January-March 2014 volume 16, number 1 Como Insider A Publication of Como Friends

Get Closer at Como Behind the scenes at 's favorite education destination

inside

Making the Case for Como Make Way For Baby: A Giraffe Is Born como friends Inside this issue TOGETHER WE GROW

1225 Estabrook Drive • St. Paul, MN 55103 651-487-8229 • www.comofriends.org [email protected]

Family-friendly, fright-free ZooBoo was a hit with young families Como Friends is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to inspire community Como Friends Profile: Peter Everett generosity to advance Como Park and Conservatory as a destination where people from all walks of life can gather, learn and 3-5 enjoy the natural world. Como News and Events

President: Board Members: Bill Kaphing Jackie Sticha Diana Allen Greg McNeely Sheila Brown Nicky Nagle Board of Directors: Arta Cheney Joe Nayquonabe Chair: Jennifer Denys Nancy Nelson Anne Hazelroth Field Scott Dongoske Marla Ordway Vice Chair: Peter Everett Lynette Palmgren Making the Case: Nancy Nelson Michelle Furrer Bill Parker Treasurer: Advocacy efforts have become a Anne Hazelroth Field Wendy Rubin Tom Hodnefield Laura Fries Kathleen Schubert growing part of Como Friends' mission Secretary: David Gabel Peter Thrane Jackie Sticha 6-8 Mike Hahm Advocating for Como Tom Hodnefield Robert Hoke Jennifer Huelsmann

1 A partnership with the Autism Society 1225 Estabrook Drive • St. Paul, MN 55103 of Minnesota gives kids fresh skills in www.comozooconservatory.org The mission of How to reach us conservation and conversation Como Park Zoo and Conservatory's mission is to 24-hour information: inspire our public to value the presence of 651-487-8200 9 living things in our lives. Education Partners Visitor Services: Como is open every day of the year! 651-487-8201 Winter Hours (October 1 – March 1) 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Education Department: 651-487-8272 Summer Hours (April 1 – September 30) 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Garden Safari Gifts: 651-487-8222 Membership & Donations: 651-487-8229 Rentals: Como Park Zoo and Conservatory is accredited by the 651-487-8250 Learn how welcomed Association of and Aquariums (AZA). Look for the Volunteer Services: a 5 foot 8 inch newborn AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your 651-487-8252 assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to Director of Parks and 10-11 providing excellent care for animals, a great experience Recreation: Mike Hahm Zoo Baby: Rosie the Giraffe for you, and a better future for all living things.

Como Insider Graphic Design: Matt Wehner Editor: Laura Billings Coleman The Como Insider is The American Association of Botanical Gardens and printed by Dolan Printing Gifts that celebrate The Ordway Arboreta (APGA) serves and strengthens public gardens on Recycled paper. throughout North America by supporting and promoting first winter season Garden's their work, value and achievements in horticultural 12 display, education, research and plant conservation. Garden Safari Gifts

2 Como Insider | January - March 2014 “This year, we were really pleased to hear how much our families like the changes we’ve made to ZooBoo over the last few years, with more interactive stations that encourage kids to move and play, not to mention the Cider and Coffee House which gives parents and grandparents a nice place to take a break,” says Caroline Mehlhop, Como Friends’ Director of Sponsorships and Events. “Our zookeepers and education staff also did a great job of introducing our ZooBoo visitors to the animal ambas- sadors that stopped by in the Visitor Center.” Costumed for Como: Families Enjoy ZooBoo Updates Collecting donations for ZooBoo treat bags is a year-round effort at Como Thanks to the more than 15,000 ticket- Friends. Call Caroline at 651-487-8235 if buying trick or treaters who helped your business or workplace has healthy raise more than $60,000 to benefit treats or child-friendly toys you’d like to Como Park Zoo and Conservatory at contribute to the cause. ZooBoo in October. ZooBoo at Como Zoo

Join Como Friends for a Members-Only Preview of the Winter Carnival Orchid Show Como Loves Members Say goodbye to King Boreas and feel advance, as horticulturists look ahead the heat of the tropics at the Winter to predict which plants will be in top Carnival Orchid Show January 25th form for the judges of the American and 26th at the Marjorie McNeely Con- Orchid Society. servatory. The show, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this month, is the Admission to the event is $5 per region’s largest display of privately person, but if you’re a Como Friends held orchids owned by members of the member, join us for a special members- Minnesota Orchid Society. Planning to only preview on Sunday, January 26 at pick the best and brightest bloomers 9 a.m. Call 651.487.8229 to RSVP. Coffee among Como’s 1,800-plant collection of and Donuts will be served. Bring your orchids begins more than six months in member card or join on-site!

3 4 Como Insider |January -March 2014

A Change for Bouquets wine andbeer February 2015 “Bouquets” to rebloom fundraiser vatory. to benefitComoParkZooandConser Como Friendsraisemorethan$10,000 guests atthe2013Bouquetswhohelped thanks tothesold-outcrowdof400 Como ParkZooandConservatory. And quets andotherbenefitstosupport our e-newsletter, formoreaboutBou- Watch yourmailboxandComoPromo, runs thisyearthroughMarch16. Show intheSunkenGarden,which to glimpsethecolorfulWinter Flower The newschedulewillalsoallowguests unwind afterthebusyholidayseason. to theeventinFebruary, asachanceto Friends’ guestswouldprefertocome porters foundthatamajorityofComo cally sellsout,arecentsurveyofsup- popular wine-tastingfundraisertypi- president ofComoFriends.Thoughthe into latewinter,” saysJackieSticha, cember itwastimeto‘repot’theevent decade ofschedulingBouquetsinDe- tory, wedecidedthatafternearlya “JustliketheplantsinConserva- later inFebruary2015. come backintobloomafewmonths returning inDecember2014—butitwill wine, beerandfoodbenefit,won’tbe Bouquets, ComoFriends’long-running - DONOR PROFILE

COMO FRIENDS’ PROFILE: PETER EVERETT

When Peter Everett and his wife, Katie Gates, lived in Paris, neapolis, Edina, and St. Louis Park, because it’s so easy to they made frequent trips to the Menagerie du Jardins des get to and enjoy with small children, who may have a short Plantes, the famous urban zoo founded in the wake of the attention span. That was one of the things we shared with French Revolution. “It was in the center of the city, so you legislators last year at the capitol, is just how popular Como could just take a short metro ride and have access to this is with families from across the metro area. People think of it fun and fascinating place,” says Everett, who saw the same as a St. Paul destination, but it’s really a statewide resource. qualities at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory when his fam- ily returned to the Twin Cities, where Everett serves as a mar- Making the case for Como with Minnesota lawmakers has keting director at General Mills. Now one of the 24 members become a part of the mission at Como Friends, where the of Como Friends’ board of directors, Everett recently talked board recently adopted advocacy efforts as part of a new to Como Insider about why he and his family choose to sup- strategic plan. Why is advocating for Como important? port Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. The core of Como Friends is about a public-private partner- ship, and we have a stronger effect when we’re all working What do you like most, the Zoo or Conservatory? together. With private contributions, Como Friends has We’ve really enjoyed the events we’ve been to at the Con- funded some great capital improvements, while a lot of the servatory, like the opening of The Ordway Gardens and the ongoing daily costs are funded on the public side, and I Bouquets winetasting fundraiser. But we have a five-year-old think that’s a really cool model for a cultural institution. Pub- daughter, Marit, and a two-year-old son, Thomas, so we’re lic funding for improvements like Gorilla Forest is also really most definitely zoo visitors. critical, but we’re also competing with lots of other priorities at a statewide level. That’s why we want people to under- Young families are Como’s favorite demographic. As a stand that Como is the number one cultural institution in the father, what do you think makes Como Zoo so compelling state, and that two million people come through here every to kids? year, so they understand what a treasure it is. The squeaky It’s the ability to see and be close to animals that you might wheel gets the grease, I suppose, and if we don’t tell that never otherwise get to see. My little guy loves Gorilla For- story, we’re not going to get the support Como deserves. est and just being that close to the orangutans and the saki monkeys is a great experience for him. And at a member Como is free every day of the year, so why do you tell event, my daughter got a chance to feed a giraffe. I think people it’s worth becoming a member? that’s a memory she’ll have for long time. As a parent, I have To me it feels like a really natural way to support the com- to say one of the things I really like about Como is its scale, munity. When you see the buses full of kids come in, and and that from a kid’s perspective, you don’t have to cover you think of the number of people touched by Como for the too much distance to see some really amazing things. amount of money it costs to run it, it’s just incredibly effi- cient. Also, from a selfish standpoint, when you’re a member, You live in the west metro. How on earth did you find you get invited to some great events and behind-the-scenes your way to St. Paul? opportunities that don’t happen anywhere else. For my fam- Your question makes me laugh, because I think people for- ily, those have been really memorable experiences. get that Como Zoo is actually an easier drive from the west metro than going to the Minnesota Zoo, which we also sup- port. I think that’s why there are so many visitors from Min-

5 COMO ADVOCATES

Champions for Como

Advocating for public Six months after moving into Gorilla project was in jeopardy again as sev- Forest, Como Zoo’s seven western low- eral lawmakers threatened to rescind support of Como land gorillas look very much at home the funds intended for improvements in their sprawling new exhibit, climb- at Como. Zoo and the Marjorie ing up the grassy incline and basking on the heated rocks during the late “We saw Gorilla Forest as such a criti- McNeely Conservatory autumn. cal improvement at Como and for our community that we swung into action has become a growing “I just love seeing how comfortable to save it when funding was threat- and content these gorillas have been ened,” says Sticha, who mobilized a part of Como Friends’ in their new home,” says Como Friends handful of board members and Como president Jackie Sticha. “Especially Friends members from around the mission because there was a time when we state of Minnesota to call their legis- worried this improvement would never lators and express their support for get built.” building Gorilla Forest. “Almost every- one we met with made it clear that they Creating a larger and more naturalistic cared about Como, but some legislators habitat for Como Zoo’s western lowland saw it as a St. Paul institution,” says gorillas had been on Como’s “to do” Sticha. “But when we talked to them list for more than a decade when the about the fact that Como welcomes 2010 Minnesota State Legislature ap- two million visitors free of charge and proved $11 million in bonding to build only sixteen percent are from St. Paul the exhibit. But six months later, when with field trips from schools in nearly the 2011 session opened, the primate every county, they started to see Como

6 Como Insider | January - March 2014 COMO ADVOCATES

A new year-round amphitheater and state-of-the-art exhibit updates Legacy funding helped create "Lil Explorers," a popular early learn- Champions for Sparky are among Como’s top priorities at the legislature this ing program for preschoolers, which is now in its third season thanks for Como year. to growing support from Como Friends.

as a statewide asset. The message got have helped to transform Como into a beats them all, we recognized that through.” statewide destination that has a great advocacy at the state level is another return on investment for the citizens effort we need in our arsenal to keep The success of Como Friends’ grass- of Minnesota,” says Pete Thrane, a Como strong in its second century.” roots gorilla campaign convinced the Como Friends board member, and a board of directors that making the shareholder at Stinson Leonard Street. Last year, Como Friends’ advocacy case for Como at the capitol must be a “As we started our second decade as efforts helped to leverage additional growing part of the nonprofit’s mission, Como’s nonprofit partner, it became support for Como through the Minne- a plan the board formalized in a new increasingly clear to us that Como Park sota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, strategic plan adopted in December Zoo and Conservatory needed strong boosting Legacy Amendment grants 2012. advocates at the capitol. Most of the from $400,000 to $1 million over the leading cultural institutions in the state next biennium. That additional $600,000 “Como Friends has been the driver have this kind of support, and when in funding will help to provide such behind a decade of improvements that you consider that Como’s attendance popular programs as “Lil Explorers,”

Improving traffic circulation and easing congesting for Como Regional Park’s 4.4 million annual visitors is the goal of a transportation bond- ing request at the legislature this season.

7 WHAT’S ON COMO’S AGENDA?

Sparky the Sea Lion:

COMO ADVOCATES A Minnesota Tradition

After more than 50 years at Como Zoo, Sparky the Sea Lion and her pin- niped pals are ready for a new and improved exhibit that meets antici- pated new federal regulatory require- A long tradition of live music and free concerts came back to life at Como thanks to funding ments for marine mammals. In 2014, from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Legacy Fund. Check Como’s website for a roster of Como is requesting $13.8 million in this season’s performing artists. public bonding to expand the aquat- ics building and the amphitheater with pools and water features that will allow Como’s free early childhood program, around Como Regional Park. “Como seals and sea lions to stay outdoors and the “Music Under Glass” and Friends does many things behind-the- year-round. "Grovin' in the Garden" concert series scenes that help improve Como Park in the Marjorie McNeely Conserva- Zoo and Conservatory for our two mil- tory. It will also help Como’s education lion visitors, and advocacy is a growing Transportation Improvements department develop and test a new part of that work,” says Sticha, adding for Como Park “residency program” created at the that Como Friends and fans are al- request of area schools interested in ways encouraged to share their love of The City of St. Paul was home to using Como’s plants and animals as Como with their own state representa- fewer than 150,000 residents when a starting point for multi-disciplinary tives. “Our visitors help make the case city planners began building Como learning right on Como’s campus. for Como every year, but it’s always just before the turn of the century. A helpful for decision-makers to be re- century later, Como Regional Park now During the upcoming legislative ses- minded of how much Como matters to welcomes more than 4.4 million annual sion, Como Friends will help make the Minnesotans.” visitors—92 percent of whom arrive by case for two of Como’s top priorities- personal vehicle. -an improved seal and sea lion exhibit and a comprehensive transportation Calming traffic, easing congestion, improvement plan to integrate transit and improving livability for Como’s and trail systems while easing traffic neighbors is the goal of an $8.9 million transportation improvement bonding request Como will take to the legisla- How ture this session. The plan was created with substantial community input, and YOU is designed to improve roadways and Can intersections, integrate new transit and Help If you see your legislator in your community, tell trail options, and accommodate large them you are a supporter of Como Park Zoo and school groups and guests with limited Conservatory and ask them to support Como’s mobility. bonding projects.

Email us at [email protected] with “Advocate for Como” in the message line if you would like to help out during the legislative session by Follow us on Facebook and Twitter reaching out to your legislators. for current news and events.

8 Como Insider | January - March 2014 COMO & A uSM

Feathers, fur, and friendship Helping kids with autism connect with animals and each other is the lesson plan behind Como’s education partnership with the Autism Society of Minnesota

Research has long shown that spending time around ani- with all of the great things the Zoo and Conservatory have mals can lower stress, build empathy, and improve bonds to offer,” says Slawik. “Kids with autism can have difficulty between family members and friends. Now a recent study making friends,” so an important aspect of the class, she from Australia’s University of Queensland has found that be- says “is bringing kids together from across the metro area, ing in the company of animals can also significantly increase and encouraging them to share their contact information,” positive social behaviors in children who have an autism so they can make connections with each other that can last spectrum disorder. long after their trip to Como.

Nora Slawik, Director of Education and Training at the Au- The summer camp series was so successful that AuSM and tism Society of Minnesota (AuSM), says she’s witnessed those Como combined forces again last fall to offer “ZooSkillz,” a connections first-hand thanks to a growing partnership with series of social skills classes for elementary-age, tween, and Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. “Fascination with animals teen students that now meet at Como nearly every Saturday is pretty common among students with autism, so learning through the school year. This fall, students focused on “The more about them can be a great topic to focus on,” she says. Power of Plants,” while the winter and spring sessions will explore “Tropical Rain Forests” and “Animals and Ecosys- The partnership began last year, when AuSM approached tems.” Como’s Education Department about the possibility of creat- ing a series of summer camps for kids on the autism spec- “We consider this a very innovative, creative class for kids trum that would combine opportunities to build social skills who are high-functioning, and we’re finding that it highly with the chance to learn more about conservation. “We work exceeded their expectations, and gave them great skills and with a lot of different schools and home school groups to de- more self confidence,” says Slawik. In fact, the Como part- sign curriculum that meets their needs, so this was really an nership has been so successful that AuSM is sharing it as a extension of the work we do every day,” says Como educa- model for other educational institutions in the area, encour- tion specialist Katie Baltgalvis. Working closely with the staff aging them to create similar classes for kids with autism at AuSM, Baltgalvis designed a summer camp series that spectrum disorders. “I would tell other school groups that if would bring kids behind the scenes to explore career ideas you’ve got an idea you think could work bring it to Como,” for working with plants and animals, while keeping in mind says Slawik. “They’re really the gold standard when it comes some of the special educational needs of kids with autism, to being educational partners.” who can, for instance, be sensitive to environments with loud noises or strange smells.

“It was wonderful working with Katie, who was very open to hearing our ideas and to meeting and talking through the idea of how do you incorporate social skills and learning

9 COMO'S NEW GIRAFFE

A Calf is Born Como Zoo hoofstock keeper Todd Maki talks about what it takes to welcome a six-foot baby to the African hoofstock barn

On September 1, Como Zoo welcomed its newest zoo baby— a week to a day or so before the calf Rosie, a reticulated giraffe. Como Zoo keepers hadn’t been comes.” expecting a new arrival so soon, since the Zoo’s newest breeding male Skeeter is only four years old. But when Clo- A SOFTER LANDING: Giraffes stand up ver put on some weight last winter, keepers kept a close eye while giving birth, which means calves on the female who began showing signs she was ready to de- fall to the ground from heights of six liver a calf in late August. Como Insider talked to hoofstock feet or more in the wild. “We don’t keeper Todd Maki about what it takes to welcome a nearly worry about them hitting a hard sur- 6-foot baby into the barn. face because they’re so flexible,” says Maki. “But we did prepare a birthing STEALTH PREGNANCY: Though they stall with a layer of sand so that the calf have a 15-month gestation period, a would have more traction under her pregnant giraffe doesn’t “show” until feet to get her up and stable.” she’s nearly ready to deliver. “Giraffes hide things very well, and they have BONDING TIME: Clover and Rosie huge intestines to hold all the vegeta- spent their first 48 hours on their own, tion they eat, so their bellies are round early bonding that helped ensure the all the time,” says Maki. A scale can calf was nursing successfully. On day be a more reliable predictor of preg- three, keepers scooped Rosie up for a nancy, but Clover doesn’t step on the quick blood draw to make sure she got scale, as do the other giraffes. He says, her fill of colostrum—the “first milk” “The area around their tail will swell mammals provide newborns, a protein- and contract about a month ahead. rich mixture of disease-preventing an- Then their udder swells anywhere from tibodies passed from mother to calf. “If

10 Como Insider | January - March 2014 COMO'S NEW GIRAFFE

really responded to operant condition- ing training, but patient trainers like Maki have proved it can be done. “Carnivores like canids and large cats are at the top

of the food chain, and most are COMO not very fearful,” says Maki, who spent a sabbatical in Namibia working with African animals. “But giraffes are prey animals so their first instinct is to make sure their environment is totally safe before they act on anything, and A REMODEL FOR ROSIE this can take time. Once you figure AND THE HERD out what they need to feel comfort- able, they respond.” One of Rosie's Como Zoo’s hoofstock first lessons will be learning her building will be getting a own name, so keepers greet her facelift in 2014 that will give every time they encounter the calf. visitors a chance to get even closer to Rosie and the other GROWING FAST: During their reticulated giraffes. The first few months, giraffe calves plans include a public feed- grow an average of 7 to 9 ing station and other inter- inches every month—a active features designed to pace that will taper down teach visitors even more to two or three inches about these gentle giants. a month by the end of You can help make this the year. “Rosie will improvement possible double her height in a with a contribution to year, and has al- Como Friends in the it’s not going well it can be a sign that ready gained about enclosed envelope. keepers will have to bottle feed a calf, 100 pounds,” says Just write “For Rosie but with Clover and Rosie, they were Maki. “We haven’t and Friends” if you’d off to a great start,” says Maki. Rosie’s been able to get like your donation to first charted height and weight: 5 foot her back on the support improve- 8, 130 pounds. scale, but I know ments to Como I can’t pick her Zoo’s hoofstock ROSIE’S BIG DEBUT: At the end of her up now.” building. first week, Rosie was ready to meet her adoring public—but only if mom Clover was nearby. “Luckily, a calf just wants to follow her mom, so it doesn’t take any training to get Rosie to move where we want her to go,” says Maki. “Getting her outside also helps us to see that her joints are all formed prop- erly and that she’s walking around, sturdy and strong.” Skeeter also got a chance to meet his first offspring, lean- ing over a wall to lick the calf for the first time.

EARLY TRAINING: Two decades ago, zookeepers doubted whether giraffes

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The Ordway Gardens Winter Wonders at Garden Safari Gifts

For the first time ever, Como visitors are enjoying a glimpse of the Open Daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Charlotte Partridge Ordway Japanese Garden at rest under a layer 651-487-8222 of white. At Garden Safari Gifts, we're celebrating this winter wonder with Japanese Garden themed items that benefit Como Park Zoo and Conservatory all year long!

Como Friends Members receive a 15% discount!

Assorted Gemstone Holiday Trees $17.99

Granite Kodai Lanterns Pewter Assorted Bonsai, $349 - $574 Bonsai three years and older Keychain $29.99 to $229.99 $7.99

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