Bellefontaine Middle School’s afterschool program, BMS+, welcomed the Columbus Zoo’s Classroom Outreach program to the building for interactive adventures featuring animals from climates near and far during sessions in March and April.
Students experienced Ohio’s Wild Treasures, where they learned about animals that could potentially live in their backyards. Some of the animals shared were a black rat snake, a screech owl, an Eastern box turtle, and a striped skunk.
Participants enjoyed seeing the black rat snake and learning that it is an important part of the ecosystem and food chain. Students also learned that the screech owl is one of many nocturnal animals.
The zoo outreach also presented its Tropical Rainforests program, where BMS+ pupils learned that rainforests are the most diverse ecosystem and that they are comprised of many different levels.
Zoo staff members presented animals from the top of the rainforest canopy to the soil beneath, including a toucan, a red-footed tortoise, a porcupine, and a two-toed sloth.
The students enjoyed watching the toucan, and learned that their beautiful beaks help them with thermoregulation. Pupils were also intrigued by the slowest-moving mammal, the two-toed sloth.
BMS was awarded the five-year, Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers Grant in August 2020.
Afterschool programming consists of reading and math enrichment, positive youth development, family engagement opportunities, drop out prevention, college and career readiness and enrichment activities.
Partnerships with local organizations, like the Columbus Zoo, enriches programming and provides engaging experiences for BMS+ students.