Zooniversity -- The Teaching Zoo

About

What is Zooniversity?
Zooniversity is a traveling wildlife education company that introduces children and adults to the fascinating world of animals. We deliver hundreds of conservation-based zoology enrichment classes, stage shows and exhibits each year at schools, libraries, churches, scouts, community and corporate events and private parties throughout Texas and surrounding states. We are not a petting zoo and have no farm animals. We are not a zoo and are not open to the public, as we’ve chosen to not expose the animals to the stresses of daily exhibition. Zooniversity LLC is privately owned, fully insured, federally licensed by the USDA, and we hold all the required state, county and city permits for the animals we care for—ensuring you that you’re hiring wildlife professionals.

What do you offer for parties?
Parties are our specialty! We entertain and educate at more than 300 parties each year — so we know how to make your event extra special. Our children’s Birthday Party Pets program is legendary for our educational, hands-on approach and our ability to keep the kids focused, while having a party blast! Year after year, parents just like you have voted us the "Best Party Entertainer" and "Best Themed Party" in Dallas-Fort Worth for our patience and skills at managing your guests. We even offer fun extra services, like a guest photo sitting and custom balloon animals — all to give that extra-special party memory. And, as an added bonus, we share our years of accumulated animal party ideas at Animal Party Ideas — all to make your party planning as easy and stress-free as possible. Or, do you know an animal-obsessed teen or adult? Then you should consider our Private Meet-N-Greet, a private animal encounter for a maximum of four adults, ages 13 years and up. We come to you with a favorite animal (or two or three or four) and let you visit, touch, feed, take pictures, or ask questions of our experienced zookeepers. It’s a private animal encounter that will be remembered for a lifetime! Or, how about adding exotic animals to your larger adult parties, too! Our Strolling Safari brings the wildlife right to your guests, as our uniformed zookeepers mingle and introduce your guests to our live, animal ambassadors — talk about bringing your theme party to life! Perfect for cocktail parties, fund raisers and corporate events.

Where do you get your animals?
Most of our animal ambassadors came to us as injured wildlife and displaced exotic "pets," some from deplorable captive conditions. Now, they all enjoy a safe and pampered existence at our Zooniversity facility. They all have spacious homes, nutritious zoological diets, a schedule of proper veterinary care and daily enrichment and socialization activities. None of our animals are intended to be kept as household pets. We often share their stories and scars to illustrate important issues—habitat and species conservation, the responsibilities of exotic pet ownership and the need for restrictions on the collection and importation of animals for the exotic pet trade.

Why don’t you have monkeys or big cats?
We are animal professionals and we will not expose our audiences to the unpredictable behavior and liability that is inherent with these animals. Your safety is always our principle concern.

Who will be our presenter? Meet the wildlife educator…
Zooniversity LLC was founded in 2001 by zookeeper and wildlife educator Allison Knox Blankenship. As a mother of two "animal crazy" children, she saw the need in North Texas for a professional wildlife education service that was fun and educational, yet affordable. Allison Blankenship has expert qualifications. She holds a BA in Biology from Bucknell University and a MA in Biomedical Instructional Design from the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical School. She has spent more than 30 years as an award-winning instructional designer, trainer, zookeeper and wildlife educator. She is member of the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK), the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA), the Zoological Association of America (ZAA), the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (NWRA), the Association of Professional Wildlife Educators (APWE) and she is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Dallas-Fort Worth Herpetological Society (DFWHS). She is known for her high-energy, upbeat speaking style and for her unique way of inspiring future zoologists.

What to Expect

Typical Gig Duration: 30 - 60 minutes

Fun, hands-on exotic animal education programs for schools, daycare, churches, libraries, scouts, events and parties – perfect for ages 3 years and up. Professional wildlife educators introduce you to our amazing animal ambassadors—the creepy, the cute and the cuddly! And with more than 50 species of exotic animals to choose from, you're sure to have more than one favorite. Preschool, special needs and teen programs, too. In each Zooniversity program, a professional wildlife educator will introduce you to our living animal ambassadors. You'll learn where each animal comes from, what it eats, how it survives, and other fascinating (or just plain weird) animal facts. We'll also share the rescue stories and tragic histories of some of our program animals—because there is much more to learn about these beautiful creatures than just the textbook facts.

Additional Notes:
Indoor events ONLY; temperature-controlled vennue required. Travel fees may be incurred if located more than 50 miles roundtrip from our North Dallas facility.

Experience

2006: 420 gigs
2007: 450 gigs
2008: 500 gigs
2009: 600 gigs
2010: 650 gigs
2011: 700 gigs
2012: 650 gigs

View Complete Calendar

http://www.zooniversity.org/about-us/public-calendar/

Available for Your

Birthday Party, Christmas Party, Church Service, Corporate Event, Fair, Festival, Fundraiser, Halloween Party, Holiday Party, Other, Private Party, Reunion, Sweet 16 Party, Workshop