New gallery will be located in lower level of The Living World
Special to The American
On April 29, Monsanto Company presented a gift of $2 million to the Saint Louis Zoo to fund the Monsanto Education Gallery.
The multi-purpose gallery area, located in the lower level of The Living World, will provide an expanded learning area for the Zoo’s Education Department.
The area will be used to provide guests and visitors with science, environmental and conservation education programs, activities and experiences, all designed to deepen the connections between people and animals.
The experience at the Monsanto Education Gallery is focused on families with children ages birth to nine, though all ages are welcome.
“Monsanto and the Saint Louis Zoo share the goal of encouraging hands-on, scientific education for young people and families though unique programming and activities,” said Hugh Grant, Monsanto Company chairman, president and CEO, who presented the check at the Saint Louis Zoo.
“The Monsanto Education Gallery will help combine education, inspiration and dedication to the sciences, which are essential to addressing the global challenges of feeding a growing planet while also preserving it.”
The first program to use the Monsanto Education Gallery will be the ZOOmagination Station, the Zoo’s new discovery room experience that invites young children and their caregivers to create, explore, investigate and imagine, while discovering the animal world together.
Other programs to be held in the new gallery will include education activities for scouts and youth groups, and many of the Zoo’s summer learning camps, such as Camp KangaZoo and Camp Joey.
“It has long been our dream to have a place where children can experience meaningful new links with nature and the animal world, and now Monsanto Company has made that possible,” said Dr. Jeffrey P. Bonner, Dana Brown president & CEO of the Saint Louis Zoo.
“We strongly believe that if children enjoy programs and activities that connect them to our animals, they will be more interested in helping them and protecting their future.”
