When I was six years old, my parents bought their first television set. The rooftop TV antenna, that look like little trees, would receive only three channels in Houston. Once a week on a children’s program, the Houston Zoo director, John Werler, would be a guest on this show and he would bring with him the most amazing animals. Mr. Werler would describe and demonstrate such interesting aspects of these animals’ behavior, adaptations, and habitat. It was like the whole world was in our living room.

I am thankful to have grown up learning from the Houston Zoo. During my childhood, we did not go out much. We have faced similar obstacles the last few years with COVID. All of us had to maneuver our way through work, school, and everything else; with greater dependence on media to connect our thoughts and feelings, despite physical and social isolation.

One month before COVID, I became a Houston Zoo volunteer. My favorite activity at the Zoo is to engage kids about the animals that they see:
What’s your favorite animal?
–it’s always something different
What do you know about that animal?
–sometimes it’s more than what I know
–and that’s Great!
Three things I do passionately as a zoo volunteer:
1) Everyone is welcome.
2) Have fun!
3) Learn something new together about his big, beautiful planet we live on.