Penguin Meets President
An endangered penguin on a mission to save her species from extinction made her way to the White House this winter to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act.
Signed by then-President Richard Nixon in 1973, the act expanded the endangered species list, established new animal and habitat protections and empowered federal agencies to enforce those protections.
African penguins like Winnie are one species Mike Evitts, senior director of communications for the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, says may be gone within our lifetime. Zoos like the Maryland Zoo are critical to conservation efforts—not just for their role in keeping animals safe and aiding research, but because they help get people talking about conservation, particularly the next generation.
The zoo’s “Zoo to You” program takes educational, interactive programs on the go so kids can meet animal ambassadors. The ambassadors are animals with people-friendly temperaments who accompany zoo professionals to teach kids about the world around us.
“We’ve seen it working. We know subsequent generations of children are growing up, and they’re more aware of climate issues,” Evitts says. “We’re trying to start a conversation.”
Beyond Baltimore, the Maryland Zoo has been a significant part of that conversation with its own efforts to preserve species abroad. Among its contributions are its efforts helping to create a new sea bird rescue center in Namibia, funding a research study in Botswana and sending team members to a dormant volcano in Panama. There, staff worked with conservation partners in that country who are working to save the Panamanian golden frog, which no longer exists in the wild.
“We’re breeding hundreds of Panamanian golden frogs here that others use around the country, and also keep what’s called the ‘stud book’” Evitts says, which is a registry that helps keep track of the frogs’ lineage.
“We are trying to keep these species not just thriving but genetically strong,” he explains. “We’re trying to maintain healthy animals and maintain their behaviors just as they would in the wild.”
But families don’t need to go abroad to get involved in conservation efforts. Kids can get started in their own homes. Families can compost, build a vegetable garden, plant native plants, reduce plastics, improve home energy efficiency and more.
Learn more ways to get involved with conservation at marylandzoo.org/conservation.
Let’s March
March is Women’s History Month—a month in which we reflect on how the contributions of women have shaped, are shaping and will continue to shape the world around us. Here are a few ways to show your daughters that they can do anything.
Branch out with STEM
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) is hosting “Girl Power,” an annual one-day STEM expo aimed at elementary and middle school students interested in science, technology, engineering and math, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on March 3. It includes workshops and demos from APL staff members and community STEM organizations. Learn more at jhuapl.edu.
Scout out some community involvement
Girl Scouts, an organization that strives to make sure girls know they can do and be anything, celebrates its birthday on March 12, during Girl Scout Week. This year, Girl Scout Week will be observed March 10 to March 16. Girl Scout Week includes kindness day, service to the community, thankful Thursday and more ways to celebrate worldwide sisterhood.
Local scouts can get their National Aquarium patch on the final day of Girl Scout Week. That day, cadettes, seniors and ambassadors are invited to explore STEM outdoors from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on March 16. Scouts will be investigating the form and function of the Blue Crab, one of Maryland’s most iconic aquatic creatures. The lab experience will teach lab techniques, vocabulary and the life cycle and physiology of the Blue Crab. Find tickets at mygs.girlscouts.org. Aquarium discounts are available for ages 5 to 20.
