The brookfield ZOO will build the capacity of k-12 educators to advance conservation leadership through student-centered, inquiry-based instruction with multi-disciplinary connections

The Chicago Zoological Society, operating as Brookfield Zoo, was awarded a $491,844 Project Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the Museums for America (MFA) program. The grant will fund the development of a sustainable model to build the capacity of K-12 educators to advance conservation leadership through student-centered, inquiry-based instruction with multi-disciplinary connections. Key activities include revising and developing training curriculum, implementing eight cohorts of teacher professional development programs for grades K-5 and 6-12, and hosting networking events for program alumni. The project will also offer free virtual field trip preparation workshops for all educators. An in-house analysis tool will be used to evaluate the project.

Building on a pilot teacher professional development program, this phase of the project will develop a sustainable and robust model through outreach to expand the educator applicant pool, especially among those who teach in schools with low-income populations. Project activities will include revising and developing training curriculum; implementing eight cohorts for teachers of grades k-5 and 6-12; and implementing a series of networking events for program alumni. ZOO staff will also offer one-hour virtual field trip preparation workshops free of charge to all educators. The project will be evaluated using an in-house analysis tool of the rubric data.