Oregon Zoo hosts 'Safe Kids Day,' May 3
As the school year ends, many kids look forward to long summer days filled with swimming, biking, skateboarding and trips to the beach. The last thing they may think about is safety. To kick off National Safe Kids Week, the Oregon Zoo is hosting its eighth annual Oregon Safe Kids Day on Saturday, May 3, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., sponsored by the Portland Metro Safe Kids Coalition.
This year's theme is "Gear Up for Safety." Exhibits and hands-on activities focus on teaching "tweens" (ages 10-13) and their families about safe behavior like wearing bicycle helmets, life jackets and seat belts. Studies show that children are at greater risk for all kinds of injuries during summer, and simple safety measures can reduce the risk.
"We're partnering with Portland Metro Safe Kids again this year, because it's critical we educate parents about the importance of summer safety," says Krista Swan, zoo event coordinator. "Oregon is famous for its summer recreational opportunities, and we want children to have a safe and fun summer."
Oregon Safe Kids Day provides parents, caregivers and children the opportunity to learn about safety through interactive exhibits, prizes, safety tips and hands-on activities.
Stations around the zoo make up a "safety safari," providing tips in areas such as water safety, poisons, transportation safety, helmets and fire safety. Everyone who completes the safari receives a safety-related prize.
At the water safety station, kids learn the importance of wearing life jackets around rivers and streams. Ocean safety is also covered, as kids learn about the dangers of "sneaker waves" and logs, and why they should always keep an eye on the ocean.
Each summer, more than 2,500 children across the U.S. die of preventable injuries resulting from motor vehicle crashes, drowning, bike crashes, pedestrian incidents, falls and other hazards. These tragedies peak during the summer when children are supervised less, have more free time and engage in more outdoor activities.
The Portland Metro Safe Kids Coalition is part of Safe Kids Worldwide, which is dedicated to the prevention of unintentional childhood injury. Communities throughout Oregon have planned safety events during the spring and summer. For more information about the Safe Kids program, please visit www.safekids.org.
The zoo is a service of Metro and is dedicated to its mission to inspire the community to create a better future for wildlife. Committed to conservation, the zoo is currently working to save endangered California condors, Oregon silverspot butterflies, western pond turtles and Kincaid's lupine. Other projects include studies on black rhinos, Asian elephants, polar bears and
bats.
Oregon Safe Kids Day is free with regular admission. The zoo opens at 9 a.m. daily and is located five minutes from downtown Portland, just off Highway 26. The zoo is also accessible by MAX light rail line. Zoo visitors are encouraged ride MAX or take TriMet bus No. 63 to the Oregon Zoo. Call TriMet Customer Service, (503) 238-RIDE (238-7433), or visit www.trimet.org for fare and route information.

NW zoos, aquariums join forces in quest for conservation
            Responding to a need to streamline resources and concentrate conservation practices, eight accredited Northwest zoos and aquariums have united to hire a conservation specialist. The Northwest Zoo & Aquarium Alliance (NWZAA) named Cheryl Hummon its conservation director in early March.
            “An alliance of this magnitude requires resourceful leadership,” said Tony Vecchio, Oregon Zoo director. “Cheryl’s impressive background and her devotion to Northwest conservation are crucial to the conservation alliance and our collective, concerted efforts in species protection and environmental stewardship.”
            Hummon joined the alliance following 17 years of experience with conservation efforts in the Pacific Northwest, most recently as a senior conservation incentives specialist in Defenders of Wildlife’s Portland office. She has master’s degrees in geology and natural resources geography from Oregon State University and a bachelor’s degree in geology from Oberlin College in Ohio.
            “Zoos and aquariums in the Northwest have taken the initiative to develop projects promoting the conservation of local species and ecosystems,” said Hummon. “I am excited about the opportunity to enhance their collaborative efforts, leverage additional partners and funding, and conserve the unique natural values of the Northwest.”
            Gary Geddes, director of Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium and Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, also serves as NWZAA board chair. “Leading NWZAA demands a unique and diverse skill set. Cheryl’s professional expertise, commitment to conservation and devotion to the Northwest will be a tremendous asset to regional accredited zoo and aquarium conservation priorities and native wildlife,” Geddes said.
            The NWZAA strives to protect native Northwest species through public education programs, projects, research and advocacy. Members include Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, the Oregon Zoo, the Oregon Coast Aquarium, Point Defiance Zoo, Seattle Aquarium, Vancouver Aquarium, Woodland Park Zoo and Zoo Boise.
            The director from each institution serves on the NWZAA board, and Hummon is the only alliance employee. Each member institution pledged 2 cents per visitor to fund the NWZAA. Last year, the Oregon Zoo contributed $27,309 to the alliance’s efforts.
            The directors and staff at each alliance facility have been working for three years to solidify the partnership and begin work on project priorities. The alliance is currently involved in a number of initiatives addressing species protection and recovery, resource conservation and promoting conservation citizenry. Specific projects include the protection and recovery of Washington pygmy rabbits, Oregon silverspot butterflies and Oregon spotted frogs. Other goals of the alliance include citizen conservation, resource conservation and working to reduce the carbon footprint of member facilities.
            For more information on the Northwest Zoo & Aquarium Alliance, visit www.aza.org/Publications/2007/11/northwest_alliance.pdf.