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IZE Members in North America

World Zoos of North America

Stay updated on what IZE members in North America are doing to promote conservation efforts in their areas. Learn about education programs, browse the list of IZE members and their regions, and find contact information for the Regional Representative.

North American Regional Update
by Regional Representative Bill Street
(November 2007)

New Leader for AZA Education and Conservation Efforts

Dr. Paul Boyle has been hired as Senior Vice President for Conservation for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). In this newly created position, Paul will be charged with leading the Association's conservation education and science programs.

Dr. Boyle has over twenty-five years experience creating and directing conservation programs, environmental research, public education, and exhibit programs. Most recently, he served as CEO of The Ocean Project. Paul also served as Director of the New York Aquarium and its Osborn Laboratories. He has served on the AZA Board of Directors and as liaison to the Board of Regents and the Charter & Bylaws Committee. He also chaired ADISC, and served as an advisor to the Animal Welfare Committee.

No Child Left Inside

No Child Left Behind (NCLB) tends to spark heated debate about testing, core subjects, funding, and standards in United States public schools. When NCLB expired at the end of 2006, the process of amending the law shifted into full gear. Knowing that NCLB would without doubt be reauthorized, a national grassroots advocacy campaign to include environmental education in the legislation was coordinated by organizations and individuals who recognize the importance of environmental literacy. This group, called the No Child Left Inside Coalition, includes members like the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, the National Association for Interpretation, the National Wildlife Federation, The North American Association for Environmental Education, and The National Education Association.

Some of the proposed amendments include:

• Providing federal funding to states to train teachers in environmental education and to operate model environmental education programs, which include outdoor learning.
• Providing funding to states that create environmental literacy plans to ensure that high school graduates are environmentally literate.
• Providing funding through an environmental education grant program to build state and national capacity.
• Re-establishing the Office of Environmental Education within the U.S. Department of Education.

Learn about how you can get involved with this effort at www.eeNCLB.org.

Year of the Frog

The American Zoo and Aquarium Association’s Conservation Education Committee has made its Conservation Made Simple initiative for 2008 to focus on amphibians. The initiative is folded into a larger Year of the Frog integrated campaign addressing the amphibian conservation crisis. As activities and materials for Year of the Frog are being developed, the focus has narrowed to the following areas to be addressed:

• Why amphibians are important
• The global amphibian crisis
• The connection between amphibians and climate change
• What “we” can do to help amphibians
• What zoos and aquariums are doing to help amphibians

Some of the educational and engagement materials being developed include: amphibian-focused activities, specific and actionable conservation messages (top ways to help amphibians), database of amphibian images and frog calls, endangered amphibians fact sheets, resource guide, citizen science opportunities, content-specific training materials, suggestions for use of materials and much more.

Bill Street
Busch Gardens, Tampa, FL
William.Street@BuschGardens.com

North America Membership List

The IZE Membership List is updated quarterly.
Institutional members are marked with an *.

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