Family Fun
Boston’s Franklin Park and Stone Zoos to host Global Premiere of Jeff Corwin narrated custom audio tours for their visitors
Today, JeffCorwinConnect Inc (JCC) co-founder and Emmy Award-winning TV host and wildlife biologist Jeff Corwin introduced his pioneering interactive audio tours, “Jeff Corwin’s Wild Adventures” at Franklin Park Zoo in Boston and Stone Zoo in Stoneham.
More than 650,000 visitors of all ages will now have the opportunity to go on a “Wild Adventure” with Jeff Corwin as their personal guide and to learn about the different animals residing at the zoos. The audio tours also touch upon the challenges these species face today, and encourage visitors to get involved with conservation programs at the zoos.
“As someone who grew up just south of Boston in Norwell, Mass., I spent many afternoons at the Franklin Park Zoo. That experience helped fuel my passion for nature, wildlife, and conservation,” said Jeff Corwin, who has spent more than 20 years in the field working with many of the animals the visitors will experience. “As a Zoo New England Board member and Bostonian, it is very special for me to launch this exciting new program in my hometown.”
JeffCorwinConnect has partnered with the French company Orpheo Group to develop and provide the latest cutting edge technology for this program. The audio tours are offered devices that have an interactive custom app, which allows visitors to plot their own trails, while tracking the exhibits they have already seen. The guests of the zoos will be able to see close-up images and hear the calls of the animals they are learning about. This feature becomes particularly invaluable with species that may be more difficult to see due to their coloring and markings, which enable them to easily blend in to their surroundings. In addition, the eco-friendly nature of the app greatly reduces the need for using paper maps.
Anurag Agarwal, co-founder and CEO of JeffCorwinConnect Inc adds that, “Annually, 175 million people visit zoos and aquariums accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. We wanted to enrich their experience and to transform it into pure edutainment.”
“Jeff Corwin’s Wild Adventures” is a unique partnership model between a for-profit social enterprise, like JeffCorwinConnect, and a not-for-profit organization, like Zoo New England. “This is a true WIN-WIN-WIN situation. The visitors enjoy an enhanced and interactive experience, the zoo gets increased visitor attendance, while generating income from the audio tour’s revenues, and JCC fulfills its mission of connecting people to the species, with whom we share our planet, in a fun and engaging way,” says Agarwal, who plans to roll out this program across zoos and aquariums throughout the country and the world.
“We are delighted to host ‘Jeff Corwin’s Wild Adventures’ audio tours at both our Zoos. This engaging new opportunity will greatly complement and enhance the visitor experience in a truly memorable way, and we are so proud to be the first institution in the world to work with JeffCorwinConnect on a program like this,” said John Linehan, President and CEO of Zoo New England.
A rainy day in Sedona? What are we going to do. Everything we have planned is outdoors. I am pretty sure that is why people come to Sedona, for the beautiful OUTDOOR activities, like hiking, biking, Jeep tours, viewing the red rocks and photography.
What to do, what to do.
Oh, I know. I had the privilege of meeting some great artists that work in fire and glass! The perfect indoor activity when your outdoor plans are washed away!
The Melting Point in Sedona, conveniently located across the street for the Whole Foods (two birds with one stone, yeah!), is a group of artist focusing on creating and teaching others how to create as well.
When we entered the facilities, it was like entering a fine arts gallery. So many beautiful works of glass art. Jordan Ford is the general manager and one of the Artists. He came out of the workshop and told us the rules, then brought us into the fold.
We were about to become glass blowers!
Jordan had a love for the natural world from a very early age. He went on to study geology in college but that is when he discovered glass. He currently has Bachelor’s Degrees in both Earth Science/Geology and Visual Arts/Glassblowing.
Jordan says , “It’s the process of blowing glass that drives me. I find the physical act of making glass so overwhelmingly fascinating. I approach most of my work with a consideration for the more classical techniques – it’s the framework that I use as a jumping point for experimentation.”
Not only is Jordan incredibly talented, he is really personable and extremely funny. He made everyone in the room feel at ease and we all often irrupted in bouts of laughter.
Another artist that was helping us is Austin Littenberg. Austin became interested in the art of glass blowing at age 16 after watching a documentary. He spent over 12 years developing his craft and learning the technical precision needed to work at this level.
Austin views the many ways Art presents itself and is in tune with it all, and it shows.
Clearly these two artist love what they do, and I for one am grateful for their expertise and their willingness to show the world their art.
They worked with us to create a beautiful cactus, complete with three flowers, one for each kid, and a Sedona rock like base. We loved the patience they showed and the skill to make us feel at ease. We never felt like we were about to do something we just couldn’t. It felt like we had been doing this before. That is the measure of a true instructor.
Our work of art was complete and we left there feeling accomplished and quite honestly, amazing!
Both Austin and Jordan have remarkable skills but also wonderful comedic timing. They were a absolutely pleasure to meet and I look forward to keeping up with their art in the future.
If you find yourself in Sedona and want to meet some really wonderful people, stop by The Melting Point and say hello! While you’re there, blow some glass!
How could I forget one of them most important things; They have a studio dog! Austin brings his sweet baby girl to work with him and she is an angel! We loved her! Make sure you give her some love when you visit!
Behold the living legends! Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey brings the unbelievable to Children Of All Ages in an all-new show – – Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents LEGENDS. Experience unimaginable family fun as amazing performers from around the globe perform awe-inspiring feats of daring, spectacles of strength and thrills of wonder to summon the mythical and the mysterious visions that have only existed in your imagination and now materialize before your eyes: the Unicorn, Pegasus and a Woolly the Mammoth! Join us for an unforgettable family night of legendary proportions at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents LEGENDS!
Free to all ticketholders, the All Access Pre-show allows circus fans to learn juggling and balancing skills, meet the performers of The Greatest Show On Earth, get autographs, take photos and enter to win a one-of-a-kind Pachyderm Painting.
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents LEGENDS SM, playing Amway Center January 14-18, 2016. Save $4 off tickets using promo code 4MOM. Live tweet to us while you are there! @RinglingBros #BestGiftEver @BackstageBeat
Families will soon experience more STEAM-style activities and exhibits when visiting the newly renovated Children’s Museum of Atlanta, which re-opens to the public on Saturday, December 12. This iconic downtown attraction, which has been busy renovating since August of this year, now features targeted science, technology, engineering, arts and math education programming woven through almost every aspect of the enhanced space. Whether children build and shoot their own rocket launcher in the new “Gateway to the World” exhibit or design their dream home in the enhanced “Tools for Solutions” exhibit, the increased focus on STEAM learning enables the Museum to further prepare young children to be problem solvers and lifelong learners.
We got a sneak preview this week and I can honestly say it was the most fun my kids have had in a long time! They amount of things there are to do is mind boggling!
One of our favorite areas was Tools for Solutions – This enhanced, multi-layered zone reaches all ages and explores the science of building through four learning environments: the giant ball machine, Built-It Lab, Construction House and City Blocks. Using six simple machines, visitors can move balls through the Museum’s beloved giant ball machine. Children can also learn how to use real tools and materials in the new Build-It Lab, which will feature building workshops and more. This lab will also house a “Maker Space” to empower young children to harness their own ideas to build inventions and artistic creations. The Construction House, designed to showcase what is “behind the walls,” features a solar panel and incorporates activities on how to attach make-believe wires, connect pipes and insulate walls. City Blocks enables children to create skyscrapers and design the city of the future. Through this revitalized exhibit space, children can hone early and more complex math skills, as they learn the importance of processes and sequencing. They also utilize creativity, social emotional and gross and fine motor skills, while discovering that even the most intricate problems can be solved step-by-step with a solid strategy and through the use of tools.
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