Youth Groups

Youth Advisory Board is a group of young and aspiring philanthropists who support the Rosamond Gifford Zoo’s nonprofit partner, Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. It is free to participate. Youth Advisory Board members have the opportunity to gain real board experience by learning exactly what it means to serve as a board member to a nonprofit. Youth Advisory Board was founded in 2022 through a joint effort of Carrie Large, Executive Director of the Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, and Liam O’Connor, current Youth Advisory Board Representative. Gina Rapasadi, Director of Philanthropy of the Friends of the Zoo, leads the group, offering her guidance and philanthropic expertise to Youth Advisory Board during meetings, projects, and brainstorming sessions.  

Youth Advisory Board typically meets monthly, usually in-person but occasionally through Zoom, during which the board collectively sets its goals, generates ideas to pursue those goals, and evaluates how it might best serve the Friends of the Zoo. As a group made up of high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors from over a dozen local high school districts, Youth Advisory Board leverages its unique perspective to act as a liaison between younger members of the public and the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. In O’Connor’s words, “Bringing together a group of our community’s best and brightest local students to volunteer and share their valuable perspectives at the zoo has been a thoroughly rewarding opportunity.” To foster these communal connections, Youth Advisory Board spends some of its time getting involved as volunteers for fundraising events hosted by the Friends of the Zoo throughout the year, including Holiday Nights, Zoo Run Run, Party for the Planet, and others.  

Involvement for members of Youth Advisory Board doesn’t stop there. Youth Advisory Board takes those experiences and draws from them to craft new philanthropic projects that resonate with their goals for the Rosamond Gifford Zoo by directly reaching out to younger members of the public. According to Rapasadi, it is critical that Youth Advisory Board reflects the shape of a real-life board as closely as possible so that members can truly learn what it takes for a nonprofit board to function positively. Youth Advisory Board members have an autonomy and voice that few other youth groups can offer. Usually, board experience is not something available for those who wish to lead tomorrow, but Friends of the Zoo recognizes the value and importance of providing budding changemakers with the chance to get involved with this type of work. Youth Advisory Board members find that sharing their perspectives is appreciated and encouraged, which means that as a cohesive group, they have the power to transform their ideas into tangible innovations that aid the Friends of the Zoo. Sometimes, those ideas might even take shape off zoo grounds, but still benefit Friends of the Zoo. For example, students might choose to host a fundraiser through their schools, thereby acting as ambassadors in their communities for Friends of the Zoo just as more traditionally aged board members do.  

Youth Advisory Board members provide a great deal to the Friends of the Zoo, but members will find that they, too, experience a great deal of personal growth and achievement while serving as Youth Advisory Board members. As Rapasadi notes, “I have personally noticed a confidence boost in many of our members, compared to when they first joined [Youth Advisory Board.] Communication is key for building philanthropic relationships, and it is rewarding to see the change in how students communicate effectively with each other, with me, and with others they meet in their daily lives.” Professional relationships are built upon positive interactions, which could include eye contact, public speaking skills, social media messaging, and more. “To be an impactful board member is often to take initiative and go, to have an idea and run with it,” says Rapasadi. “Youth Advisory Board is very much a place for young people to practice taking ownership over their ideas and collaborating as a group to turn those ideas into action.”  

Youth Advisory Board gives students the opportunity to discover their philanthropic potential, all while forging friendships with peers, clocking volunteering hours, and helping sustain Friends of the Zoo as a force of wildlife conservation. Currently, the board consists of about 20 members, and applications are open. Although Youth Board Advisory is currently comprised of high-school students, there are plans to expand so that college-aged participants can join, as well.

To learn more about Youth Advisory Board, interested candidates can reach out to Gina Rapasadi at [email protected].  

For students aged 10 to 18 years old seeking more hands-on experience, check out Conservation Crew, led by Mary Rice, Senior Education Coordinator in the Education Department. Conservation Crew is a free, youth volunteer group that offers participants the chance to get involved with Rosamond Gifford Zoo’s public outreach and conservation messaging activities. Conservation Crew meets on Sundays either once or twice per month, depending on the season, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. During meetings, participants come together to discuss and to strategize how they can make the zoo’s message of wildlife conservation accessible, engaging, and informative for guests of all ages. Conservation Crew also aids with events hosted at the zoo by Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo.  

Guests will find Conservation Crew’s past projects all around the zoo. Many of the informative boards and games peppered throughout zoo grounds are a direct result of Conservation Crew’s work. Crew members select a conservation-themed topic, such as a particular species of animal at the zoo or an eco-related subject, to research. Students even have the opportunity to speak with animal care staff as they delve deeply into their topics. With the support of Rice and their peers, students then take what they have learned about that topic to design boards and games that display their research to the public in a way that is meaningful, relevant, and interesting. Conservation Crew members also have the chance to see the full lifecycle of their research endeavors by presenting their work to guests, answering questions, and inspiring the public to be more environmentally conscious in their daily lives.  

These boards and games offer guests an opportunity to better understand the zoo’s mission to lead wildlife conservation efforts both locally and globally. For example, one such project is a penguin-themed board and game that encourages guests to guess where in the world different penguin species live. Conservation Crew’s board depicts a globe and eighteen different species of penguins, which is often quite surprising to guests who might expect penguins to live in exclusively colder climates. The Rosamond Gifford Zoo’s Humbolt penguins are native to the western coast of South America from Peru to Chile. Conservation Crew’s detailed research highlights just how many different species of penguins exist and how widespread their native habitats are. A current project in the works for Conservation Crew is a snake-themed game that educates guests how to tell whether or not a snake is venomous and encourages guests to understand the important role snakes play in their habitats, rather than fearing them. Conservation Crew is also working on a public outreach venture to promote the Rosamond Gifford Zoo’s work with a community conservation project that aims to preserve the piping plover population in Lake Ontario. 

Conservation Crew’s work directly and positively impacts guest experience, but as Rice observes, Conservation Crew members also have a lot to gain from participating in the program. “Not only do members of Conservation Crew learn collaborative skills, how to idea-build, and about conservation, but a huge part of what they learn is how to communicate science to the community.” Communicating science can be a difficult and daunting task. Conservation Crew provides students with the support and resources they need to practice this real-life, transferable skill. “It’s amazing to see the confidence that kids build up as they work with us over time,” Rice marvels. “They are such a passionate group, and it’s awesome to see them learn, achieve, and grow their passion for science. It’s the best part.” In addition to these skills, Conservation Crew members also receive a free tee-shirt with the group’s distinct, animal-themed logo.  

To ensure that all participants get the most out of Conservation Crew, Rice creates a variety of opportunities and activities that resonate with members, no matter their ages. Younger students often work on developing board designs and games, sparking their creativity and imagination. Older students typically gravitate towards developing research projects, volunteering at fundraising events, and providing public outreach. The group aims to be an inclusive space for any child or teen interested in conservation. Some members even go on to pursue careers in conservation or to continue their volunteering for the zoo as adults.  

Conservation Crew gives students the opportunity to discover the exciting world of conservation, all while forging friendships with peers, clocking volunteering hours, and helping to promote the Rosamond Gifford Zoo’s message of wildlife conservation. Currently, applications are open for Conservation Crew.

To learn more about Conservation Crew, interested candidates (or their parents/guardians) can reach out to Mary Rice at [email protected] or (315) 435-8511 x8594.