Community of Conservation
Connecting Students Across Continents
In partnership with the National Museum of Niger Boubou Hama, Lincoln Park Zoo’s Community of Conservation project brought together students from Niamey, Niger and Chicago’s Francis W. Parker School to explore conservation, collaboration—and how different cultures can come together.
The exciting interchange was rooted in student-led research projects on animal behavior and ecological diversity. Using lesson plans based on the zoo’s award-winning Young Researchers Collaborative, students studied wildlife at Lincoln Park Zoo and the National Museum of Niger Boubou Hama. As they learned, they used Skype sessions and email to share findings with peers a world away, exploring similarities and differences between local wildlife experiences—and cultures.
This partnership was funded by a generous grant from the American Association of Museums and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ Museums & Community Collaborations Abroad Program. This support provided computers, software and internet access to participants in Niger. It also equipped students with field guides, “camera traps” and other essential research tools.
Community of Conservation educators also toko part in a transatlantic cultural exchange. Visits to Chicago and Niger let teachers exchange professional information and return to the classroom with unforgettable experiences to spur learning. The program culminated in exhibitions at each school, with students sharing what they’ve learned about animals, cooperation and each other.
Community of Conservation Blog
Multimedia
|
|
Students Become the Teachers at Lincoln Park Zoo |
Partners
The Community of Conservation project was funded through the American Association of Museums and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ Museums & Community Collaborations Abroad Program
