AZA Launches 'Million Kid Campaign' Calling on Children to Voice Their Opinion About Nature

4/4/2002

From: Jane Ballentine of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA), 301-562-0777, ext. 252

SILVER SPRING, Md., April 4 -- Do you care about your planet? About fish, birds, reptiles, mammals and the habitats that they need to survive? Well then, we want to hear from you! The American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) and it's 205 accredited members are asking that children of all ages visit www.azasweb.com and offer their opinions on the current state of nature and the environment by taking "Aza's Poll for the Planet."

Aza, the official Spokescritter of the AZA, wants to know what children everywhere think about animals and nature. The information collected from Aza's Poll will be distributed to world leaders in a special national campaign led by former Senator and Presidential candidate Bill Bradley. The leaders will be invited to respond to the children's concerns. "AZA member zoos and aquariums are leaders in public education, conservation and wildlife research," Bradley said. "Zoos and aquariums are ideal places to connect children with nature and teach them the value of the natural world, so they will have a stake in helping preserve it."

"Children are so perceptive and are naturally curious about animals and concerned about their well-being," commented Sydney J. Butler, executive director of AZA. "We want to know what kids think, and learn from them what kind of positive steps we can all make toward protecting our natural heritage. Aza's Poll for the Planet" is only the beginning of this project and we are hoping to collect 1,000,000 responses."

As Aza and AZA learn what children are thinking about nature, that information will help azasweb.com grow into a really unique place to visit on the Web for everyone who cares about animals and nature. "Later this year, www.azasweb.com will be a highly interactive, entertaining and educational site featuring great stories, photos and video about wild things and wild places, and of course lots of information about AZA accredited zoos and aquariums and the people who work there helping care for our planet," stated Dr. Bruce Carr, Roy Disney Chair of Conservation Education for the AZA.

There are a number of ways children can participate -- They can visit www.azasweb.com to meet Aza and Skye and take the poll. Visitors to www.AZA.org can also link directly to Aza's Web, and to the website of the 205 accredited zoo and aquarium members. "Over 130 of our members also offer a link to Aza's web and this spring, guests to many AZA accredited zoos and aquariums can take the poll on paper while visiting their zoo or aquarium," continued Butler. "We made Aza's Poll as accessible as possible so we can reach our goal of gathering 1,000, 000 opinions. We invite everyone to participate!"

The American Zoo and Aquarium Association was founded in 1924 and currently represents 205 accredited zoos and aquariums in North America. Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things.