The Cape May County Zoo is normally open 364 days a year, closing only for Christmas. So, it was tough on the staff at the zoo when they had to close to the public in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
According to a release, the team routinely welcomes schools from throughout the region to visit and learn. Members love having families explore the many exhibits.
But as schools have shifted online, so has the staff at the Cape May County Zoo.
The Virtual Zoo School is an initiative undertaken by the Cape May County Zoo’s Education Department. Daily, a lesson on a species of animal at the zoo is posted online. This is where the audience meets the animals as never before.
“The staff at the Cape May County Zoo is always amazing me,” stated Freeholder E. Marie Hayes, liaison to the Cape May County Zoo. “We are all practicing social distancing. But this is a way to connect despite everything that is going on in the world. Our employees are once again going the extra mile, like they always do.”
Weekdays at 11:30 a.m.
The lessons are posted daily at 11:30 a.m. on the Cape May County Zoo’s Facebook page and on the Cape May County Government’s Zoo Website (https://www.capemaycountynj.gov/1400/Virtual-Zoo-School).
The public will get information on the animal’s adaptations, their conversation, some unique information about each individual animal, take-home lessons, and unique activities for the children and adults.
They will meet the zoo’s animals, educators, animal care staff, and will get to see behind the scenes.
“We have been hearing some overwhelmingly positive feedback via email and on social media about this new initiative,” stated Hayes. “I want to especially credit Alex Ernest and Kendra Verity and the rest of the staff for finding a way to engage with the public when they can’t visit one of the best zoos in the world.”