Spend
time with the polar bears!
Apply to be the Louisville Zoo’s next
Teen Arctic Ambassador to study polar bears in Canada
(EDITOR’S NOTE: More polar bear
photos are available upon request.)
The Louisville Zoo, in partnership with
Polar Bears International (PBI), is involved in an amazing
opportunity to select one Kentucky youth to represent the Louisville
Zoo and become an “Arctic Ambassador” as part of PBI’s Teen
Leadership Camp.
The Kentucky teen chosen will join a select
group of teens from around the world to travel to Churchill,
Manitoba, Canada during the fall polar bear migration. They will
work with scientists in the field the first week of October 2008.
The students will be exposed to field work in Winnipeg, visit
Churchill to see how a town has adapted to living with polar bears
and stay on a Tundra Buggy® along the shore of the Hudson Bay. They
will become immersed in the sights and sounds of the sub-Arctic
wilderness, while discussing and learning about such topics as life
in the Arctic, global warming, presentation skills and leadership.
“This amazing trip helped me to better
understand what is happening to the polar bears, the Arctic and the
environment,” said Emily Goldstein, a student at Atherton High
School and last year’s Teen Arctic Ambassador. “This is an
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for anyone who is passionate about
wildlife and the environment. Being the Louisville Zoo’s Arctic
Ambassador gave me a chance to meet people who have as much passion
about animals and the planet as I do, and it doesn’t get much better
than that!”
Upon returning from the camp, the Kentucky
student chosen will create a forward action plan to educate and
raise awareness in their own school and community.
“I believe the Zoo’s upcoming Glacier Run
exhibit is key for teaching Kentucky and its neighboring states
about climate change. The Louisville Zoo’s next Teen Arctic
Ambassador can play a role in that by educating their peers and the
community about the plight of polar bears and ways we each can make
a difference in the world,” Goldstein said.
This experience of a lifetime is entirely
funded by PBI and a grant through the Louisville Zoo.
To apply, you must:
-
Be a Kentucky
resident
-
Be at least
16 years old and in grade 10 or 11 by fall of 2008
-
Be able to
miss eight school days
-
Have the
ability to communicate clearly and effectively to the public
-
Have good
writing skills
-
Follow all
guidelines and rules of the Louisville Zoo and PBI
-
Be willing
and available for media interviews and Louisville Zoo Public
Relations events before and after the trip
-
Submit an
application (that can be downloaded at
http://www.louisvillezoo.org/conservation/wfpk/polarbear/PBAmbassador.pdf)
-
Write a
1,000-word essay describing why you would be the best Arctic
Ambassador for the Louisville Zoo
-
Be available
for a possible selection interview in April or May 2008
Deadline for application entries is March
30, 2008. You can drop off the application or mail to: The
Louisville Zoo, Attn: Teen Artic Ambassador Program, 1100 Trevilian
Way, Louisville KY 40213. If you have questions, please contact the
Louisville Zoo’s Curator of Education Marcelle Gianelloni at
marcelle.gianelloni@louisvilleky.gov.
***
The Louisville Zoo, a non-profit
organization and state zoo of Kentucky, is dedicated to bettering
the bond between people and our planet by providing excellent care
for animals, a great experience for visitors, and leadership in
scientific research and conservation education. The Zoo is
accredited by the American Association of Museums (AAM) and by the
Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).
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