Education

Click below to view or download a .pdf flyer about rainforests and climate regulation produced by our high school interns.

On May 23, 2009 elementary school students and their parents enjoyed a fun-filled day (exploring scientific activities featuring the highly endangered golden lion tamarin from Brazil. Monkey Jungle was one of the first zoos to breed these stunningly beautiful monkeys. The volunteers at the DuMond Conservancy, under the guidance of Bianca Bonilla presented educational displays, a scavenger hunt, story telling and a short play all designed for parents and students to learn more about these tamarins. The Miami Capoeira project gave a lively performance of Brazilian martial arts that was much enjoyed by humans and Monkey Jungle monkeys alike. This event was sponsored by the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Click an image below for more information.

Click below to download or view this events flier!

The DuMond Conservancy has produced and distributed educational back packs. These backpacks are intended to educate students (target age 10-15 years) about Primate Biology with an emphasis on Conservation. Included in the backpack are posters, unique educational games, primate plush toys, tape recorders and audiocassettes of primate vocalisations and a primate "lunch box". The backpacks are available in English, French and Spanish and some have already been distributed to educational facilities in South America and Africa.

Vjolca Jessica Capri,
New College of Florida

New educational programs that help mentally challenged individuals function in society are a fresh perspective in education. One such program has bolstered the self-confidence of mentally challenged students at Southridge High School in Miami. This program uses a new approach in preparing these students to enter the job world. This program is a community-based instruction that is rooted no in typical high school-related subjects, but instead in learning functional living skills.

Motivating Girls in Science: Measuring Monkey Calls on Moonlit Nights is an educatinal program intended to encourage young girls from the community to pursue careers in science.

By the age of 13, girls begin to fall behind boys in science proficiency exams and continue to score lower on standardized testing throughout high school. studies have shown that since social attitudes tend to become fixed during middle school and early high school, girls that develop negative attitudes during this period of development towards science, are unlikely to pursue the academic background necessary for careers in the science filed (Milbourne, 2004).

We are fortunate to have enthusiastic and talented girls join us from three locations: the Girls Scout Troop from Mays Middle School in Goulds, as well as the Haitian Organization of Women and the South Dade Labor Camp, both located in Homestead.

The DuMond Conservancy has for a number of years offered a supplementary program that allows developmentally challenged youth to go out into the community and practice functional living and workplace skills. Students assist in all sorts of activities ranging from preparing primate meals and maintaining cages to caring for and learning about different species and individual monkeys living at the Conservancy and the adjacent zoological park (Monkey Jungle). The majority of the monkeys are Owl Monkeys that live in small family groups and several families have one family member who is handicapped in some way.

Students from Southridge High's exceptional students program visit places like Monkey Jungle each week to get job experience.

by Elizabeth Caram
ecaram@herald.com

"Monkeys let out high-pitched squeals and swing from branch to branch when students from Southridge High visit their Jungle each Thursday.

It sounds like a good time, but they are not there to monkey around -- they all have work to do."

Each of the eight students who work at Monkey Jungle on Thursday has a mental handicap. Their IQs range from 20 to 60. A few have Down syndrome.

They are accompanied by teacher Norris Joyner, who watches as they tackle their chores.

They aren't glamorous jobs, either. Some go into a miniature kitchen and get to work chopping monkey food: pineapples, cantaloupe, grapes, apples and watermelon -- a diet that would make even Oprah Winfrey's personal trainer proud.

And some of the primates are on diets.

King, the 35-year-old resident gorilla, weighs about 450 pounds. His caretakers want to keep it that way, because male gorillas in captivity have a tendency to become a tad portly -- hence, the fruit and vegetable diet.

While some kids chop up the fruit that will help keep monkeys slim, others hit the grass with buckets full of soapy water and brushes.

Their job: get the, uh, stuff, off the monkey carriers employees use when they have to take the animals from one place to another.

Attached find our powerpoint presentation about rainforests produced by one of our high school interns.

The DuMond Conservancy provides special education programs in primatology for middle and high school students, including a 9-week program for a local magnet middle school and a supplementary education program for mentally-challenged students.

College students conduct field trips at Monkey Jungle using on-site accommodations and educational opportunities are available for Pre-College, Undergraduate, and Graduate field work and internships. Research emphasizes behavioral studies of semi-free ranging populations of squirrel, capuchin, and java monkeys, but may also include other areas of interest. Projects that span broad aspects of primate biology are encouraged. Veterinary support is available as is access to a primate library. Financial support is rarely available

Students or teachers interested in studying with the DuMond Conservancy should make an application to Dr. S. Evans, Programs Coordinator, via email at dumond@dumondconservancy.org.