Attention All Zoo Patrol Families, 
 
We look forward to delivering another great year of our award-winning Zoo Patrol (for kids ages 6-11) in 2021. Please look for program updates this March.

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Virtual Zoo Patrol will run Tuesdays-Thursdays from 9am-noon, and will follow the same age breakout and weeks as our in-person Zoo Patrols in the past. Registration is per day, and children are welcome to register for one or all sessions. Sessions are limited to 15 households per day. 

Each Zoo Patrol session will include activities such as virtual guided tours, animal encounters, movement exercises, science experiments, games, trivia, dance parties, and more!!

Please note that registration is for one child per household. If you have multiple children that would like to attend, please select the number from the "Additional Child" and add to your cart. We want to make sure that every child is included and engaged and having this information beforehand allows us to prepare for that. 

Zoom call information will be sent the day before the program (i.e. a Tuesday Zoo Patrol information will be sent on Monday). 

With the goal of having this program feel like a typical camp day, campers are encouraged to have/do the following: 
1. Have a snack ready for group snack time
2. Wear a Zoo Patrol shirt if they have one from past years
3. Have space to move around

Scroll down to learn more about Jen and Justin, our Zoo Educators who run Zoo Patrol!

Watch the video above to learn more about this Summer's Zoo Patrol from Zoo Educator Justin Vaughan.

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Meet the Experts

Jen Farrell

Zoo Educator

Jen joined Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo as an adult volunteer in the Winter of 2014. Having completed her Bachelors of Science in Psychology of the same year, Jen wanted to put her people skills to a more focused use by pairing her natural love of animals and nature into teaching. Jen began her education career by working as an outdoor trail and science educator for Nature's Classroom for 4 years. Jen was brought on as a seasonal staff member of the Zoo as a coordinator of the Zoo's award-winning CDC program in 2016. In 2018, Jen was made a full-time educator at the Zoo, teaching all ages in the Zoo's on and off grounds programs, while also coordinating backyard conservation projects such as: Trout in the Classroom, FrogWatchUSA, and Monarch Watch.

Jen is also a part of the Distance Learning and video production team with the hopes to connect with many people from all around the world with a shared passion for science, nature, and the conservation of our planet. 

Justin Vaughan

Zoo Educator

Curious by nature, Justin first came to Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo as an intern in the summer of 2013. With a background in reptile care and theater, he became passionately dedicated to teaching conservation through the Zoo's student outreach programs; taking a lead role in the summer Zoo Patrol program the following year. Since becoming a full time employee, Justin has visited countless schools, libraries, and summer camps on Zoomobiles. He has pursued the opportunity to join the Distance Learning Initiative at the Zoo, and now oversees a majority of the Zoo's video production. Justin has a BS in Biology from Eastern Connecticut State University. 

He is proud to encourage stewardship of the planet and stands in awe of the many students who have shown their dedication to making the world a better place!