gives me a lot of freedom to be creative and innovative and I’m really
happy about that because it motivates me to come up with new ideas.”
WILD LIFE AUTUMN 2014 PAGE 10
Husky Energy
Endangered
Species
Program
“The link between animals and plants is
key. People should see the animals blend
in really well with their habitat and watch
them eating with and living with the plants
they find in their natural environments.”
Husky Energy is committed to the responsible stewardship of
the ecosystems on which we all depend and is a proud sponsor
of the Calgary Zoo’s Centre for Conservation & Research. The
important work it does preserves, protects and reintroduces
some of Alberta’s and Canada’s most endangered species.
Image by past participant June Fox
TI CKET S O N SA LE N OW
SEPTEMBER 20 2014 • 7-9AM
FOCUSED 2.0 gives photographers
of all skill levels the chance to
photograph the zoo gardens and
animals during the brilliant fall
morning light.
To purchase tickets or learn
more, visit calgaryzoo.com
or call (403) 232-9300
*This event is for adults only.
We LOVE the
Calgary Co-op
Kids’ Zone
In the Calgary Co-op Kids’ Zone you’ll find
families making new memories as children ride
on the carousel’s realistic animals representing
endangered species, take a ride on the zoo
train or play at the toddler playground.
The zoo is a special place for the Brooks family
who are Connect gate pass holders. They visit
once a week and Katie and Steve just got
married in the butterfly garden on August 24.
Congratulations!
We asked their children, eight-year-old Ethan and
seven-year-old Emma, to share some highlights
and tips about visiting this part of the zoo.
WILD LIFE AUTUMN 2014 PAGE 12
CON T IN U E D ON
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We LOVE the Calgary Co-op Kids’ Zone - Continued
Carousel Advice
Zoo Train Tips
Playground Pointers
Emma always chooses the giraffe when she rides
on the carousel – it is her favourite animal, after
all, but Ethan disagrees. “I always try to choose
the ones that don’t have their feet on the ground
because they move up and down when the
carousel is turning,” he says. “The seat with the
peacock is pretty fun, though. It’s like a couch!”
The best seat on the train is at the back, in the
caboose, according to Ethan, but whichever seat
you choose; make sure it has a top when you’re
heading out for an afternoon trip through the
west end of the zoo. “It can get pretty hot on
warm days,” says Ethan.
While Ethan and Emma are a bit too big for the
toddler playground these days, they do remember
enjoying spending time there. “The best part is
the parrot you ride on,” says Ethan. “And the
elephant slide is pretty fun too.”
Ethan thinks he could probably go on the carousel
about 15 times before his tummy felt sick, but
Emma is a bit more adventurous and thinks 16
times is a better estimate.
WILD LIFE AUTUMN 2014 PAGE 13
The Zoo
in Bloom
Inspire member Judy Bilinski
takes a look behind the
foliage to see what goes
on in the zoo’s gardens
Judy Bilinski is no stranger to the zoo.
A dedicated Zoo member for the last
10 years, she’s a regular visitor with her
two granddaughters, has participated in
many behind-the-scenes programs and
is a regular at Inspire member tours.
Now that she’s retired, Judy also visits the zoo on her own,
usually first thing in the morning to catch the animals
when they’re most active.
“The animals are so interesting to me and there’s always
something to see. It’s one of my favourite places to go for
a walk.”
So when she was invited to tour the gardens with four of
the zoo’s gardeners, she jumped at the chance.
“I’ve seen a lot of amazing things at the zoo, but this was
far beyond my expectations. I got the chance to visit four
people who all share a real passion for what they do.”
WILD LIFE AUTUMN 2014 PAGE 14
CON T IN U E D ON
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The Zoo in Bloom - Continued
1st Stop: ENMAX Conservatory
2nd Stop: Dorothy Harvie Gardens
Judy started her day in the ENMAX Conservatory
with Boyd Nave, who gave her a new perspective on
butterflies. Even though she is a regular visitor to
the butterfly garden with her granddaughters, she
says she still had a thing or two to learn on the tour.
As gardener Bonnie Phillips walked Judy along the
pathways through the Dorothy Harvie Gardens,
pointing out treasures like the Manchurian walnut
tree that grows to 25 metres tall, Judy was struck
by how spectacular the gardens looked.
“I knew the zoo brought in their butterflies, but
I didn’t realize that the butterflies in the garden
also procreate on their own. Boyd showed us
where butterflies lay eggs on the leaves of some
of the plants. He explained that they go through
all the stages in their life cycle until they become
butterflies – which takes about six weeks. I saw
several caterpillars crawling around on the leaves
that I never would have noticed on my own.”
“The gardens are so beautiful and I can’t believe
how amazing they are considering that they are
still recovering from the devastating flooding,”
says Judy. Bonnie explained that while the plants
themselves fared quite well after the flood,
dealing with the silt – some of which still remains
in areas – was the biggest challenge.
And Judy has spent her fair share of time in the
butterfly garden – it’s her youngest granddaughter
Emily’s favourite place. “Emily has always wanted
a butterfly to land on her. “She has unbelievable
patience and will sit motionless for a half an hour.”
She has yet to be rewarded for her patience, which
Boyd says isn’t too surprising. “He explained that
the butterflies are attracted to some people –
including him – but not others.”
Dig Gardening?
Check out the PLANTED Horticulture
Expo at the Calgary Zoo G E T T I C K E T S
Apparently, butterflies are attracted to the salt
in our sweat, so Emily might want to try visiting
on a hot, sunny day. Boyd also asks that people
remember that while having a butterfly land on you
is an exciting privilege, picking them up or touching
them can damage their extremely delicate wings.
“I’m a little bit of a gardener, I have flowers in my
yard – nothing to the extent of the Calgary Zoo –
but I always enjoy finding out what kinds of things
they do in the zoo’s gardens and being able to learn
about what kinds of plants we can grow here.”
So Judy’s ears perked up when Bonnie started
talking about the zoo’s 40-plus varieties of
peonies. “I have a couple of peonies in my yard at
home that I dug up when I moved into the house
I’m in now and I just love them,” says Judy.
Annuals were reaching their prime when Judy visited,
so she was curious about how long it takes to plant
the 17,000 plants that are placed in the garden
each spring. Bonnie explained that getting a year’s
worth of annuals in the ground takes between three
and four weeks. “I was amazed to learn that Bonnie
and two or three other gardeners look after all the
planting and complete it in this time,” says Judy.
CO NTI NUED O N
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The Zoo in Bloom - Continued
3rd Stop: Grounds
Grounds gardener David Herrington took Judy through the west end of the zoo
– his personal favourite – where he explained how the area has a Eurasian
theme and gave her a quick overview of the technology involved in growing
plants on the water in the west pond.
One of David’s projects that is getting a lot of attention this summer is a giant
panda sculpture outside the Tiger’s Den Gift Shop. Called mosaiculture, this
horticultural art involves creating and mounting living artwork made of plants
with colourful foliage.
It took over 1,400 plants to create the sculpture and David grooms it once or
twice a week, monitoring the drip line irrigation system inside the sculpture at
the same time.
“I just love the panda sculpture and was amazed to learn that this was David’s
first try at mosaiculture and so impressed that he did all the research on his own
to make the panda,” says Judy.
David designed the panda sculpture himself, welded the structure together,
secured the plants to the metal frame and kept it in the greenhouse until it was
established. And visitors have been snapping photos of themselves with the
impressive piece of horticultural art all summer.
4th Stop: Habitats
When Judy met Yann, she mentioned that she had been on an Inspire tour
with him a few weeks earlier, so he quickly changed gears and took her to the
Canadian Wilds rather than the TransAlta Rainforest tour he had planned.
“I was so impressed with the work Yann does,” says Judy. “It’s something that
most people wouldn’t think about, but his work is all about growing plants to
make life interesting for the animals. He puts so much thought into what he
plants and how the animals will benefit from them. It’s not just about habitat
and what will grow, it’s about enrichment and what the animals will enjoy.”
Yann showed Judy some of the work he did around the bison habitat. “It’s
such a huge enclosure and the changes he made to change the landscape
of that space and create a place where the bison can be protected in bad
weather was just wonderful. He really thinks about the animals when he’s
working on their enclosure.”
Of the four experiences, which did Judy enjoy most? “I just can’t limit it to one
favourite experience,” she says after running the tour through her mind again.
“All four of the gardeners and their jobs are all so different and the whole
experience left me with a new appreciation of gardening at the Calgary Zoo.”
N
IO
IT
D
E
T
S
R
FI
Sundays, 9:30am to 1:00pm
zoo admission combo price before noon
One great price. One great day.
G E T
Y O U R
T I C K E T S
T O DAY
calgaryzoo.com
WORKSHOPS • TOURS • SEMINARS • DEMONSTRATIONS • Q&A OPEN HOUSE
L A S T B R U N C H O F T H E S E A S O N I S N O V E M B E R 9 TH
•
S A FA R I B R U N C H R E S U M E S J A N U A R Y 1 8 , 2 0 1 5
Make a Pinecone
Bird Feeder!
This is a great activity to
do when fall comes and
the leaves fall off the trees.
Make these pinecone
bird feeders and give the
feathered visitors to your
backyard a late fall or
winter snack. FIND OUT HOW >>>
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
•Pinecones
•String
•Peanut butter or lard
•Bird seed
INSTRUCTIONS:
1.Go for a walk at your neighbourhood park
and see if you can find some pinecones.
2.Ask a grown up to put some peanut butter or
lard on a plate for you.
3.Put some birdseed on another plate.
4.Roll your pinecone in the peanut butter or lard.
5.Roll your sticky pinecone in the birdseed.
6. Cut a piece of string.
7.Attach the string to one end of your pinecone.
(Or you could do this before you roll the
pinecone in the sticky stuff to avoid a mess!)
8.Hang your pinecone in a tree or from a shrub.
9.Watch the birds come visit and enjoy a snack!
Just for Members
Make the most of your zoo experience with
these members-only events and benefits.
Parking Changes to Better Suit Your Needs
(Engage & Inspire Members)
The Calgary Parking Authority (PARKPLUS) is now responsible for
daily management of all Calgary Zoo parking lots. Although the
deadline for registration has passed, we urge you to sign up to
continue to receive your FREE zoo parking privileges. If you have
not registered with ParkPlus, you could be ticketed.
Click here for more info and details on how to register for parking.
Animal Antics
Leopard Frogs
Amphibians are sending us a clear message: no taxonomic group
is disappearing faster. Once widespread, Northern leopard frogs
are disappearing due to habitat loss, invasive species and disease.
Join our Centre for Conservation Research staff and learn how they
are helping to save these frogs in Alberta and BC, where they are
threatened and endangered.
Date: Sunday, October 26
Price: FREE
Time: 11:00am to 12:30pm
To RSVP: Call Guest Relations (403-232-9300) between the
hours of 9am-5pm - ENGAGE & INSPIRE MEMBERS ONLY
How to change your license plate(s) to
receive free parking at the Calgary Zoo:
Step 1:Log in to your MyID account at https://parkonline.calgary.ca/
Step 2:Click on CALGARY PARKING AUTHORITY-PARK ONLINE SYSTEM
Step 3: Click on GET DETAILS
Step 4: Click on LICENCE PLATE
Step 5:Click EDIT and update the appropriate licence plate
Step 6:Once you have edited your licence plate; click on UPDATE to
confirm your information is SAVED
Step 7:EXIT out of the screen by clicking the ‘X’ at the top right corner
Step 8:EXIT out of the main screen by clicking the ‘X’ at the top right corner
Step 9:Click LOGOUT at the top right corner to exit the PARK ONLINE SYSTEM
* Please note: You may log in to your Zoo parking account and update your licence
plate(s) information at any time. If you have problems signing up or accessing your
myID account, please call 311
Wild Life Kids Club
Child Engage and Inspire members get to be part of the
Wild Life Kids Club and enjoy perks like access to the
member-only activity tent at special events, an exclusive
Wild Life Kids Club activity book with over $25 in zoo
coupons, and exclusive programs just for kids.
Click here to see our upcoming Kids Club prgrams
All programs have limited seating. Registration for all Wild Life Kids Club
programming begins on the 1st of every month starting at 9 a.m. on a first-come,
first-serve basis. Call Guest Relations at (403) 232-9300 to reserve your spot.
10%
Education Programs
DI S C O U NT
FOR ENGAGE AND INSPIRE
MEMBERS. LOOK FOR THIS
SYMBOL ON ELIGIBLE
PROGRAMS:
Get Closer to the Zoo Family
Behind
the Scenes
Programs
Get close to beautiful
giraffes, connect with a
charismatic otter or get
so close to a tiger you
can count its stripes!
Each program includes a half-hour
interpretive program and a chance
to see one of the animals up close.
Children attending behind-the-scenes
programs must be accompanied
by a paying adult. Prices include
zoo admission.
PROGRAM AGES
Tigers
8+
Giraffes
Otters
8+
8+
TIME
DATE
12:30 - 1:15pm
Sun, Sep 28
2:30 - 3:15pm
Sat, Oct 25
Sun, Nov 16
Sat, Dec 13
3:30am - 4:15pm
Sat, Sep 20
2:30 - 3:15
Sat, Oct 18
Sat, Nov 22
Sat, Dec 6
3:30 - 4:15pm
Sun, Sep 28
Sat, Oct 4
Sat, Oct 11
PRICE
Adult $60
Child $55
Adult $60
Child $55
Adult $60
Child $55
COMING SOON: BEHIND THE SCENES WITH RHINO
Check our website for updates!
Mad
Mondays
Enjoy special pricing
for select behind the
scenes programs on
Mondays in the fall*
Choose from the
following programs:
Tigers (12:30 - 1:15)
Reg. $60/adult, $55/child
Mad Mondays Price:
$49/adult $45/child (8+)
Giraffes (2:30 - 3:15)
Reg. $60/adult, $55/child
Mad Mondays Price:
$49/adult $45/child (8+)
To register, call (403) 232-9300 or visit calgaryzoo.com
Penguin (3:30 - 4:15)
Reg. $95/adult, $75/child
Mad Mondays Price:
$85/adult $65/child (8+)
*No member discount, no
rainchecks and price is valid
for new bookings only. Dates:
Oct 6, 13, 20, and 27. Nov 3,
10, 17, and 24. Dec 1, 8, 15,
22, and 29.
WILD LIFE AUTUMN 2014 PAGE 21
RED PANDA
BEHIND THE
SCENES
Come learn all about
the zoo’s four species
of penguins, see how
zookeepers work with
them and enjoy a visit
with the penguins
right in their exhibit.
Maximum of four
people per program.
Take your appreciation
for these flightless
wonders to a whole
new level as you tour
the penguins’ home
and help zookeepers
hand-feed and scatterfeed them their fishy
meal right inside the
exhibit. Maximum
of four people per
program.
Learn about the lives
of one of our closest
relatives at the zoo
and in the wild, tour
the keeper kitchen,
help make them a
treat for the future and
get to help the keeper
with a scatter feed.
Bring your camera to
catch the gorilla grins!
All participants must
be over the age of 8
and accompanied by a
paid adult. Maximum
group size is four.
See how these
excellent climbers feed
on bamboo, insects,
birds and even other
small mammals.
A zookeeper will
introduce you to our
resident red pandas
and explain how we
design our enclosure.
You’ll even be able
to assist with snack
preparation and
delivery. Maximum
of two people per
program.
AGES
GORILLA BEHIND
THE SCENES
*NEW*
8+
(must be accompanied
by a paying adult)
14+
(can attend on their
own)
8+
14+
(can attend on their
own)
DATES
PREMIER
PENGUIN
BEHIND
THE SCENES
Oct 5, 18 25
Nov 9, 15, 23, 29
Dec 6, 13, 20
Oct 12, 19
Nov 8, 16, 22, 30
Dec 7, 14, 21
Sep: 20, 28
Oct: 4, 11, 18, 25
Nov: 8, 15, 22, 29
Dec: 6, 13, 20, 27
Dec: 7, 14,
TIME
PENGUIN
BEHIND THE
SCENES
3:30 - 4:15pm
3:30 - 4:15pm
12:30 - 1:15pm
12:30 - 1:15pm
PRICE
DESCRIPTION
PROGRAM
More Behind-the-Scenes Programs
Adult $95
Child $75
$225/person
Adult $95
Child $75
$225/person
WILD LIFE AUTUMN 2014 PAGE 22
To register, call (403) 232-9300 or visit calgaryzoo.com
Speakers Bureau
Our Calgary Zoo experts can
bring the zoo to your next
special event with nature, travel
and horticulture presentations.
Funds raised support the zoo.
Visit our website for details.
Forget clowns,
invite a giraffe
to your next
birthday.
Book your next birthday party at
the Calgary Zoo and choose from
our hosted themed parties or
build-your-own birthday packages.
For more information, stop
by Guest Relations or visit
calgaryzoo.com
18+
14-17
All Ages
7am - 3pm
PRICE
Please phone for
2014/15 dates
$375/person
DESCRIPTION
Rise and shine for a
hearty pancake breakfast,
enjoy an interpretive
program all about one of
these amazing animals
and then venture over to
their habitat for a private
viewing opportunity. This
program does not include
a behind-the-scenes
component.
Expand your
drawing skills
and confidence
with the zoo’s
incredible
surroundings as
your inspiration.
Instructor Averie
Moppett helps
you explore
techniques,
observation skills
and composition.
All levels
welcome.
SAIT instructor
Barry Giles takes
you on a guided
tour to explore
some of the tricks
to successful
zoo photography.
Take your
best shot at
owls, wolves
and bison and
other Canadian
species. Working
knowledge of
your camera and
its functions is
required.
16+
Sun, Sep 21
8:30am - 1pm
$80
AGES
Teens can spend half
a day in the shoes of a
zookeeper too! Choose
from Destination Africa,
Eurasia or Canadian
Wilds. Each program
can accommodate one
teen, two siblings or two
friends. Call Estelle at
403-232-9362 for more
information or to register.
CANADIAN
WILDS
PHOTO
SAFARI
18+
DATES
Spend the day with staff
in the zoo’s animal care
department and find out
what this fascinating
career is all about. Choose
from Destination Africa,
Eurasia, Canadian Wilds,
Birds, Carnivores or
Hoofstock. Call Estelle at
403-232-9362 for more
information or to register.
DRAWING
WORKSHOP
Tuesdays,
Sep 23 - Oct 14
7 - 11:30am
8 - 9:15am
TIME
BREAKFAST
WITH THE
ANIMALS
10am - 2pm
$275/person
Adult $45
Child $29
PRICE
JUNIOR
ZOOKEPER
FOR A
DAY
DATES
ZOOKEEPER
FOR A
DAY
TIME
AGES
DESCRIPTION
PROGRAM
Family Fun & Adventure
PROGRAM
Programs for the
Young at Heart
$188
(plus supplies)
Please phone for
2014/15 dates
Komodo - Sat, Sep 20
Rhino - Sat, Sep 27
Komodo - Sat, Oct 25
Penguin - Sat, Nov 22
WILD LIFE AUTUMN 2014 PAGE 23
To register, call (403) 232-9300 or visit calgaryzoo.com
Slither down with your
preschoolers to learn
about our amazing
Komodo dragons. Your
tiny reptile fans will
enjoy a story, felt board
activity, costumes and
a short visit with our
new residents.
Did you know that
rhino horns and
human fingernails are
made of the same
stuff? Find out more
fun and fascinating
rhino facts during a
half hour program
complete with stories,
activities, costumes
and a tour.
Does your
preschooler love
penguins? Then
you’ll both enjoy
our penguin story,
costumes and
activities. After the
fun, we’ll waddle over
to visit the penguins.
Gather in a cozy
group to listen to
favourite zoo and
animal stories in the
Karsten Discovery
Centre Atrium.
Education volunteers
read children’s books
and share amazing
animal artifacts to
see and touch.
3-5
3-5
3-5
toddler-5
Tue, Sep 23
Tue, Nov 18
10 - 10:45am
OR
11 - 11:45am
$12/child*
(Adults don’t require
tickets)
Tue, Sep 30
Tue, Nov 25
10 - 10:45am
OR
11 - 11:45am
$12/child*
(Adults don’t require
tickets)
Wed, Oct 15
Wed, Dec 3
Thursdays until Dec
11
10 - 10:45am
OR
11 - 11:45am
$12/child*
(Adults don’t require
tickets)
NORTHERN
NIGHTS
SLEEPOVER
Bring your family
down to the Zoo
for a Halloweenthemed sleepover
in our Transalta
Rainforest building.
Enjoy a fun and
informative evening
of stories, activities,
and a craft all about
animals like bats,
spiders, snakes,
and more! And don’t
forget to wear your
costume for show
and tell.
Join us in Cequel
Energy Lodge
for an evening
of games and
activities. Enjoy a
starlit tour of the
Canadian Wilds,
a late-night snack
before bed, then
wake up to the
playful antics of
river otters. You’ll
wrap up your
sleepover with
a scrumptious
pancake breakfast.
All children must
be accompanied
by an adult.
5+
5+
Overnight
Sat, Oct 25
Overnight
Sat, Nov 15
7pm - 8:30am
7pm - 8:30am
$65/person
$65/person
PROGRAM
SPOOKY
SKELETON
SLEEPOVER
DESCRIPTION
STORYTIME
AT THE ZOO
AGES
PENGUIN
PRESCHOOL
PROGRAM
DATES
RHINO
PRESCHOOL
PROGRAM
*NEW*
TIME
KOMODO
PRESCHOOL
PROGRAM
*NEW*
Spend the Night
PRICE
PRICE
TIME
DATES
AGES
DESCRIPTION
PROGRAM
Preschool Programs
10:30 - 11am
Voluntary fee of $2*
*Preschool program prices do not include zoo admission. Private booking options available.
WILD LIFE AUTUMN 2014 PAGE 24
To register, call (403) 232-9300 or visit calgaryzoo.com
LANDSCAPE
DESIGN
LEVEL I
Calgary gardeners are
a passionate bunch.
If that sounds like
you, the zoo’s master
gardener program
is an exciting way
to go beyond the
basics. Much like
gardening in Calgary,
the program isn’t for
the faint of heart, but
it’s a challenge that’s
just as rewarding
as horticulture in
the Chinook Zone.
Prerequisite: Woody
Plant ID
Whether you’re
considering a career
in landscaping or
designing your own
yard, this entry-level
course will give you an
introduction to the art
of planning, drafting
and designing beautiful
yards. Learn how to
conduct an effective
client interview, plan
and draft landscape
design, and present a
completed landscape
drawing. Prerequisite:
Woody Plant ID
Saturdays
Nov 8 - Mar 14
Wednesdays
Nov 12 - Mar 18
OR
Saturdays
Nov 8 - Mar 14
TIME
MASTER
GARDENER
TRAINING
9am - 3:30pm
9am - 2:30pm
PRICE
DATES
DESCRIPTION
PROGRAM
Botanical Education
$549/person
$1,250/person
WILD LIFE AUTUMN 2014 PAGE 25
Tropical Plant
Identification
Extend your
growing season
Our brand new Tropical Plant
ID course was two years in the
making, says instructor John
Duncan, and he’s excited to
introduce people to a bunch
of new plant material.
Taking a botanical break
from winter
“Calgary has a long winter, so tropicals
are a great way to keep growing – even
in the dead of winter,” says John. “In
this course, we’ll introduce people to
what they can grow in their own houses
and focus on choosing the right plants
and putting them in the right place so
they can thrive.”
Who should take this course?
“Anyone who’s interested in extending
the growing season. You don’t have
to be a gardening expert, but we will
introduce some Latin terms for those
who want that level of detail.”
The best part?
“We’ll get the chance to do some
exploring at the zoo and look at the
collection to see what you can grow at
home.” And even though tropical plants
open open up a whole new world to
Chinook-zone gardeners, John says you
need to be realistic. “We won’t be able
to grow the six-foot hedge of hibiscus
you might see while on holidays in
Hawaii, but you can certainly start with
a six-inch version of the same plant.”
Register now for our Tropical Plant
Identification Course
Save the date and get ready to join the excitement of
the PLANTED Horticulture Expo! Sep 27, 9am - 3pm
Seeking a peaceful paradise?
Gardens Canada is your online resource for botanical garden and arboretum
experiences across Canada. Plan your next visit with up to date information on
special offers and events, then immerse yourself in the serenity of Canada’s botanical
gardens and arboreta – as fascinating as they are beautiful.
Visit gardenscanada.ca/jardinsducanada.ca
launching May 30, 2014 and explore what’s in bloom!
gardenscanada.ca/jardinsducanada.ca
We hope you enjoyed this issue.Thanks for reading!