At the Zoo with Mom
Posted at 9:10 am April 28, 2006 by Lisa Townsend
Hi, my name is Piper and I’d like to be your guide at the World-Famous San Diego Zoo. Today I am going to work with my mom, Lisa. To get to work on time, I had to get up really early. We had so much to do before the Zoo opened. First thing, we took Agra, the Indian crested porcupine, for a walk. I got to feed her yams and corn pieces. The Zoo is so quiet before 9 a.m.!
Then my mom and I had to get ready for our tour. We were showing high school students around the Zoo. We greeted the kids from Gila Prep. and walked them to the Zoo bus (my mom drove). We drove around most of the Zoo and we stopped at the giraffe barn and at the camel exhibit for an up-close meeting with the critters. I think the kids thought that was pretty cool. My mom did most of the talking but I did mention a few facts along the way. I love the Zoo and have been coming since I was a baby!
We had lunch in the Beastro (employee lounge) and chowed down on chicken-enchilada casserole.
My favorite part of the day was telling the kids what I know about the animals. I want to work with wild animals when I grow up, too, especially big cats.
Piper Townsend
Working at the San Diego Zoo is a dream job and it was wonderful to share the day with my daughter, Piper. Don’t get me wrong: Piper has visited the Zoo scores of times before, but she had never had the opportunity to ” shadow” me while I was working in front of the public. I really think it gave her a new perspective on my work. Piper had the chance to see me teach, interpret the animal and plant collection, and, most importantly, encourage the enthusiasm of the students on our tour. I really think if she’d had the chance she would have taken over the program!
It was so heartwarming to see kids with their Zoo folks all over the Zoo today. We saw boys and girls working alongside their parents in Horticulture, Construction & Maintenance, Buildings & Grounds, and even with keepers and trainers. The San Diego Zoo has always been a haven for families; today, the Zoo family felt quite a bit bigger.
According to Sara K. Gould, President and CEO of the Ms. Foundation for Women, ” Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work®” day is designed to expand opportunities for girls and boys, expose them to what adults in their lives do during the work day, show them the value of their education, and give them an opportunity to share how they envision their future.”
Lisa Townsend Is an educator at the San Diego Zoo. Her 8-year-old daughter, Piper, joined her yesterday for ” Take Our Daughters And Sons to Work.” day.
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April 28th, 2006 at 9:57 am
Sure sounds like fun. I didn’t realize that porcupines were that active! Where are they at the Zoo? Could you post another picture of Agra? Thanks, Piper & Lisa!
Editor’s note: Agra lives off exhibit in the Children’s Zoo. Other porcupines can be seen in the Zoo’s Cat Canyon.
April 28th, 2006 at 4:58 pm
Piper, my passion is big cats, too! Big cats, little cats…well, I love dogs too…and I have always been very fond of horses and wallabies and elephants and, oh, I guess I just think animals are the best people ever.
And how cool that your mom works at the Zoo. I’ll bet you learned a lot on Thursday. Thanks for writing so well about how much fun you had!
May 17th, 2006 at 10:21 pm
hey i was there for the tour. i go to Gila Prep. in arizona and i just wanted to say that piper and lisa were very good tour guides. thank you.