The Minnesota Zoo is hosting a three-day workshop this upcoming April 24-26, 2017 specifically for informal educators to explore integrated STEM education in a zoo/aquarium context and receive training to implement our successful ZOOMS (Zoo Math and Science) STEM program model in your own institution.

What is ZOOMS?

Through the Minnesota Zoo's ZOOMS Program, students and teachers discover just what it takes to engineer a modern zoo.  Developed with funding from 3M, ZOOMS provides both teachers and students the opportunity to apply important science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts to real world situations using the Minnesota Zoo as a context. Through topics such as Engineering FOR Animals (exhibit design), Engineering FROM Animals (biomimicry), and Engineering BY Animals (animals as engineers), teachers and students are challenged to consider and tackle the complexities in both the natural world and constructed environments. The ZOOMS program supports teachers with integrating standards-based ZOOMS resources, design challenges, and field trips into their curriculum to better equip students with the STEM skills to engineer and problem solve just like zookeepers, exhibit designers and conservationists.

The training includes most meals, transportation to/from the hotel to the Minnesota Zoo each day, tons of resources that you can utilize at your institution, and behind the scenes experiences at the Zoo.  This is a great professional development opportunity for those of you looking to either expand or initiate STEM-focused educational programming for formal/school audiences and informal/public audiences.

But wait, there's more!  Admit it – you've always wanted to visit the Mall of America, right?  The largest mall in the United States?  With more than 500 stores and restaurants and a full indoor amusement park?  You have to experience it at least once!  And well, there's now a hotel conveniently attached to it, which also happens to be only 10 minutes away from the Minnesota Zoo!  So, you guessed it, participants will stay in this new hotel and when you are not getting your zoo STEM education on, you can shop, eat, ride a rollercoaster, see a movie, go to a bar, visit Sealife Aquarium, go bowling, etc.  It's like a two-fer!

Seriously, though, we'd love to have you join us.  See the attached flyer and visit mnzoo.org/stem to register and for more information (click on the little plus signs to expand each section).  You can also email me or our STEM Specialist, Kristi Berg (Kristi.berg@state.mn.us) with questions.