Networking

Today was my 3rd volunteer day at the zoo.  I worked in the "kidzone" area which is basically the goat petting zoo.  It was high 80s low 90s when I was there so there weren't too many people at the zoo.  Apparently that is hot here....this weekend its supposed to get up to 100 degrees and I feel like people haven't seen that before.  Anyways so I worked in the goat yard for 3 hours and talked with an animal attendant and also an animal keeper II.  We were talking about my experience and she was saying that really all the hiring is political and a lot of people get hired based on connections...but she did say she was mad they didn't hire me because I do have so much experience especially compared to one of the people who was hired.  Also we talked about me joining the baltimore chapter of AAZK.  I am already a national member I just have not been connected to a chapter before, so this may be a good way for me to meet even more people at the zoo.


So thats how today went....and I will definitely try to attend meetings and events with the chapter.  


Oh and for the past two weeks I have come home from the zoo with a red spot (rash) right underneath my left eye.  No idea why or how it happened.  I cant think of a common thing I did at the zoo both times.  I was in two different places, today was thursday when they mow the grass at the zoo, but I went saturday last week.  I thought maybe a heat rash, but its the only spot that shows up.

Any ideas?  It shows up lighter in the picture.

Now I am watching Clash of the Gods...which is a tv show about mythological creatures.  I am watching about Beowulf right now.  Very interesting show...the other day I learned about the Minotaur legend.  Next up:  Hercules!!!!!!

Giraffe feeding...a little different

Today I went to the zoo for my 2nd actual volunteer day.  I volunteered in the giraffe feeding area.  Today the giraffe keepers decided to put the girl giraffe Angel out in the pasture to be able to get fed by visitors.   She actually did very well and let a lot of people feed her.  Then towards the end of my shift she started to stand there and chew her cud instead of eating from visitors.  The feeding is a little different than in Cincinnati, basically instead of specific times for feeding they allow visitors to feed from 10:30 until 3 every day.  They also use small branches of browse instead of rye crackers.


Also I met one of the animal keepers and talked about how difficult it is to get a job in the zoo world.  She has a whole lot of experience and finally got a job this year.  So maybe the volunteering will get me known around the zoo and that way I can get an in with the people who hire.  


Anyways this week is going to be packed.  I work 5 days because 2 out of 4 petcare people are on vacation and then on thursday I go to the zoo again and volunteer in the kidzone area which is the goat yard.


Meanwhile here is my cute cat.

Visit from the mother in law

This weekend my mother in law came to visit us here in Maryland.


On Friday we went to run some wedding related errands and then went to the inner harbor in baltimore to see the tall ships at something called "Sailabration".  We also went to the aquarium while we were down there.  I really enjoyed seeing the old ships with the sails, but they also had more current ships from the navy and the coast guard.  We also were fortunate enough to see the blue angels fly over Fort McHenry.  We also splurged and ate at Uno Chicago Grill.....I had a deep dish pizza...yum.

On saturday we went to the Maryland Zoo because she wanted to see where I was volunteering.  It was a really eventful weekend...and the only thing that would have made it better is if I had sunday off also so we could go to DC and check out some museums!

Camel Rides

So last week I volunteered at the zoo for the camel rides.  I really enjoyed the whole experience...even if most people would hate that my only job was to scoop camel poo.  I actually enjoyed figuring out the rake for the scooping...the prongs were narrow enough to catch the poo, yet wide enough to let the gravel fall through.


AND I learned a lot that I didnt know about camels from talking to the owner/operator.  He was really happy to have me volunteer and told me to tell my supervisor that I did a great job and he wants me to come back to volunteer at the camel rides again.


I then went to the zoo saturday and rode on the camels so that way I could experience the whole thing!

Me riding on Niles the Dromedary Camel

Need connections

Today was training day 2 at the zoo for the volunteering position.


We went around to all the areas we may work in and talked with the staff about what all is needed while we are helping them.


This included the giraffe feeding area.  We are helping guests feed Caesar the male giraffe while they are there.  The female giraffe Angel is older and has arthritis issues in her ankles so she cant make it down the hill to come eat from visitors.  This involves using acacia browse (small branches) as treats for them.  Each person can pay $2 for a browse piece.  We just have to make sure no one tries to touch him.  I took a couple pictures of him.

Then we went to the camel rides area where we talked with the owner/handler about his camels.  He has 1 dromedary camel (the kind with 1 hump) and 2 Bactrian camels (the kind with 2 humps).  While he talked to us about them we watched as the dromedary camel knocked over his water bucket, took the lid off a trashcan, put the trashcan over the fence with his mouth and then started chewing on a hose.  It was fun to watch even if he was being destructive.  After talking with the owner for a while we had lunch.


After that we went to the kidzone area where they have the goat contact area.  They have 3 species of goats: the Anglo-Nubian, Pygmy, and Nigerian Dwarf goats.  We saw what all was done in the contact yard including cleaning, telling the guests the rules before coming into the contact yard, and helping guests leave.


Also I learned that the job I interviewed for they chose people that had previously worked at the zoo even though they had no previous animal experience.....basically I need connections at the zoo because I have a lot more experience than they wanted.  Ugh life....

Volunteer Training Day 1

Last Saturday I had my first volunteer training day at the zoo.  


We spent 5 hours going over logistics like how to talk to visitors and how to use a radio.  We also learned about the zoo's history.  I found that part very interesting.


We also had to say bad zoo jokes (given to us) over the radios to make sure we knew how to use them.  


My joke was:  


A diner asked the waiter "sir why is there a fly in my pinot noir?"


He responded "you asked for something with a little body in it.


Another was:


how many octopi does it take to screw in a lightbulb? 


1/8


And another:


What did the snail say when riding on top of a turtle?

WEEEEE!!!!!

Then after the end of training I walked around the zoo and made sure I knew where most exhibits were.  I also took some pictures and here they are.