Brookfield, Ill. —  For the past nine months, the Chicago Zoological Society’s King Conservation Science Explorers—6 through 8 graders—have been collaborating with Urban Rivers staff in planning and creating habitats for wildlife, including bat and owl houses and floating platforms for turtles and North American river otters. Additionally, they helped create complimentary interpretive graphics that are posted for passersby to view. Their hard work was recently celebrated during an unveiling of the projects and signage along the Wild Mile—the North Branch of the Chicago River.

During this past school year, experts trained the young participants in the iterative design process that involved their projects going through multiple rounds of feedback, revisions, and testing during their development. Additionally, the young teens met with staff at Brookfield Zoo and a wildlife biologist from the Forest Preserves of Cook County, who shared conservation efforts for local wildlife, including North American river otters and Blanding’s turtles.

“It has been amazing to observe the kids’ enthusiasm and camaraderie as they collaborated with staff at Brookfield Zoo and Urban Rivers to see their projects come to fruition,” said Graig Mason, senior manager of the Society’s King Conservation Leadership Academy. “Working on their wildlife habitats, exploring nearby outdoor spaces, and experiencing many other opportunities this past school year, the youth in our King Explorers program have a great foundation for being young conservationists and exploring future endeavors in fields related to S.T.E.A.M (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics).”

The King Conservation Science Explorers is a free program that gives middle-schoolers opportunities to be involved in local conservation work while learning about careers in S.T.E.A.M. In addition to participating in community science projects, other collaborative and conservation-minded, problem-based learning feature field trips around the Chicagoland area and finding out about and interacting with animals at Brookfield Zoo and their care specialists. Relaunched this past year, the newly restructured King Explorers builds on the Society’s long-standing partnerships with local libraries, community gardens, and nonprofit organizations in Chicagoland neighborhoods and suburbs, including Back of the Yards, Canaryville, Chinatown, Cicero, Cragin, Douglas, Englewood, Fuller Park, Maywood, Melrose Park, Near South Side, Pilsen, and West Belmont.

Each new school year features a different theme that highlights important environmental concepts and fosters personal abilities and interests, communication skills among peers and mentors, and participation in efforts that address the need for conservation awareness, education, and taking action. A culminating event at the end of each year allows the King Explorers to share their knowledge, talents, and blossoming leadership skills. The program is offered from September through June. Enrollment for the 2023-24 school year begins in August. Those interested in learning more and to register later this summer, can visit CZS.org/KingAcademy.

The Chicago Zoological Society offers free community-based programming for all ages, including the King Explorers, through its King Conservation Leadership Academy, which is made possible, in part, with support from: the King Family Foundation, the U.S. Department of Education, Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc., CDW Corporation Charitable Gift Fund, FedEx, the Julius N. Frankel Foundation, the Gerald A. and Karen A. Kolschowsky Foundation Inc., Nalco, an Ecolab Company, the Edmond and Alice Opler Foundation, Peoples Gas Community Fund at the Chicago Community Trust, the Schmidgall Family Foundation, the Dr. Scholl Foundation, and Wintrust Financial Corporation.