THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 8, 1996 TAG: 9608060166
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DAWSON MILLS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: 67 lines
It isn't always necessary to travel to the Serengeti Plain in Africa to experience the thrill of a safari. The Virginia Zoological Society's day camp program, Summer Safari 1996, is bringing kids and animals together at the Virginia Zoo, 3500 Granby St., in Norfolk.
``This is the eighth year for the program,'' said camp director Debbie Ney. ``We started with three weeks and a handful of campers. Now we're up to seven weeks, and the sessions stay pretty full.''
About 350 children will participate in the program, which began June 24 and continues through Aug. 16.
On a recent weekday morning, 25 first- and second-graders were learning about turtles. After a feeding session with the aquatic turtles that inhabit the duck pond, ``Speedy,'' a dinner plate-sized desert tortoise used by the zoo's docent program, put in an appearance, allowing campers to learn firsthand how the reptile's hard shell feels.
Placed in a grassy area afterward, ``Speedy'' promptly began to feast on succulent summer grass.
``It's the first time I've seen him graze,'' said Ney, a Norfolk public school teacher for most of the year, who has spent her summers working with the camp since its inception.
In addition to the director, the staff includes two teachers and two assistants on any given week, plus four or five teenage volunteers, some of whom are former campers. Over the summer, five teachers work with the program, as does Therese Braynard, director of education at the zoo.
Nearby, under a canopy, 20 third- and fourth-graders, who had just visited the monkey cages, were engaged in an exercise showing what life would be like without a prehensile thumb.
``Some of the monkeys have a prehensile thumb, like we do, on their feet,'' explained Ney, ``but not on their hands.''
Given that children and animals are a winning combination, it's not surprising that the kids love the camp.
``I like it, it's fun,'' said Harry Lea, 8, of Norfolk. ``They tell you about the animals that are out here. And they have fun activities.''
Kirsten McLean, 9, of Hope Mills, N.C., who is visiting her grandparents in Norfolk, concurs. ``I really like it, because I like animals and I like to visit them. I like seeing the animals most.''
There are seven separate programs. All are one week long and most are offered twice, for different grade levels. Most run a full day, although two are available as half-day programs for younger campers.
The camp is open to rising first- through sixth-graders. Registration is by the week, with a maximum of four weeks per child, Thomas said. MEMO: AT A GLANCE
What: Virginia Zoological Society's day camp program, Summer Safari
1996
When: one session remains, Aug. 12-16
Where: Virginia Zoo, 3500 Granby St.
Cost: $55 for half a day and $110 for full-day sessions, for members
of the Virginia Zoological Society. For non-members, it's $70 and $140.
Extended care (from 7:30 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 5:30 p.m.) is available for
$35 per week with full-day sessions.
Details: Campers receive a morning and afternoon snack, included in
the registration fee, and a T-shirt. Those in full-day sessions bring
their own lunches.
To register: A few openings are still available. For information,
call the zoo's Education Department at 626-0803. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by DAWSON MILLS
Teacher Elizabeth Ellis shows an Aldabra tortoise shell to campers
participating in the Summer Safari 1996 at the Virginia Zoo. by CNB