These are just a few of the testimonials from teachers and volunteers:
Zoo Safari USA has become a valuable asset to Pryor Junior High School. Each year, John and Maria Jinks graciously accept our request to bring their traveling zoo to our school. Their up close and personal attention to detail makes their presentation of exotic animals outstanding. Our students love the interaction and education. I highly recommend Zoo Safari USA as a supplement to your class curriculum.
Shawn Hodges
Science Teacher
Pryor Junior High School
Pryor, OK
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Woodall Kindergarten and Pre-K classes would like to give a BIG SHOUT OUT to John and Maria from Zoo Safari USA for coming to visit (especially on such short notice)!!! The dedication, passion and love they have for their animals is very evident. They are also very educated on each and every species that they care for. The children were mesmerized and almost couldn’t stand waiting for the next one to appear….with lots of oooohs and aaaaahs following that first glimpse!!! Owning a zoo has been their passion and getting to make it a reality over 20 years ago shows in their work and presentation. If you have a classroom of kiddos who love to learn with “hands on” learning!!!…..please call them to visit your school. And remember, the expense of caring, feeding, and traveling is supported solely on donations….DON’T FORGET TO TIP THEM FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION.
Thank you again John and Maria for your time spent with us today, it was MANY lessons learned and much joy getting to pet your “creatures”!!!
Sincerely,
Patty Parker
Kindergarten Teacher
Woodall School
Tahlequah, OK
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The owners of Zoo Safari have done several demonstrations for me involving many levels of learning. They have visited my High School Special Education classroom as well as my Girl Scout troop meetings. I have also seen them demonstrate in High School biology classes. I appreciate their ability to offer my students hands-on time with exotic animals. They have so many different animals and are knowledgeable about them all. They make the experience fun, but also offer educational presentation. John and Maria are open to questions from the class and they are patient with the students. In my special education classroom, it is essential to have patience because of the many different learning styles my students have, but the two of them offer their knowledge in a way that allows them to learn and understand.
Zoo Safari deserves more attention and opportunities to expand.
Shelly Gibson
Special Education Teacher
Catoosa High School
Catoosa, OK
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Zoo Safari USA has been so influential on my college and career choices. Growing up in Locust Grove Public Schools, I vividly remember the joy and excitement that centered around each and every visit they made to our schools. The Tulsa Zoo was too expensive for my family to visit very often, so these visits were treasured even more. Maria and John did such a great job with not only letting us see and pet the animals, but educating us along the way about their diets, habitats, weights ,and other fun facts. All of my classmates and I sat quietly on the ground and listened intently with wide eyes as we anxiously waited for our turn to touch the snake, tortoise, fox, and all the other species. That joy never wavered as I got older. I began to get interested in science and believe that this was encouraged by the hands-on visits from Zoo Safari USA from elementary school all the way through high school. I can recall the very last visit they made to my 10th grade biology class. After experiencing another amazing visit, I thought to myself that I want to work with animals somehow just like John and Maria do. I went to NSU and got my degree in fish and wildlife biology and I’m currently getting my masters in applied teaching. Even though I won’t be working with animals directly in the near future, I will instead help shape the young minds of tomorrow and hopefully inspire them to pursue a career in the science field just like Maria and John did for me.
-Tyler Littlefield
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My time volunteering at the Zoo Safari was amazing. I was able to establish bonds with animals that I would have never gotten the opportunity to in everyday life. By establishing these bonds, I felt like I was making a difference in their lives, even if just slightly, with the short time I got to spend with them. Unfortunately, I had to leave my volunteering experience at the Zoo Safari behind me, as I advanced into a new career. Having to give up my weekly visit was a very hard decision for me to make.
Sarah and Wilber
Wilber always insisted on helping Sarah clean his yard.
Every week I looked forward to seeing my favorite animals and getting to hug them and play with them, scratching Wilber’s belly, and giving Chaney hugs. The Zoo taught me more responsibility and taught me things about the animals that I wouldn’t have known otherwise, like how Tortoises have more life than some people, or how Capybaras make a cute little bark when they are startled. I know that without having been a part of the Zoo family, I would have never gotten to encounter these animals at such close proximity, and get to aid in their care!
While leaving the Zoo was hard, I knew that they understood. Volunteering brings a true warmth to your heart, makes you feel complete, and shows others that you are willing to do something without anything in return. Not only is volunteering at the Zoo Safari fun, but in my case it aided in me getting a job. If it isn’t enough that it makes you feel good to volunteer and establish bonds with exotic animals, employers love to hear that you have put in so much time with the Zoo! Volunteering here is truly something that I believe everyone should do, or try. While you get dirty doing it, it is completely worth it! There is never a dull day at the Zoo Safari, never! I enjoyed every second of my days there and I will continue to whenever the opportunity arises! -Sarah Carney
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Letter form Jonah
Hi, my name is Jonah Bienhoff.
I am a an Anthrozoology and Studio Arts double major at Beacon College in Florida. My goal after I graduate is to pursue a Masters in the field Anthrozoology and work hands on with animal and integrate art into the field as well. I found the Zoo Safari USA during an animal care manual research project in my Animal Husbandry course. I looked up zoos with Water Monitors and this zoo came up. I found a contact under the Zoo’s homepage and decided to reach out to see if I could ask some questions about the animal I was doing a project on. I was contacted back within the day and I was very happy that they were willing to set up a time to speak to me. I got to ask my questions and I am over joyed from having wonderful feedback and really nice people to learn from. I hope to make it to this zoo at some point soon. I am very thankful to the people you contacted me back from the zoo and in who I got to talk to. SO I want to thank the Zoo and Maria at the zoo for being so kind into taking the time to speak with me.
Thank you!
