ZooLights - November 30th
Learning Outcomes:
Show perseverance and commitment
Engaged with issues of global importance
Consider ethical implications
Develop new skills
Ready to get another ZooLights shift done and to try a new position I was excited to be in costume. During my previous shift I saw one of the adults in costume who did a great job of attracting and engaging the kids. Inspired by him (and because cheetahâs were my favorite animal as a child), I choose to be in the cheetah costume. At first the lack of vision is a bit disorienting, but thanks to my âhelper elfâ I was always being watched and assisted when I didnât see a kid approach. Despite my theater background, which taught me to not care what others think and to always go all out, I was a bit unsure how to act in costume and didnât want to look foolish. However, that unease soon disappeared and I got the hang of seeing through the costume. The more silly I acted the more kids came up to me. I found how to gauge the child's willingness to approach me and learned how to correctly respond nearly every time to gain the child's trust. I knew being in costume would be warm (hence I wore a drift shirt and shorts) but I didnât realize it would be so warm that I would be working up a sweat! It ended up being quite the workout with all the dancing in a big furry costume and squatting to be the height of the children. I spent time enjoying myself, dancing, shaking my tail, hugging kids, posing for pictures, and acting silly. Since no one could see me I felt no embarrassment acting goofy to play with the kids. It felt so wonderful to make so many children laugh and smile that most of the time I ended up smiling too even though no one could see me. Previously, I believed rover to be my favorite ZooLights position, however being in costume completely changed that. Nothing could beat the feeling of directly bringing joy to people, both young and old, while inspiring and encouraging a love for animals and the zoo - initiating a care for the environment and animals that our planet needs.














