1. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contact: Bianca Gomez, bgomez@houstonzoo.org
Photos: Credit, Houston Zoo/Stephanie Adams
https://media.houstonzoo.org/a.tlx?l=Xdm9Xxif
SEND A KID TO CAMP THIS SUMMER
Scholarship Program Aids Houston’s Underserved Children
HOUSTON (Feb. 27, 2015) – Every year, hundreds of children in the Houston area who want to
participate in Camp Zoofari are not able to do so because of financial circumstances. Thanks to
tremendous community support, the Houston Zoo is able to set aside 200 spots in Camp Zoofari
for Houston’s underserved children through a program called Send a Kid to Camp.
Send a Kid to Camp, which started in 2010, is a sponsorship program for the Camp Zoofari
Scholarship Fund. Students who qualify for the program have the opportunity to participate in
Camp Zoofari free of charge, where they can enjoy an action-packed week of fun and
learning.
“Scholarship recipients are selected by a panel of community representatives,” Chance
Sanford, vice president of education, said. “They look for applicants who have a passion for
animals, nature, and/or science, and also review the application to establish the need for why
they would not otherwise have the opportunity to attend camp.”
Camp Zoofari scholarships allow children between the ages of 4-12 to study nature, wildlife
conservation, and the animals that call the Houston Zoo home. The sponsorship program gives
enthusiastic students a chance to learn about animals, their habitats, and how to protect them
in the wild. In total, Send a Kid to Camp supporters have raised more than $75,000 for
scholarships since 2010.
“A lot of preparation goes into Camp Zoofari,” Sanford said. “Our team of skilled informal
science educators spend hours creating a seamless camp experience for each camp topic.
They ensure that the activities, craft, and information shared are age appropriate, and help to
reinforce the learning occurring while the campers are out on zoo grounds.”
Parents can give the gift of summer fun to their child or sponsor a camper. For any additional
questions about Send a Kid to Camp or to make a contribution over the phone, please call at
the development department (713) 533-6705 or visit www.houstonzoo.org/send-a-kid-to-camp/.
One way to contribute is to visit the Houston Zoo website and add a donation to the Send a Kid
to Camp campaign to an online purchase – no matter how big or small the gift, any
contribution to the program will give a camper the opportunity to learn and save wildlife in our
natural world.
###
About the Houston Zoo
Founded in 1922 and operated bythenot -for-profit Houston Zoo, Inc., theHoustonZoo is dedicatedto the conservation
of endangeredspecies, the provisionofengagingeducational opportunities andthe creation ofstimulatingexhibits that
2. broaden the experiences ofour guests andencourage their curiosity. Set ina 55-acre lush tropical landscape, the Zoo is
home to more than 6,000 exotic animals representingmore than800 species. The HoustonZoo is located at 6200
Hermann ParkDrive in beautiful Hermann Park. The Zoo is open dailyat 9 a.m. and closed Christmas Day.
www.HoustonZoo.org
The Houston Zoo is accredited by the AssociationofZoos and Aquariums (AZA). Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit
a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supportinga facilitydedicatedto providingexcellent care for
animals,a great experience for you, anda better future for all livingthings. With 222 accreditedmembers, AZA is a
leader in global wildlife conservation, andyour linkto helpinganimals intheir native habitats
