An overview of each of our Legacy funded projects is in the tabs above and more details can be found by clicking on each project’s associated link. Our thanks to Minnesotans across the state who make these projects possible.
For more information about any of these projects, please contact Michelle Furrer, Como Campus Director, at michelle.furrer@stpaul.gov
About the Legacy Amendment
The Legacy Amendment is a constitutional amendment adopted by Minnesota voters in November 2008. It raised the state sales tax by 3/8 of 1% for a period of 25 years and dedicated the earned revenue to clean water, parks, outdoor habitat, and arts and cultural heritage.
A website was also created by the Minnesota Legislature to help citizens monitor how funds from the Legacy Amendment are being used. On the Minnesota’s Legacy: watch the progress you can see how funds are being invested across the state.
Nature’s Engineers
Join Como Park Zoo and Conservatory as we explore science and nature through the eyes of engineers. The program selections provide something for everyone.
During “Mini Movers,” our youngest learners will discover how animals stay safe in nature by swimming, hopping, flying, and stomping. This 30 – 45 minute program includes an interactive story, creative movement and animal visitors that are sure to delight! Mini Movers is appropriate for children up to five years of age and can accommodate up to 30 learners.
We take learning to the next level with our school-aged “Everything Ecosystem” program. In our newly developed school-age program, “Everything Ecosystem,” students will learn the components of an ecosystem, as well as develop respect and empathy for plants and animals. This hands-on two part program will challenge students to use observational skills with live plants and animals in the classroom, while learning about how these organisms fit into ecosystems in nature. Students will practice using some of the methods that scientists use to study ecosystem health. They will discuss some real-life problems that many ecosystems face today, and students will be challenged to think for themselves to be problem-solvers. Students will take home ideas on how help their own community ecosystems, as well as ways to be better stewards of the Earth. Everything Ecosystem classes last approximately 75 minutes and are appropriate for groups up to 30 students.
For adult audiences, Como Park Zoo and Conservatory will provide “Nature’s Wonder.” This interactive slide show presentation will highlight the science of biomimicry. Amazing technological advances have been made in all areas of science. Many of these advancements have been inspired by plants and animals. Participants will learn more about how nature is helping scientists clean up oil spills, reduce energy consumption, and make advancements in aviation just to name a few. The Natural Wonders lecture is approximately 45 – 60 minutes in length and appropriate for groups up to 100. Power point projection is utilized and requires appropriate viewing space.
The Nature’s Engineers programs have been generously funded by the Legacy Amendment Arts and Cultural Heritage Grant and developed by the Education Department at Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. All applications will be reviewed before we contact the group lead to arrange programming. To ensure a timely response, please confirm that all information is complete. Be sure to take advantage of these wonderful programs designed to inspire us to not only learn about nature, but to learn from nature.
2019 SCHEDULE
January
13th Orangutans
20th Giraffe
27th Blandings Turtle
February
3rd Gorillas
10th Snow Leopards
17th Penguins
24th Polar Bears
March
3rd Tamarins
10th Tigers
17th Penguins
24th Spider Monkeys
31st Gorillas
April
7th Blandings Turtle
14th Orangutans
21st will be out of town
28th Golden frogs
May
5th Snow Leopard
12th Lemurs
19th Giraffe
26th Polar Bears
This program was funded in part or in whole with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008 which dedicated funding to preserve Minnesota’s art and cultural heritage.
Lil’ Explorer Thursdays
A free program 10-Noon every Thursday. Perfect for the 1-3 year old to meet animal and plant visitors, see story time, play games and many other fun activities. Different theme each week!
Click here for more information
Nature’s Engineers
Join Como Park Zoo and Conservatory as we explore science and nature through the eyes of engineers. The program selections provide something for everyone.
During “Mini Movers,” our youngest learners will discover how animals stay safe in nature by swimming, hopping, flying, and stomping. This 30 – 45 minute program includes an interactive story, creative movement and animal visitors that are sure to delight! Mini Movers is appropriate for children up to five years of age and can accommodate up to 30 learners.
We take learning to the next level with our school-aged “Everything Ecosystem” program. In our newly developed school-age program, “Everything Ecosystem,” students will learn the components of an ecosystem, as well as develop respect and empathy for plants and animals. This hands-on two part program will challenge students to use observational skills with live plants and animals in the classroom, while learning about how these organisms fit into ecosystems in nature. Students will practice using some of the methods that scientists use to study ecosystem health. They will discuss some real-life problems that many ecosystems face today, and students will be challenged to think for themselves to be problem-solvers. Students will take home ideas on how help their own community ecosystems, as well as ways to be better stewards of the Earth. Everything Ecosystem classes last approximately 75 minutes and are appropriate for groups up to 30 students.
For adult audiences, Como Park Zoo and Conservatory will provide “Natural Wonders.” This interactive slide show presentation will highlight the science of biomimicry. Amazing technological advances have been made in all areas of science. Many of these advancements have been inspired by plants and animals. Participants will learn more about how nature is helping scientists clean up oil spills, reduce energy consumption, and make advancements in aviation just to name a few. The Natural Wonders lecture is approximately 45 – 60 minutes in length and appropriate for groups up to 100. Power point projection is utilized and requires appropriate viewing space.
Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea, a massive, colorful, traveling art exhibit will debut at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory on June 23nd. The Washed Ashore exhibit features giant sea life sculptures made entirely of marine debris collected from beaches to graphically illustrate the plastic pollution found in our oceans and waterways. The artwork will be combined with scientifically based educational signage to teach visitors about ocean stewardship, responsible consumer habits and how every action counts to help save our seas.
Como will be home to several pieces, including “Hugo”, a nine-foot-tall whale tail, and “Priscilla”, a sixteen foot long Parrot Fish, both made out of plastic toys, buoys, toothbrushes drink bottles, bottle caps, flip flop cut-outs, hair brushes ,and other plastic garbage picked up on beaches. The exhibit offers Como’s visitors a powerful, visual reality of the proliferation of plastic pollution in the world’s waterways through representations of marine animals using thousands of pieces of plastic in every color of the rainbow.
Washed Ashore is an environmental education project that uses art to raise awareness to the tragedy of plastic pollution in the oceans through community involvement. It has taken thousands of volunteers and tons of marine debris to create the monumental sculptures that now make up the Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea exhibit.
“Washed Ashore encourages conservation by inspiring guests to be part of the solution to reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle” said Michelle Furrer, Como Park Zoo & Conservatory Director. “With this exhibit we hope to educate and motivate our guests to learn more about the tragic issue of pollution in our waterways”.
The Washed Ashore exhibit is free and will run from June 23, 2018 through October 21, 2018.
The Centennial Garden was designed to collect and filter rainwater into an underground cistern for reuse as irrigation water.
“This garden gives us a wonderful excuse to showcase how much the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory has meant to this community for so many years,” says Horticultural Curator Tina Dombrowski. “But it’s also a great time to celebrate all the ways this generous community has helped the Conservatory grow and thrive.”
Introducing Senior Strolls, a new, free program for our 55 and-up-aged friends, offering an opportunity to experience Como Park Zoo & Conservatory before it opens to the public.
Each month those 55+ are welcome to partake in active social and learning opportunities complete with special activity stations before the doors open to the public at 10 a.m. Also available is the opportunity for a leisurely stroll through the lush greenery and warm confines of the conservatory; or, in the warmer months, a walk amongst the amazing animals and world class exhibits on the grounds of the zoo. This new program is a great way to get active and social, with a little adult learning thrown in to spice it up!
Sensory Friendly Information
Como Park Zoo and Conservatory is an energetic, colorful place full of sensory stimuli, and we know this environment can be overwhelming for some guests. These are some ways of the ways that Como strives to provide a positive, welcoming experience for every visitor.
Visual Schedule and Sensory Map
Plan out your day before you head to Como!
Social Narrative
Created in collaboration with the Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM), this guide helps visitors reduce their anxiety about new experiences by explaining what to expect step-by-step as they explore the Zoo and Conservatory.
Como Park Zoo and Conservatory Social Narrative
Autism Friendly Early Entry
Join us from 9-10 a.m. during the listed dates for an inclusive experience at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory. Spend time exploring exhibits, and activities designed for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families. Use the “social narrative” and the “create your own visual schedule” to help prepare you for your Autism Friendly Early Entry day.
