House Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #540 Sarasota/Bradenton Children's Zoo
Requester:	Laura Jane Stewart		Organization:		Sarasota/Bradenton Children's Zoo
Project Title:	Sarasota/Bradenton Children's Zoo		Date Submitted:		01/18/2000 12:52:13 PM
District Member:	Mark Ogles		Service Area:		Regional
Counties Affected:	Manatee, Sarasota
Recipient:	Sarasota/Bradenton Children's Zoo		Contact:		Amy Merrill
	7512 N. Tamiami Trail		Contact Phone:		(941) 746-6767
	Sarasota 34243
Project Description:
Activities funded by the item would include: -Development of curriculum based activiteis and handouts for each grade level K-12. - On site school programs for Manatee & Sarasota County Schools. - Teacher workshops on utilizing the zoo and its programs. - Keepers in Training: a hands on training program for youths at risk. -Night Flights: evening education programs for youth and adults. -Zoo internships: one week to one semester internships focusing on wildlife rehabilitation and management for students in high school and college.
Services Provided/Benefit to State:
The children of Manatee and Sarasota Counties and their families are served by our organization. According to most recent census data,, this group currently consists of 31,803 children in Manatee County and 31,035 children in Sarasota County. The zoo makes a special effort to attract the least served portion of these children. Estimated by the free lunch program, this represents 11,428 children in Manatee County and 7,863 in Sarasota County. Working in tandem with the local school boards, a large number of these students can experience the natural world through our on site programs. We are visited regularly by groups such as Head Start, Manatee Boys and Girls Club, Inc., Just For Girls, The Sarasota Police Department Youth Program, Oak Park School, and Easter Seals. These children in particular are unlikely to see animals at Lowry Park Zoo, Jungle Gardens, or Busch Gardens. It is known that many children visiting the facility have never seen monkeys or parrots before in their lives. The playground and children activities area "Sunnyside Courts" serves as a safe child oriented environment in an economically depressed are for families to interact in a positive and wholesome environment.
Measurable Outcome Anticipated:
The Sarasota-Bradenton Children's Zoo is a not for profit 501(C) organization as defined by the IRS Tax Code. It was built with donated materials and volunteer labor. It has no paid staff. It is felt that every child deserves to see a zoo and no economic barrier shall prevent children from experiencing an encounter with these marvelous animals. For this reason, there is no admission charged. Every child is provided the opportunity to visit a zoo no matter what their income level. There are no specific measurable outcomes.
Amount requested from the State for this project this year:				$100,000
Total cost of the project:		$100,000

Request has been made to fund:			Operations
Is there Local Government or Private match for this request?				Unknown
Was this project previously funded by the State?				No
Is future-year funding likely to be requested?				Unknown
Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request?				No
Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget?				No
Is there a documented need for this project?				Unknown
Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)?				Yes
	Hearing Body:	Manatee County Legislative Delegation Hearing
	Meeting Date:	09/30/1999