WEBVTT - Inspire and Empower Through Conservation Education 0:00:04.360 --> 0:00:07.920 Ruby. 0:00:10.160 --> 0:00:11.400 Hi, I'm Rick Schwartz. 0:00:11.600 --> 0:00:13.440 When el Z s world, I'm Marco went. 0:00:13.880 --> 0:00:16.800 Welcome to Amazing Wildlife, where we explore unique stories of 0:00:16.840 --> 0:00:20.239 wildlife from around the world and uncovered fascinating animal facts. 0:00:20.520 --> 0:00:23.599 This podcast is a production of iHeartRadio's Ruby Studio and 0:00:23.720 --> 0:00:28.360 San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance in international nonprofit conservation organization 0:00:28.440 --> 0:00:30.920 which oversees the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park. 0:00:32.640 --> 0:00:34.440 You know, Rick, it's a Monday morning, and I really 0:00:34.520 --> 0:00:37.199 appreciate you for doing those lines every single time. You know, 0:00:38.560 --> 0:00:40.559 It's great, you know, but life is good. Right, We're 0:00:40.600 --> 0:00:42.559 at the San Diego Zoo. We got a manned in 0:00:42.560 --> 0:00:44.680 the crew here. Man, how we looking and looking pretty good? 0:00:44.960 --> 0:00:47.240 Yeah? Man is giving us the thumbs. 0:00:46.960 --> 0:00:48.879 Up, you know, because there is that visual component too, 0:00:48.920 --> 0:00:51.000 reminding our little listeners right which. 0:00:50.800 --> 0:00:53.320 I do wonder where Marco, will the visual component. 0:00:52.960 --> 0:00:56.560 Be possibly on YouTube in the future, the other media and. 0:00:56.480 --> 0:00:59.320 Interestingly enough tell me this time of year, we always 0:00:59.320 --> 0:01:01.360 like to talk about the fact that YouTube's very first 0:01:01.480 --> 0:01:04.480 video was uploaded from the San Diego Zoo by the 0:01:04.520 --> 0:01:06.280 founder of YouTube way back in the day. 0:01:06.760 --> 0:01:08.759 To think how much YouTube has grown right. 0:01:08.680 --> 0:01:10.840 Now, how much has this podcast grown. Oh, I know, 0:01:10.959 --> 0:01:11.639 and just keep. 0:01:11.480 --> 0:01:14.240 An eye out on our Instagram handles myself on TikTok 0:01:14.280 --> 0:01:17.840 as well as Zoology Rick or Zoology Marco's for us 0:01:17.840 --> 0:01:19.320 to promote a little of it in the future. But 0:01:19.560 --> 0:01:21.560 we're not here just to hang out right and enjoy 0:01:21.600 --> 0:01:24.920 our Monday. We're here in this beautiful reptire room also 0:01:25.000 --> 0:01:26.600 used as an educational room. 0:01:26.640 --> 0:01:28.200 Yeah, and that's what I love about this episode. 0:01:28.240 --> 0:01:30.720 We're going to dive into the importance of wildlife education, 0:01:30.800 --> 0:01:33.640 conservation education, and that's really what this podcast has always 0:01:33.680 --> 0:01:36.399 been about. Right, So, I think it's time to introduce 0:01:36.520 --> 0:01:40.080 Lisa via Lisa gonnass up your last names Solo Bslo, 0:01:40.200 --> 0:01:42.920 Lisa Yelso, the vice president of Education here at San 0:01:42.920 --> 0:01:46.920 Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. What exactly does that title mean? 0:01:46.959 --> 0:01:48.640 It seems like a pretty big that's a lot going 0:01:48.680 --> 0:01:48.960 on there. 0:01:49.040 --> 0:01:51.240 Yeah, it is. Thank you so much for having me. 0:01:51.440 --> 0:01:55.520 Yes, So, the vice president of Education works with all 0:01:55.600 --> 0:01:59.440 the different educational initiatives for the entire alliance. That means 0:01:59.440 --> 0:02:02.520 I work with the education staff at the zoo and 0:02:02.600 --> 0:02:05.480 at the Safari Park and out of our Conservation Science 0:02:05.520 --> 0:02:09.680 Research Center. So we have more than thirty education programs 0:02:09.720 --> 0:02:13.919 across the Alliance, delivering all different types of education, whether 0:02:13.960 --> 0:02:18.799 it's field trips, summer camps, after school programs, weekend programming, 0:02:18.960 --> 0:02:20.480 teacher professional development. 0:02:20.800 --> 0:02:21.680 I could go on and. 0:02:21.600 --> 0:02:23.840 On, right, and I think that's important for our audience 0:02:23.840 --> 0:02:27.880 to understand that our Education department isn't just like tours or. 0:02:27.840 --> 0:02:29.200 A summer camp, temporary thing. 0:02:29.400 --> 0:02:29.600 Right. 0:02:29.760 --> 0:02:31.920 The breath and scope of all of this that we 0:02:31.960 --> 0:02:34.600 do as an organization for education. I think a lot 0:02:34.680 --> 0:02:36.400 of people don't fully understand that. So that's what I'm 0:02:36.400 --> 0:02:38.520 really excited that you're here with us today. Also, by 0:02:38.560 --> 0:02:40.160 the way, you wrote an article that's going to be 0:02:40.160 --> 0:02:42.560 in the main journal, so our members that are out there, 0:02:42.600 --> 0:02:44.480 they're going to see this article as well, and we're 0:02:44.480 --> 0:02:46.000 talking a little bit about some of the things you 0:02:46.080 --> 0:02:46.600 touch on in that. 0:02:46.680 --> 0:02:47.400 Article as well. 0:02:47.520 --> 0:02:48.520 Excellent, let's do it. 0:02:48.600 --> 0:02:49.120 I'm excited. 0:02:49.200 --> 0:02:51.720 He hinted a little bit about the article, but in general, 0:02:51.800 --> 0:02:53.360 I got a sneak peak a little. 0:02:53.200 --> 0:02:54.000 Bit, just a little bit. 0:02:54.040 --> 0:02:55.639 And we always say, you know, working here at the 0:02:55.720 --> 0:02:58.080 Zoo and the Safari Park, animals are amazing. 0:02:58.120 --> 0:02:59.120 They inspire everyone. 0:02:59.160 --> 0:03:01.840 But what we say conservation begins with human beings, right, 0:03:01.880 --> 0:03:03.799 So we got to start even with the little youngsters. 0:03:03.840 --> 0:03:06.520 So I really appreciate you coming in and highlighting all 0:03:06.560 --> 0:03:10.120 the unique opportunities we're giving the kids of San Diego 0:03:10.160 --> 0:03:11.840 County and a lot of people from the world too 0:03:11.840 --> 0:03:13.600 in these programs. So, yeah, can you tell me a 0:03:13.600 --> 0:03:15.720 little about this awesome article that Rick was hinting at? 0:03:16.040 --> 0:03:18.320 Sure, So this is an article that's coming out in 0:03:18.360 --> 0:03:22.600 the journal, okay, and it's focused all about what we 0:03:22.720 --> 0:03:25.800 do in education and what is the real purpose and mission. 0:03:26.200 --> 0:03:29.320 And our purpose is to connect people with nature and 0:03:29.360 --> 0:03:32.679 with wildlife and with each other, because you're very right 0:03:32.760 --> 0:03:36.520 that conservation begins with people, and to make sure that 0:03:36.640 --> 0:03:41.400 students have the knowledge, the skills, the efficacy to really 0:03:41.440 --> 0:03:44.800 make a difference in their communities. That's the main mission 0:03:44.800 --> 0:03:45.440 of all of our. 0:03:45.400 --> 0:03:47.080 Education programs, right, I love it. 0:03:47.120 --> 0:03:49.040 I mean a little bit ago, there is a program 0:03:49.080 --> 0:03:52.120 that you all have facilitated that I was really stoked about. 0:03:52.120 --> 0:03:54.960 I think it was called Conservation Core I from not mistaken, 0:03:55.000 --> 0:03:55.480 Is that correct? 0:03:55.520 --> 0:03:55.640 Right? 0:03:55.840 --> 0:03:56.040 Yes? 0:03:56.240 --> 0:03:58.160 Yeah, can you highlight a little bit about that because 0:03:58.160 --> 0:03:59.480 that was a really cool experience for me. 0:03:59.520 --> 0:04:01.240 But I think you better describe it better than I. 0:04:01.480 --> 0:04:01.800 Okay. 0:04:01.920 --> 0:04:05.600 Conservation Corps is an amazing program. It's been running for 0:04:05.680 --> 0:04:08.040 ten years and it runs out of the Safari Park 0:04:08.520 --> 0:04:11.360 and it is geared towards high school students and what 0:04:11.400 --> 0:04:14.119 they do is they apply, they do a group interview, 0:04:14.160 --> 0:04:17.280 and if they're selected, they spend two saturdays a month 0:04:17.320 --> 0:04:19.520 with us. So these are high schoolers that want to 0:04:19.560 --> 0:04:22.440 give up two saturdays a month to spend time with 0:04:22.520 --> 0:04:25.000 us at the Safari Park and out in the community 0:04:25.080 --> 0:04:29.040 doing conservation work. So they're learning all about conservation challenges, 0:04:29.240 --> 0:04:32.880 they're finding conservation solutions, they're giving back to the community, 0:04:32.960 --> 0:04:35.640 and they're developing their leadership skills. So it's a really 0:04:35.720 --> 0:04:38.400 special program that goes for four semesters. 0:04:38.520 --> 0:04:42.040 Oh it's incredible. Honestly, when I was there seeing the kids' 0:04:42.040 --> 0:04:43.159 faces and some of them. 0:04:43.000 --> 0:04:44.560 Like reminded me of me, Like I swear I saw 0:04:44.600 --> 0:04:46.279 a little like my key dolls there around in front 0:04:46.279 --> 0:04:46.839 of it, you know. 0:04:46.839 --> 0:04:48.680 But what I loved about, like, I'm a native. 0:04:48.440 --> 0:04:50.320 San Diego and I grew up here and at the time, 0:04:50.480 --> 0:04:52.960 there wasn't a lot of diversity being represented in some 0:04:53.000 --> 0:04:55.080 of the programs. As a child, I was trying to 0:04:55.080 --> 0:04:58.160 get involved in but now today, I see the diversity 0:04:58.160 --> 0:05:01.360 of different people nuances of community we support, especially me 0:05:01.440 --> 0:05:04.120 speaking to the Latino community, So I really really appreciate that. 0:05:04.279 --> 0:05:07.040 That's really great to integrate how zoos can also support 0:05:07.120 --> 0:05:08.560 local community as well. 0:05:08.720 --> 0:05:10.839 And that's a big part of our mission. Our mission 0:05:10.920 --> 0:05:13.719 is to be part of the community and embedded in 0:05:13.800 --> 0:05:14.480 the community. 0:05:14.720 --> 0:05:16.320 And I think what you had said earlier too, is 0:05:16.320 --> 0:05:19.240 that installing that empathy and that knowledge of how people 0:05:19.560 --> 0:05:21.279 can make a difference. And we both Mark and I 0:05:21.279 --> 0:05:23.359 come from a history of wildlife education outreach to the 0:05:23.360 --> 0:05:25.440 public that a lot of times you go into the 0:05:25.440 --> 0:05:28.440 more urban areas, the city communities, and there's this disconnected 0:05:28.600 --> 0:05:30.560 I can't really do anything because I don't live near 0:05:30.880 --> 0:05:33.520 these areas. Talk a little bit about what you've seen 0:05:33.560 --> 0:05:35.440 and experience as far as these kids going through these 0:05:35.480 --> 0:05:37.960 programs or some of the things that can help inspire 0:05:38.080 --> 0:05:39.880 those that might be in more urban areas that feel 0:05:39.920 --> 0:05:42.480 a little removed from wildlife definitely. 0:05:42.520 --> 0:05:43.960 So I think we try to tackle that in a 0:05:44.000 --> 0:05:47.360 few different ways. One is in the programs themselves, so 0:05:47.480 --> 0:05:50.080 sometimes we're going out into the community, and sometimes we're 0:05:50.080 --> 0:05:54.080 bringing the community on site and just letting them experience 0:05:54.160 --> 0:05:56.440 the amazing wildlife we have here at the zoo of 0:05:56.480 --> 0:05:58.160 the park, the amazing. 0:05:57.680 --> 0:05:58.760 Plant life that we have. 0:05:59.400 --> 0:06:02.760 But we all so always try to instill the sense 0:06:02.800 --> 0:06:05.520 that nature is all around us, so it can be 0:06:05.600 --> 0:06:09.560 found in pocket parks and on our balconies and all 0:06:09.600 --> 0:06:12.200 these different areas that you don't have to drive somewhere 0:06:12.240 --> 0:06:14.800 really far, that nature's not separate from us. 0:06:14.800 --> 0:06:16.520 We're all also part of nature. 0:06:16.839 --> 0:06:18.560 I love that I'm saying that all the time. You know, 0:06:18.600 --> 0:06:20.640 it doesn't matter where you live. That one of the 0:06:20.640 --> 0:06:22.560 wonderful things I love about the Safari Park in the 0:06:22.600 --> 0:06:25.600 San Diegos it was an ability to get reconnected. Like 0:06:25.640 --> 0:06:27.400 my favorite thing is when I see some guests who've 0:06:27.400 --> 0:06:29.919 never been there before. They come in and honestly, the 0:06:29.960 --> 0:06:33.160 first thing they do is like they take a big 0:06:33.200 --> 0:06:35.720 side now and they forget like we're all human, we're 0:06:35.720 --> 0:06:37.880 all mammals, right, We're all in these ecosystems, and we 0:06:37.920 --> 0:06:40.880 forget to get connected again. So I just love this program. 0:06:40.960 --> 0:06:43.400 Can ask you, like, what inspired you to really to 0:06:43.440 --> 0:06:45.880 startle this? Why do you feel education is so important 0:06:45.880 --> 0:06:46.840 in a zoo setting. 0:06:47.520 --> 0:06:48.560 That's a loaded question, I know. 0:06:49.040 --> 0:06:50.680 Yeah, how much time do we have to tell me. 0:06:51.480 --> 0:06:54.400 I'm a lifelong educator. So I was a teacher, I 0:06:54.480 --> 0:06:57.279 was a school principal. I was also a school director, 0:06:57.680 --> 0:07:00.159 and I worked in international schools. So I worked in 0:07:00.200 --> 0:07:03.600 South Korea, in Cambodia and Rwanda and Austria. But I 0:07:03.640 --> 0:07:06.279 always felt like something was missing, and that was that 0:07:06.440 --> 0:07:11.840 environmental literacy, that was sustainability stewardship, and that just became 0:07:11.880 --> 0:07:13.840 more and more important to me. So I needed to 0:07:13.840 --> 0:07:16.200 find the perfect job that would let me meld these 0:07:16.280 --> 0:07:20.000 two things, and the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is 0:07:20.000 --> 0:07:22.560 the place for that. So everything that we're doing is 0:07:22.600 --> 0:07:26.400 just around environmental literacy and empathy for wildlife and connection. 0:07:26.920 --> 0:07:29.840 So it allows me to live the very best part 0:07:29.960 --> 0:07:32.280 about education and the natural world. 0:07:32.440 --> 0:07:33.120 That's really great. 0:07:33.120 --> 0:07:33.760 I'm really lucky. 0:07:33.840 --> 0:07:35.360 But I have to ask you said it two times, 0:07:35.400 --> 0:07:38.360 something's picked up on it, Rick, But environmental literacy. You know, 0:07:38.400 --> 0:07:40.720 we have a lot of adultsa listen to the podcast, 0:07:40.760 --> 0:07:41.840 but there's a lot of kids as well. 0:07:41.920 --> 0:07:43.679 Can you highlight what that really means? 0:07:44.240 --> 0:07:44.600 Sure? 0:07:44.920 --> 0:07:49.160 So environmental literacy is the ability to understand about the 0:07:49.240 --> 0:07:52.960 natural world, about environmental ethics. It could be something as 0:07:52.960 --> 0:07:57.000 simple as understanding about recycling. So we would take the 0:07:57.040 --> 0:08:00.360 concept of environmental literacy and we really gear it towards 0:08:00.440 --> 0:08:02.440 the age group that's in front of us. Well, make 0:08:02.440 --> 0:08:05.000 sure it's developmentally appropriate and each appropriate. 0:08:05.080 --> 0:08:07.440 Yeah, I mean you each change it up right, elementary kids, 0:08:07.520 --> 0:08:10.240 high school kids, you know, adults. You got to gear 0:08:10.320 --> 0:08:12.560 your communication into that way. So that's a very nuanced 0:08:12.560 --> 0:08:13.400 e FIA. That's awesome. 0:08:13.600 --> 0:08:15.320 One thing I want to ask you, it's something that 0:08:15.400 --> 0:08:17.440 I know, Mark when I've run into over the years 0:08:17.440 --> 0:08:20.360 of doing wildlife education in many different formats, But I 0:08:20.480 --> 0:08:22.440 love your take on it in the sense of a 0:08:22.480 --> 0:08:24.920 lot of times when kids start to become excited about 0:08:24.920 --> 0:08:26.760 wildlife and they want to learn more, some of the 0:08:26.840 --> 0:08:30.360 first things they hear about is they're endangered or the 0:08:30.480 --> 0:08:31.760 challenges they face in the wild. 0:08:31.640 --> 0:08:32.679 Due to habitat loss. 0:08:33.360 --> 0:08:34.920 Sometimes for a lot of people, that can be very 0:08:34.920 --> 0:08:37.680 overwhelming to the point of almost you need to turn 0:08:37.679 --> 0:08:39.720 away from it, because it's just like, how can I, 0:08:39.760 --> 0:08:42.160 as a kid or a high school or make a 0:08:42.200 --> 0:08:45.079 difference when it comes to creating that empathy you're talking 0:08:45.080 --> 0:08:48.600 about in that environmental literacy. What are some of the 0:08:48.600 --> 0:08:53.320 things that can empower kids to feel not overwhelmed and 0:08:53.320 --> 0:08:54.520 that they can make a difference. 0:08:55.200 --> 0:08:57.880 That is a great question and something that we take 0:08:57.960 --> 0:09:03.200 so seriously. Believe that children of all different ages can 0:09:03.320 --> 0:09:06.319 learn about the challenges that are facing our planet today. 0:09:06.400 --> 0:09:08.440 Absolutely, but how we. 0:09:08.360 --> 0:09:12.200 Introduce that content is just as important as the content itself, 0:09:12.960 --> 0:09:15.679 So we need to make sure that it's very carefully chosen, 0:09:15.760 --> 0:09:18.960 we're being very intentional, and again that it's age appropriate, 0:09:19.600 --> 0:09:24.160 and we're always pairing success stories, stories of hope, and 0:09:24.520 --> 0:09:28.720 also concepts around empathy for wildlife, and we pair those 0:09:28.760 --> 0:09:32.760 things together so that students and young learners, young adults, 0:09:32.800 --> 0:09:35.800 really any age can see that they have agency and 0:09:35.840 --> 0:09:39.400 they have efficacy and what they do can make a difference. 0:09:39.679 --> 0:09:41.280 So we have to be really careful. 0:09:41.640 --> 0:09:44.400 And then if we're talking about possibly older learners, maybe 0:09:44.400 --> 0:09:46.959 you have teens like our team program we were talking about, 0:09:47.320 --> 0:09:50.960 they're really ready for complex conversations, right, They have the 0:09:51.000 --> 0:09:54.480 skills to research, they like to dialogue, they like to debate, 0:09:55.040 --> 0:09:57.880 and so we can go into much greater depth there. 0:09:58.280 --> 0:10:00.840 But again we always bring it back back to action. 0:10:01.360 --> 0:10:03.800 So we often talk about our work and the alliance, 0:10:03.960 --> 0:10:05.920 we talk about what's happening in the world, and what 0:10:05.960 --> 0:10:07.120 they can do in their community. 0:10:07.200 --> 0:10:10.880 Yeah, I think sharing stories about things that had success. 0:10:10.920 --> 0:10:12.839 So you might be focusing or talking about in a 0:10:12.920 --> 0:10:16.240 dangered environment or critically dangered species, but you can also 0:10:16.280 --> 0:10:17.920 look at that and go and here's the species that 0:10:18.000 --> 0:10:20.679 was there ten, fifteen, twenty years ago. But the work 0:10:20.760 --> 0:10:23.000 is starting to turn that around. So that same type 0:10:23.000 --> 0:10:25.040 of work and commitment can turn it around for this 0:10:25.120 --> 0:10:27.280 species if we apply it appropriately. So it's a great 0:10:27.360 --> 0:10:29.439 concept and I think it's important part of their discussion 0:10:29.440 --> 0:10:31.520 here today because we have parents that listen, and it's 0:10:31.520 --> 0:10:32.960 one thing I always think about it is like, how 0:10:32.960 --> 0:10:35.640 can a parent make sure their child can learn these 0:10:35.679 --> 0:10:38.439 important facts that these animals are having challenges but it's 0:10:38.480 --> 0:10:41.480 not hopeless. It's hopeful there are successes out there, and 0:10:41.559 --> 0:10:44.160 then becoming involved and passionate about it can also make 0:10:44.160 --> 0:10:46.480 a difference for these species around the world. 0:10:46.720 --> 0:10:48.480 Oh So, like a little follow up to what Rick 0:10:48.480 --> 0:10:50.760 had just said, do you have any recommendations like what 0:10:50.800 --> 0:10:52.480 parents could sign their kids up for in some of 0:10:52.480 --> 0:10:54.200 the programs we have here in the Alliance? 0:10:54.720 --> 0:10:55.160 Sure? 0:10:55.520 --> 0:10:57.959 So the top thing that comes to mind right now 0:10:58.440 --> 0:11:02.240 is camp. Yes, we have a very very large summer 0:11:02.240 --> 0:11:05.800 camp here, especially at the San Diego Zoo. Starting next year, 0:11:05.880 --> 0:11:08.240 our summer camp will be back at the San Diego 0:11:08.320 --> 0:11:11.920 Zoo Safari Park, and that is just such a time, 0:11:12.120 --> 0:11:15.760 that's so much fun. We have kids coming in every week, 0:11:15.920 --> 0:11:19.440 We plan all these fun activities and they get to 0:11:19.600 --> 0:11:23.240 experience wildlife and unique ways that they don't get if 0:11:23.240 --> 0:11:25.960 they just come as a regular zoo visitor. So that 0:11:26.120 --> 0:11:29.480 is probably the number one offering that parents are always 0:11:29.480 --> 0:11:33.079 looking for. We occasionally have other programs that either young 0:11:33.120 --> 0:11:36.240 adults like teens can sign themselves up for or parents, 0:11:36.679 --> 0:11:39.240 And then we have a lot of opportunities for teachers 0:11:39.400 --> 0:11:44.160 as well, so teachers, Yeah, teachers can come for professional development. 0:11:44.480 --> 0:11:46.880 They can also come for field trips. And we can 0:11:46.920 --> 0:11:50.160 also create really meaningful partnerships. So we have partnerships with 0:11:50.200 --> 0:11:52.320 different schools where we run things like after. 0:11:52.120 --> 0:11:53.800 School programs Oh Wow. 0:11:54.240 --> 0:11:57.360 And if someone's not in the area and they're interested 0:11:57.400 --> 0:11:59.640 in learning more as a parent or as a teacher, 0:12:00.120 --> 0:12:02.400 can go to our website. So we have our Wildlife 0:12:02.440 --> 0:12:06.559 Explorer's website which has curriculum on it. It has all 0:12:06.559 --> 0:12:09.720 different activities for children and they can learn a. 0:12:09.720 --> 0:12:13.880 Lot about that's wildlife Explorers the website. But also I 0:12:13.920 --> 0:12:16.920 mean as a parent, I can say the camps are awesome. 0:12:17.320 --> 0:12:18.560 My daughter's been through a couple of. 0:12:18.559 --> 0:12:21.720 Times, and she's grown up in the zoo basically. 0:12:21.720 --> 0:12:23.640 Because of where I wonder where its work. 0:12:23.800 --> 0:12:26.840 But because there's so many different activities involved in the 0:12:26.880 --> 0:12:28.880 process of learning, you know, the arts and the crafts, 0:12:28.880 --> 0:12:31.040 the exploring, the different things they have to do to 0:12:31.040 --> 0:12:33.720 find out information, and it's always so age appropriate. So yeah, 0:12:33.720 --> 0:12:35.320 then people can find out more information on that just 0:12:35.320 --> 0:12:37.199 on the website, Sandy goozo dot org. 0:12:37.200 --> 0:12:38.599 But I'm so happy to hear it's coming back to 0:12:38.600 --> 0:12:39.960 the fly Park next year. Yeah. 0:12:40.520 --> 0:12:43.440 Yeah, we are really excited. So it was just paused 0:12:43.480 --> 0:12:46.880 during the construction of Elephant Valley. Yeah, and now we're 0:12:46.880 --> 0:12:48.720 going to bring it back. It's going to be bigger 0:12:48.800 --> 0:12:49.560 and better than ever. 0:12:49.679 --> 0:12:51.720 That's right, right, look at for Elephant Battle a little 0:12:51.800 --> 0:12:54.559 later on next year, you know, sometime earlier next year. 0:12:54.600 --> 0:12:56.360 So that's going to be really cool. But you said 0:12:56.400 --> 0:12:59.200 something that like made me think. You said teacher programs. 0:12:59.200 --> 0:13:01.640 It's really interesting because most people think of just kid 0:13:01.679 --> 0:13:04.320 focused educational programs. Can you speak a little more about 0:13:04.320 --> 0:13:07.720 what programs we offer for teachers because man, they need support. 0:13:07.440 --> 0:13:11.040 Right definitely. As a former teacher, my heart has always been. 0:13:10.960 --> 0:13:12.440 Teacher professionals development. 0:13:13.200 --> 0:13:16.440 So we have this amazing program over the summer where 0:13:16.480 --> 0:13:19.960 teachers can come we call them teacher workshops. It's residential 0:13:20.360 --> 0:13:22.720 and then they come on to site at the Conservation 0:13:22.800 --> 0:13:26.360 Science Research Center and they get to learn about all 0:13:26.400 --> 0:13:29.319 the different programs that we do, and our community engagement 0:13:29.360 --> 0:13:32.800 team delivers those. They're learning how to deliver different labs 0:13:32.960 --> 0:13:35.240 for their students. It's geared towards middle school and high 0:13:35.240 --> 0:13:38.319 school teachers, and the best thing about it is after 0:13:38.360 --> 0:13:40.680 they go through all this training and they have this 0:13:40.720 --> 0:13:42.600 great sense of community with their cohort. 0:13:43.200 --> 0:13:44.319 If they don't have the. 0:13:44.320 --> 0:13:47.480 Materials in their school to deliver those labs, we send 0:13:47.480 --> 0:13:47.920 it to them. 0:13:48.000 --> 0:13:49.079 Nice we send it to them. 0:13:49.280 --> 0:13:52.080 We send it to them completely free, and the training 0:13:52.160 --> 0:13:55.640 is completely free, and we even offset costs with a stipend. 0:13:55.920 --> 0:13:59.360 It's the most amazing program that's just generously funded by 0:13:59.400 --> 0:14:03.680 some donors and provides amazing professional development for teachers. And 0:14:03.720 --> 0:14:06.840 we've had teachers not just from San Diego, but across 0:14:06.880 --> 0:14:10.440 the country and even participants from across the world. 0:14:10.679 --> 0:14:14.280 Rightly well, a big thank you for donors, because that's amazing. 0:14:14.320 --> 0:14:15.360 I love that program. 0:14:15.520 --> 0:14:17.360 I'm actually going to be going to it's called the 0:14:17.440 --> 0:14:20.120 Latin American Easy a Cup outside just a couple of weeks, 0:14:20.160 --> 0:14:22.480 and I'm going to be speaking about this particular program 0:14:22.680 --> 0:14:24.960 to help remind people of the support, because we all 0:14:25.000 --> 0:14:26.480 got to do this together, right, I mean, that's why 0:14:26.520 --> 0:14:28.720 have these eight conservation hubs around the world, over two 0:14:28.800 --> 0:14:32.200 hundred collaborators, and like we said earlier, teachers really need support. 0:14:32.360 --> 0:14:34.560 I was in Beckman a little bit ago watching one 0:14:34.600 --> 0:14:37.000 of these school programs and something that I really love. 0:14:37.280 --> 0:14:41.480 There is a way for translating direct English interpretations in 0:14:41.600 --> 0:14:45.080 different languages. So I saw kids that are Spanish speaking 0:14:45.200 --> 0:14:48.760 natives learning what the teacher, our educators are showing through 0:14:48.760 --> 0:14:50.560 this wonderful tech that we were offering too. 0:14:50.760 --> 0:14:52.920 And the teachers are going in English and in Spanish. 0:14:52.920 --> 0:14:54.600 And for me growing up, I was one of the 0:14:54.600 --> 0:14:57.240 few kids speaking Spanish and it was very difficult for 0:14:57.280 --> 0:14:58.240 me learning in that way. 0:14:58.280 --> 0:14:59.520 So that's amazing that we. 0:14:59.480 --> 0:15:04.080 Offer sources of teachers for students, real time education and translations. 0:15:04.080 --> 0:15:05.800 So man, you guys are doing it all. You're killing 0:15:05.800 --> 0:15:06.320 it out there. 0:15:06.640 --> 0:15:08.800 We are trying to be very inclusive and make sure 0:15:08.800 --> 0:15:11.320 that all of our programs can reach all of the learners. 0:15:11.760 --> 0:15:14.040 When people come for a field trip, we often don't 0:15:14.040 --> 0:15:16.520 know what the student's needs are before they arrive. So 0:15:16.560 --> 0:15:19.720 it's really important that that responsibility is on us, that 0:15:19.800 --> 0:15:22.720 we can make our lessons accessible and we can make 0:15:22.800 --> 0:15:26.160 every student successful and every student feel like a scientist. 0:15:26.840 --> 0:15:28.280 And so part of that is being. 0:15:28.120 --> 0:15:31.400 Able to understand all of those really key vocabulary that 0:15:31.400 --> 0:15:33.680 they're learning in their science lessons. So I'm so glad 0:15:33.720 --> 0:15:35.960 you got to see it. We actually just started that 0:15:36.040 --> 0:15:38.960 maybe six months ago, so yeah, that's I'm really glad 0:15:38.960 --> 0:15:39.520 that you got to. 0:15:39.920 --> 0:15:40.560 It was amazing. 0:15:40.680 --> 0:15:43.040 Why and they say, brightened up they were involved in 0:15:43.080 --> 0:15:44.680 it because that was rough for me. I didn't want 0:15:44.680 --> 0:15:46.400 to speak up as a kid. I was embarrassed not 0:15:46.440 --> 0:15:48.480 being able to speak English. So it's me and my 0:15:48.520 --> 0:15:50.440 heart smile. So thank you for that. That was really cool. 0:15:50.640 --> 0:15:51.760 The impact of that too. 0:15:51.960 --> 0:15:54.320 Margo's talking about I want our audience to understand that 0:15:54.920 --> 0:15:58.240 making these accommodations for those who can be completely participating 0:15:58.280 --> 0:16:01.000 that way. It is, like you said, it's our responsibility 0:16:01.040 --> 0:16:04.000 to meet these students where they are it's our responsibility 0:16:04.000 --> 0:16:07.040 to meet the communities where they are, no matter where 0:16:07.080 --> 0:16:08.920 they are. If we can have the tools to meet 0:16:08.920 --> 0:16:11.040 them where they are, to bring them up in the 0:16:11.080 --> 0:16:14.440 sense of understanding the need for conservation education, that's such 0:16:14.440 --> 0:16:18.120 a huge impact. Instead of tasking others to have to 0:16:18.160 --> 0:16:20.720 struggle to meet us where we are, we can go 0:16:20.800 --> 0:16:22.720 to them and offer that hand up as far as 0:16:22.840 --> 0:16:26.000 the understanding and the comprehension, like you said, feeling a 0:16:26.080 --> 0:16:28.680 part of it that way, empowering them that much more. 0:16:29.280 --> 0:16:30.800 That leads me than to want to ask you too, 0:16:30.800 --> 0:16:32.840 from your experience in your years, I mean you're taught 0:16:32.880 --> 0:16:35.520 all over as a teacher now here in this organization, 0:16:35.600 --> 0:16:39.240 these amazing programs for you, what have you seen as 0:16:39.280 --> 0:16:42.800 an impact? Like what is that warm fuzzy you get sometimes? 0:16:42.840 --> 0:16:44.240 You know, because we all get them, we all get 0:16:44.320 --> 0:16:45.800 choked up in that moment of oh my gosh, there 0:16:45.840 --> 0:16:46.960 it is. There's the impact. 0:16:47.080 --> 0:16:47.920 What is that for you? 0:16:48.600 --> 0:16:51.360 Yeah, I would say that, I mean it happens often. 0:16:51.440 --> 0:16:53.800 I'm sure there's so many different ways that it can happen. 0:16:54.360 --> 0:16:58.000 But especially when you see young adults come back and 0:16:58.040 --> 0:17:00.880 they come back and they share stories, they share how 0:17:00.920 --> 0:17:05.080 something like Conservation Corps or other teen programs have helped 0:17:05.119 --> 0:17:07.719 them pick a career path. It's helped them find a 0:17:07.720 --> 0:17:11.760 sense of community, and that is amazing. We have a 0:17:11.800 --> 0:17:15.439