Schools Takeover at Chester Zoo
Since 2019, Schools Takeover day has been a really exciting and important day in the yearly calendar for Chester Zoo
Our mission is Preventing Extinction, and we also have a Conservation Masterplan target that by 2031, we will have empowered 10 million people to live more sustainably.
As part of that, we introduced Schools Takeover day in 2019, and ever since, it has been a really exciting and important day in the yearly calendar for Chester Zoo.
Youth voice around important topics such as conservation and sustainability can be incredibly powerful. When children start talking to our visitors, adults do listen, and ultimately, the students involved in the event may one day go on to become the decision makers of the future.
Activities
Young people have engaged with our visitors in a variety of ways during Schools Takeovers
Educated our visitors on the importance of pollinators with lots of fun games and activities to demonstrate how bees and other wildlife pollinate plants...
Used the Realm of the Red Ape habitat to discuss threats to the rainforest with our visitors and to show what every day choices visitors can make to protect them...
Used the backdrop of our Humboldt penguin habitat to discuss an important plastic recycling project...
Encouraged visitors to get involved in community clear ups and litter picks
Talked to people about recycling and encouraged visitors to sign a pledge to cement their commitment to sustainability and reducing their plastic use
Used the backdrop of the flamingo habitat to talk to visitors about their Green Flag prize and eco schools status
Some of the schools taking part in the day have undertaken repeat-engagement projects with us around protecting native species, sustainable palm oil, the illegal wildlife trade or climate and sustainability.
Other schools had taken it upon themselves to become champions for conservation and sustainability, and so this day offers an opportunity to celebrate and share their work with visitors to the zoo.
We hope that people come out of this with a deeper understanding that animals are close to extinction and realise that they really need the help.
St Bernard’s Primary School pupils
We believe that wildlife conservation should become a core component of the education system nationwide, taught across the curriculum in every year group for every child and young person.
This is critical to the future of the planet they will inhabit; it is as important as any other aspect of their education. These are the issues our young people care about; you can see the passion and authenticity that they speak with, and we have to empower them with the skills to solve the challenges we are facing as a society