I feel very accomplished

CycloneMan · Post by **CycloneMan** » Tue Mar 06, 2007 11:27 pm

I am a new Jr Docent here at the Staten Island Zoo. I was a volunteer for about a year, before I got a letter saying that I was qualified for the Jr Docent program. Docents are workers of the Education department who handle animals, and teach, let kids touch, etc. So I have been taking the 6 week course and now it was time for my certification.

On my certification, I had to hand in my written final, and give a tour of my section. My section is the Tropical Rainforest, and describe the animals (that we were given), and teach according to our own research. I had my tour with my instructor. I was very nervous but I kept a happy face, asked questions, was interactive, and lively. I did my two animals, and then he pointed to an other (Baritang) and I told him what it was and described it to him. Then an other animal (King Vulture) and restated before but about this animal.

When I was done, he asked me how I'd grade my self. Now me being nice, i gave my self a 7/10. He said that out of the whole Docent class (adults included), I gave the best tour out of anybody. So for the Certification tour, I got a 9.5/10. As a tour in general, a 7/10. I must say I was very thrilled.

He then took me into the animal hospital and started my basic training on the Mexican Prehensile Tailed Porcupine. None of the docents and instructors (except for mine), have been able to handle this animal. The other docents that started gave up, but I'm determined!

-Dainan "I'm so happy I did so well."

Main Streeter · Post by **Main Streeter** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 5:21 am

Cyclone, congratulations to you!! Your post is light, happy, & a huge positive on this site. :) Docents are so under appreciated in this country, & they usually give way over 150% to their groups. Your high scores mark you as a winner.

Keep up the effort, interest & fantastic work!

mechurchlady · Post by **mechurchlady** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 6:46 am

Main Streeter wrote:Cyclone, congratulations to you!! Your post is light, happy, & a huge positive on this site. :) Docents are so under appreciated in this country, & they usually give way over 150% to their groups. Your high scores mark you as a winner. Keep up the effort, interest & fantastic work!

i agree you did a great job.

CycloneMan · Post by **CycloneMan** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 7:35 am

Thank you both so much. I do agree, docents really don't get the recognization we deserve. My Zoo souly relies on docents and volunteers. We were the first Zoo in the country to have education in our Mission Statement. I'm putting this

in my signature!

-Dainan "I'm a winner

"

tacoboy · Post by **tacoboy** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 1:36 pm

and now you can hear such wonderful quotes from stupid guests such as: "hey thats no anaconda! theres a real anaconda in my pants!!!!" :D:
(i heard that once while watching anaconda the movie)

CycloneMan · Post by **CycloneMan** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 1:53 pm

Oh trust me. I've heard some stupid stuff. And you guys at WDW get Brazillians, we get Yashida's! We once had a woman complain about serving animal crackers at the zoo, thinking it was un ethical, but had no problem eating a cheeseburger the minute before!

-Dainan " :D: "

AlpineDL · Post by **AlpineDL** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 2:00 pm

We once had a woman complain about serving animal crackers at the zoo

Wow. Just... wow.

That sounds like a really cool situation Dainan. I briefly volunteered for Wildlife Rescue feeding injured Hawks and Owls, meaning going into the aviary with gloves and grabbing large birds of prey by the feet, and then chopping up frozen mice with scissors for them or just releasing a few live ones out onto the floor. It was really really rewarding and working with unusual animals definitely makes for some great stories too, and you actually get the chance to meet interested people on a tour...

I've gotta say, a prehensile-tailed porcupine sounds pretty awesome. Good luck with that beast, and with guests.

CycloneMan · Post by **CycloneMan** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 6:12 pm

Actually, I have an Assistance Rehabilitation lisence for United For Wildlife (My mom get me into it about 2 years agao). And I'm fine with the animals, it's the guests I'm afraid of. Sometimes....You know what, that's what this site is for :twisted: .

-Dainan "My instructor and I declared the Porcupine emo!"

hobie16 · Post by **hobie16** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 6:15 pm

tacoboy wrote:and now you can hear such wonderful quotes from stupid guests such as: "hey thats no anaconda! theres a real anaconda in my pants!!!!"

That's almost as bad as, "I'm wearing my Burger King pants. You know, home of the Whopper."

mechurchlady · Post by **mechurchlady** » Wed Mar 07, 2007 9:19 pm

Being a volunteer or docent can be worse than real work. I had a got demand to vote the regular way despite our rules and when that did not work he went home and reported me. His wife came back and said that I had made him nearly die of a heart attack or other ailment. Rules are rules,

Some people look down on volunteers. Enjoy this site because it helps to vent about the people who when they leave Disneyland berate the ticket agent, sky caps, stewardess then go home and report the mail man and paper boy. The person who stands up on a ride is the same person who tries to feed the lion at the zoo or let the door to the bank slam in your face. The idiots are in the banks, stores, churches, parks, schools and everywhere. This site helps me to get over them idiots I have met in life.

I hope to heear more Zoo stories soon from you.

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