Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ) invites pre-kindergarten through high school teachers/educators from the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area (Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia) to participate in its first Teacher Appreciation Day at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. The event takes place on Saturday, November 7, 2009, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Teachers will be able to attend lectures on planning Zoo field trips and learn about FONZ’s educational materials at the Zoo’s Visitor’s Center Auditorium. They will also have an opportunity to learn about workshops that will be offered during the school year and summer, such as “Teacher Boot Camp.” The information shared will help teachers prepare for animal-/Zoo-related work plans for their classrooms. In addition, Zoo staff will speak to the teachers about educational projects for their students with a focus on the Zoo and animals.

“The day is intended not only to give teachers a chance to learn about the educational resources at the Zoo, but also to thank them for the incredible time and effort they devote to their students,” said Joe Sacco, Associate Director of Education for Friends of the National Zoo.

Teachers can register on the morning of the event at the Zoo’s Visitor Center and will receive “Member for the Day” passes that include discounts for parking, shopping, and dining at the Zoo’s Mane Restaurant. The first 100 registered teachers will also receive a “goody bag.”