If your weekends are not as wild as they should be, join fellow Drury students this Saturday, April 7^th from 10 am to 5 pm, for a day at The Dickerson Park Zoo.

Drury’s Student Union Board is excited to host an entire day for students to spend their time enjoying all that the Dickerson Park Zoo has to offer. Student and member of the “After Dark” Committee of S.U.B., Lauren Pyle, organized the Dickerson Park Zoo event to keep students involved with something to do this weekend.

Pyle says that one of the best parts of the event is that it is completely free to Drury students.

“There are no physical tickets. You simply show your Drury I.D. at the gate of the zoo and they will let you in. There also is no limit for the number of students that can come so if you have something in the morning or want to sleep in, you can still come later in the afternoon without worrying if you will get in,” said Pyle.

The Dickerson Park Zoo holds a special place in the hearts of Springfield natives. Pyle explains that anyone who gets the chance to attend will leave with a new sense of appreciation for all the Zoo does for the animals it hosts.

“Zoos can sometimes get a bad reputation but after personally volunteering with the zookeepers, it shows that they put the animals’ well-being first. The zookeepers know every animal’s name and are familiar with their specific behavior and will take action if an animal is injured or not being their normal self. They take in animals that would not survive in the wild on their own and have cured many through their rehabilitation program. They also have a conservation education program to educate children and are accredited by many different national conservatory organizations,” said Pyle.

The workers at the Dickerson Park Zoo care not only about the experience they give to visitors but the quality of life for the animals that call the zoo home. The community is brought together by the Dickerson Park Zoo because of the shared love and appreciation that people have towards all creatures. There are many opportunities for students to take part in caring for these animals or just learning more about the different species that are right here in town.

“My Summit group has scheduled to bring some animals to campus on Friday, April 20 from 12-1. This way, students can ask any questions while interacting with a variety of animals. More details on that will be shared later. Anyone interested in volunteering directly with the animals at the zoo can apply for a volunteer position or an internship. There are also zoo ambassadors which help with tickets and member events that the zoo has throughout the year,” said Pyle.

So come on out April 7^th to share an adventure with other Drury students and discover animals from all across the globe. Just by visiting the Dickerson Park Zoo, you also help play a part in the mission to protect the conservation of animals.

For more information on the Drury Student Union Board’s “Day at The Zoo” event or to find answers to any questions you may have, contact Lauren Pyle at Lpyle@drury.edu or visit the Drury Student Union Board’s Facebook page.