Where can you go to meet a rhino, and an orangutan in the same place? How about a sea horse or a dolphin? Your own backyard of course! Across the U.S. and throughout the world, institutions like zoos and aquariums are perfect places to meet all sorts of animal friends. And you may have one of these institutions right in your city. Many Roots & Shoots members have made visits or even started projects at one of these institutions. With access to educators and researchers who know a lot about animals, zoos and aquariums are a perfect place for Roots & Shoots.

Here are some examples of projects Roots & Shoots groups have done in the past.

Learn about Animals
A visit to a zoo or aquarium can be a great way to learn about animals, their habitats and their behaviors. WestsideRS in Chicago, Ill. did research wombats and the Mexican grey wolf, and then visited Brookfield Zoo to meet these animls in person. Zoos such as Bramble Park Zoo in Watertown, SD even have specific Roots & Shoots programs that you can attend.

Raise Awareness
More people visit zoos and aquariums in the U.S. then all major sporting events combined. That¿s a lot people to educate and talk to! Every zoo or aquarium can use help getting the word out and educating the public about animals, and their conservation. Roots & Shoots groups such as the Teen Wild Guides at the Oakland Zoo have planned awareness and fundraising events such as the Asian Animal Festival, or Bear Awareness Day. Aurora Quest Academy Roots & Shoots in Denver, Colo., made a visit to the Denver Zoo where they did a project raising awareness about the importance of prairie dogs.

Enrich Lives
Zoos and aquariums are always working to give animals opportunities to practice their natural behaviors. They do this by giving them enrichment through naturalistic toys such as termite fishing mounds for chimpanzees, or something as simple as a block of ice with food frozen inside. While playing with these objects in their enclosures, animals get active, and have the opportunity to exercise. Roger Williams Zoo Roots & Shoots in Providence, R.I. wanted to do something for the penguins in their zoo, so they built a kelp forest for them out of reused materials. Roots & Shoots members at Sequoia Park Zoo in Eureka, Calif. rebuilt an entire enclosure for the spider monkeys.

I¿m a little worried about my zoo or aquarium. I¿m not sure how well they take care of their animals.
It's true, not all zoos and aquariums are created equal. The types of enclosures and the quality of care that animals receive in each institution can vary. When you visit, make some observations about what you see in the animal enclosures and the behaviors of the animals themselves.

• Are the enclosures cleaned well?
• Are the sizes of the enclosures adequate for the size of the animals, and the space they would need in the wild?
• Do the animals have access to clean, fresh water?
• As you watch the animals, do you see them pacing back and forth, or sitting and rocking back and forth?

There are many other observations we can make, these are just to get you started. If you find that you don¿t like what you find when you make your observations, contact a keeper or administrator in the institution, and share your observations with them.

Zoos and aquariums accredited by organizations such as the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) provide top notch care for their animals and are audited regularly to ensure they are adhering to the highest standards. They also actively participate in public education programs, and collaborate with researchers and NGOs abroad who are working to conserve the very species they have on display in their institutions. Fewer than 10% of the approximately 2,400 animal exhibitors licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture are AZA accredited. When you're thinking about doing Roots & Shoots in your local zoo or aquarium, make sure that they are accredited by the AZA. To find out if your zoo or aquarium is accredited, visit www.aza.org.