It’s about to get wild in Chilliwack with the arrival of the Greater Vancouver Zoo (GVZ) at the city’s three Fraser Valley Regional Library (FVRL) branches.
As part of the FVRL’s 2018 Summer Reading Club, the Zoo is scheduled to visit the Yarrow, Sardis, and Chilliwack locations on Aug. 1, 9, and 11.
“We wanted to get something related to theme,” said Wiena Groenewold, who helps coordinate the province-wide program.
This year’s theme is Motion Commotion, which Groenewold says fits in nicely with the description of the Zoo’s travelling animal program, which asks if you’ve ever wondered how snakes slither, ducks waddles, or mice scurry.
“It may be called the Summer Reading Club, but it’s actually much broader than just reading,” continued Groenewold.
“We like to offer programs that are about learning and summer learning … so we’ll offer programs like this about animals (which) fits the whole science, technology and exploring your environment theme.”
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The Zoo’s program was designed to deliver “a special and unique experience to learn and interact with some of the Greater Vancouver Zoo’s animals in a closed, controlled, and private education environment, where we will be learning all about the different ways that animals move,” explained Jonah Miller, education coordinator at the GVZ, in an email.
And while attendees may not learn what the fox says, they’ll have the opportunity to “meet and make some new friends (with) a variety of reptiles, invertebrates, (and possibly some) small mammals,” Miller continued.
Best of all, says Groenewold, “by bringing in animals, children will have the experience of seeing animals live and up close. It’s great to read about animals in books, but this adds another level to the experience.”
“These outreach events are (als0) a good way for the animals to experience new surroundings,” adds Miller. “(It) provides them with an enrichment experience as a reward for good behaviour since we wouldn’t want to bring a grumpy animal to one of these events.”
The events are free, but the FVRL requests those interested in attending pick up their free ticket a week before the event:
• Sardis Library: Saturday, Aug. 9, at 11 a.m.
• Chilliwack Library: Saturday, Aug. 11, at 11 a.m.
For more information about the FVRL Summer Reading Club, please visit FVRL.bc.ca/summer_reading_clubs.php. For more information about the Greater Vancouver Zoo, please visit their website at GVZoo.com.
@SarahGawdin
Sarah.Gawdin@theprogress.com
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