Lincoln Children's Zoo
Encyclopedia
The Lincoln Children's Zoo (called Folsom Children’s Zoo & Botanical Gardens between 1979 and 2006) is a privately funded 10 acres (4 ha) zoo located in Lincoln, Nebraska
, United States
. The zoo is open from April 15 through October 15 each year.
The Lincoln Children's Zoo has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
(AZA) since 1991. Its mission is "to enrich lives through firsthand interaction with living things."
Arnott Folsom started the zoo with personal funds in 1959, and the zoo opened on 3 acres (1.2 ha) of city land in 1965. Folsom wanted a zoo designed for children, with plenty of interaction. The zoo started with about 120 animals, all of which were sold at the end of the season each year, eliminating the need for staff on the off season. When the zoo opened in 1965 it was the only privately funded zoo in the city, but the city still had two other zoos: Ager Zoo and Pioneers Park.
In 1973 the zoo hired permanent staff, and has since kept its animals year round. In 1978, with the opening of the Animal Kingdom building, the zoo had its first all-weather exhibit space.
In 1979 when Folsom died, the zoo was renamed "Folsom Children’s Zoo & Botanical Gardens" in his honor. Then in 1980 the city decided to close Ager Zoo and limit Pioneers Park to native species only, making the Folsom Children’s Zoo the only zoo in Lincoln.
1990s
In 1991 an infrastructure update funded by a $3.6 million bond issue was completed. Improvements included a new entrance and support buildings, restrooms, and expanded parking. The adjoining park also received some improvements.
In 1997 the zoo opened with a makeover funded by a successful $3.4 million fundraising campaign. Improvements included new habitats for the river otters, spectacled bear
s, Bactrian camel
s, and gelada baboons
. The zoo acquired leopards and singing dogs
, and Stegosaurus Fountain and Zooville Square were remodeled. The education complex and veterinary facility were opened, and "Zoo School" opened in collaboration with the Lincoln Public Schools.
2000s
The Butterfly Pavilion opened in 2001, and the zoo started planning for Antelope Triangle Park. The zoos 38 year old train was replaced in 2002 by the new Z.O.&O. Railroad. "Opening the Gates", a new program that provides guided tours in 10 languages, was also launched.
The 2003 season opened with a new home for the Zoo's bald eagle
s and a new children's play area, and Debrazza's monkeys were introduced to the zoo. Then in 2004, the new 4000 square feet (372 m²) Camelot Commons Education Center was opened, and introduced pot-bellied sea horse
s and a harbor seal
to the zoo.
In 2005 the zoo celebrated 40 years. "Dromedary Dock," a feeding station for camels, was opened to let visitors feed the camels, and the size of the diet kitchen was tripled. In 2006, the zoo was renamed back to its original name and the current zoo logo was created. Another renovation of the Stegosaurus Fountain in 2008 turned it into Stego’s Big Dig, and Laura’s Butterfly Pavilion opened as a permanent home for the butterflies.
By 2009 the zoo had about 300 animals of 90 species, and had expanded to the current 10 acres (4 ha).
At Firsthand Farm, visitors can touch and feed domesticated animals such as llamas and goats.
Laura's Butterfly Pavilion
In 2008, Laura's Butterfly Pavilion got a permanent space of its own where visitors can watch butterflies.
Critter Encounter
At Critter Encounter, visitors can pet and learn more about guinea pigs, doves, tenrecs, and many other small animals as zookeepers show a different animal every hour. The exhibit is open daily during summer vacation and on weekends the rest of the season.
The Hive
At this indoor exhibit, visitors can see and touch a variety of arthropods from around the world. Bugs that visitors can see here include millipede
s, centipede
s, Madagascar hissing cockroach
es, tarantula
s, and scorpion
s.
Stego's Big Dig
At this 4500 square feet (418 m²) exhibit, children dig around to find hidden bones, and then get help identifying their finds. A shade structure helps keep guests cool, and a small interpretive building was built adjacent to the dig. This exhibit was re-purposed from a hard to maintain 35 feet (10.7 m) diameter fountain into a "dig" exhibit with washed sand and 50–60 clean bones filling the former fountain basin. The original stegosaurus that was the centerpiece of the old fountain is still present but mounted higher.
The zoo provides "keeper chats" to help educate visitors about the animals at the zoo. Shows are held daily at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Visitors need to check at the zoo entrance for the daily locations of these talks.
Guided tours
Guided tours must be booked at least two weeks in advance. Cost is the normal entrance fee plus a group fee that depends on the type and length of the tour. Available tours include topic tours, which let the group pick the subject, a 2 hour evening tour, and career shadowing, which lets one person at a time (over 16 years of age) watch and participate in daily zookeeper activities for one hour.
Summer education
Zoo classes, usually two hours each, and Zoo Camp, daily for one week, provide educational opportunities for children during the summer months.
Volunteers
Zoo crew volunteers can help with presentations and other activities in the zoo such as the pony rides and at the newly designed camel dock.
In June, July, and August, the zoo stays open until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesdays to let visitors see the animals in the evening. Each Wild Wednesday has a different theme, and includes animal demonstrations and other activities for visitors.
Lincoln Safari
Lincoln Safari is a three year program started in 2008 that is intended to help get people outdoors and to natural places in Lincoln that they have probably not seen before. Participating families and group get a safari bag, a guidebook and a map of the secret places (32 in 2010). The guidebook contains clues to the location of the "rubbing post" at each location, where participants can use a pencil to rub a copy of the pattern on the top of the post. Lincoln Safari is sponsored by the zoo and about a dozen other organizations.
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The zoo is open from April 15 through October 15 each year.
The Lincoln Children's Zoo has been accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Association of Zoos and Aquariums
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums was founded in 1924 and is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and public aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation.The AZA headquarters is located in Silver...
(AZA) since 1991. Its mission is "to enrich lives through firsthand interaction with living things."
History
Early yearsArnott Folsom started the zoo with personal funds in 1959, and the zoo opened on 3 acres (1.2 ha) of city land in 1965. Folsom wanted a zoo designed for children, with plenty of interaction. The zoo started with about 120 animals, all of which were sold at the end of the season each year, eliminating the need for staff on the off season. When the zoo opened in 1965 it was the only privately funded zoo in the city, but the city still had two other zoos: Ager Zoo and Pioneers Park.
In 1973 the zoo hired permanent staff, and has since kept its animals year round. In 1978, with the opening of the Animal Kingdom building, the zoo had its first all-weather exhibit space.
In 1979 when Folsom died, the zoo was renamed "Folsom Children’s Zoo & Botanical Gardens" in his honor. Then in 1980 the city decided to close Ager Zoo and limit Pioneers Park to native species only, making the Folsom Children’s Zoo the only zoo in Lincoln.
1990s
In 1991 an infrastructure update funded by a $3.6 million bond issue was completed. Improvements included a new entrance and support buildings, restrooms, and expanded parking. The adjoining park also received some improvements.
In 1997 the zoo opened with a makeover funded by a successful $3.4 million fundraising campaign. Improvements included new habitats for the river otters, spectacled bear
Spectacled Bear
The spectacled bear , also known as the Andean bear and locally as ukuko, jukumari or ucumari, is the last remaining short-faced bear and the closest living relative to the Florida spectacled bear and short-faced bears of the Middle Pleistocene to Late Pleistocene age.The spectacled bear is a...
s, Bactrian camel
Bactrian camel
The Bactrian camel is a large, even-toed ungulate native to the steppes of central Asia. It is presently restricted in the wild to remote regions of the Gobi and Taklamakan Deserts of Mongolia and Xinjiang. A small number of wild Bactrian camels still roam the Mangystau Province of southwest...
s, and gelada baboons
Gelada
The gelada , sometimes called the gelada baboon, is a species of Old World monkey found only in the Ethiopian Highlands, with large populations in the Semien Mountains...
. The zoo acquired leopards and singing dogs
New Guinea Singing Dog
The New Guinea Singing Dog is a wild dog once found throughout New Guinea. New Guinea Singing Dogs are named for their unique howl....
, and Stegosaurus Fountain and Zooville Square were remodeled. The education complex and veterinary facility were opened, and "Zoo School" opened in collaboration with the Lincoln Public Schools.
2000s
The Butterfly Pavilion opened in 2001, and the zoo started planning for Antelope Triangle Park. The zoos 38 year old train was replaced in 2002 by the new Z.O.&O. Railroad. "Opening the Gates", a new program that provides guided tours in 10 languages, was also launched.
The 2003 season opened with a new home for the Zoo's bald eagle
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
s and a new children's play area, and Debrazza's monkeys were introduced to the zoo. Then in 2004, the new 4000 square feet (372 m²) Camelot Commons Education Center was opened, and introduced pot-bellied sea horse
Big-belly seahorse
The big-belly seahorse or pot bellied seahorse, Hippocampus abdominalis, is one of the largest seahorse species in the world with a length of up to 35 cm.-Habitat:The big-belly seahorse is found in large rock pools at low tide, amidst seaweed...
s and a harbor seal
Harbor Seal
The harbor seal , also known as the common seal, is a true seal found along temperate and Arctic marine coastlines of the Northern Hemisphere...
to the zoo.
In 2005 the zoo celebrated 40 years. "Dromedary Dock," a feeding station for camels, was opened to let visitors feed the camels, and the size of the diet kitchen was tripled. In 2006, the zoo was renamed back to its original name and the current zoo logo was created. Another renovation of the Stegosaurus Fountain in 2008 turned it into Stego’s Big Dig, and Laura’s Butterfly Pavilion opened as a permanent home for the butterflies.
By 2009 the zoo had about 300 animals of 90 species, and had expanded to the current 10 acres (4 ha).
Exhibits
Firsthand FarmAt Firsthand Farm, visitors can touch and feed domesticated animals such as llamas and goats.
Laura's Butterfly Pavilion
In 2008, Laura's Butterfly Pavilion got a permanent space of its own where visitors can watch butterflies.
Critter Encounter
At Critter Encounter, visitors can pet and learn more about guinea pigs, doves, tenrecs, and many other small animals as zookeepers show a different animal every hour. The exhibit is open daily during summer vacation and on weekends the rest of the season.
The Hive
At this indoor exhibit, visitors can see and touch a variety of arthropods from around the world. Bugs that visitors can see here include millipede
Millipede
Millipedes are arthropods that have two pairs of legs per segment . Each segment that has two pairs of legs is a result of two single segments fused together as one...
s, centipede
Centipede
Centipedes are arthropods belonging to the class Chilopoda of the subphylum Myriapoda. They are elongated metameric animals with one pair of legs per body segment. Despite the name, centipedes can have a varying number of legs from under 20 to over 300. Centipedes have an odd number of pairs of...
s, Madagascar hissing cockroach
Madagascar hissing cockroach
The Madagascar hissing Cockroach , also known as the Hissing Cockroach or simply Hisser, is one of the largest species of cockroach, reaching 2–4 inches at maturity. They are from the island of Madagascar off the African coast, where they can be found in rotting logs.Unlike most cockroaches, they...
es, tarantula
Tarantula
Tarantulas comprise a group of often hairy and often very large arachnids belonging to the family Theraphosidae, of which approximately 900 species have been identified. Some members of the same Suborder may also be called "tarantulas" in the common parlance. This article will restrict itself to...
s, and scorpion
Scorpion
Scorpions are predatory arthropod animals of the order Scorpiones within the class Arachnida. They have eight legs and are easily recognized by the pair of grasping claws and the narrow, segmented tail, often carried in a characteristic forward curve over the back, ending with a venomous stinger...
s.
Stego's Big Dig
At this 4500 square feet (418 m²) exhibit, children dig around to find hidden bones, and then get help identifying their finds. A shade structure helps keep guests cool, and a small interpretive building was built adjacent to the dig. This exhibit was re-purposed from a hard to maintain 35 feet (10.7 m) diameter fountain into a "dig" exhibit with washed sand and 50–60 clean bones filling the former fountain basin. The original stegosaurus that was the centerpiece of the old fountain is still present but mounted higher.
Other attractions
The zoo has train rides and pony rides. The train goes around the entire perimeter of the zoo.Education
Keeper talksThe zoo provides "keeper chats" to help educate visitors about the animals at the zoo. Shows are held daily at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Visitors need to check at the zoo entrance for the daily locations of these talks.
Guided tours
Guided tours must be booked at least two weeks in advance. Cost is the normal entrance fee plus a group fee that depends on the type and length of the tour. Available tours include topic tours, which let the group pick the subject, a 2 hour evening tour, and career shadowing, which lets one person at a time (over 16 years of age) watch and participate in daily zookeeper activities for one hour.
Summer education
Zoo classes, usually two hours each, and Zoo Camp, daily for one week, provide educational opportunities for children during the summer months.
Volunteers
Zoo crew volunteers can help with presentations and other activities in the zoo such as the pony rides and at the newly designed camel dock.
Events
Wild WednesdaysIn June, July, and August, the zoo stays open until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesdays to let visitors see the animals in the evening. Each Wild Wednesday has a different theme, and includes animal demonstrations and other activities for visitors.
Lincoln Safari
Lincoln Safari is a three year program started in 2008 that is intended to help get people outdoors and to natural places in Lincoln that they have probably not seen before. Participating families and group get a safari bag, a guidebook and a map of the secret places (32 in 2010). The guidebook contains clues to the location of the "rubbing post" at each location, where participants can use a pencil to rub a copy of the pattern on the top of the post. Lincoln Safari is sponsored by the zoo and about a dozen other organizations.