How Groundhog Day became 'Prairie Dog Day' for a group of elementary students at Binder Park Zoo
BATTLE CREEK — Friday may have been Groundhog Day, but prairie dogs were all anyone could talk about at Binder Park Zoo.
Last fall, the zoo announced an opportunity for the public to name the newest colony of black-tailed prairie dogs — eight males and 10 females — for a donation of $500 each.
Fifth grade students from Gordon Elementary, led by teachers Mary Douglass and Doug Climie, stepped up to the plate, raising $1,000 in recent months through bake sales, can drives and penny wars and more to earn the opportunity to name two of the new prairie dogs at the zoo.
In a school-wide vote, students decided to name a male Gordon and a female Jordan-rhymes-with-Gordon, in support of conservation. On Friday, students celebrated the achievement with zoo staff.
“You simply can’t imagine the excitement and support for this project at Gordon School,” Douglass said in a press release. “We care about teaching our students to make a difference in their community and in the world — regardless of their age, and we are grateful that Binder Park Zoo gives kids a chance to impact the planet in a positive way.”
The students fundraising will continue with a school-wide event held on Feb. 15 at 6 p.m. at Gordon School.
"Prairie Dog Day" began with the arrival of the students by bus. They enjoyed a brief program from zoo educators about the habits and adaptations of prairie dogs and a compare-and-contrast exercise that demonstrated the differences between prairie dogs and their cousins, the groundhogs. The group then created personalized “enrichment items” which they delivered to the exhibit for the prairie dogs to enjoy.
In light of the unusually warm temperatures Friday, and since the prairie dogs remained underground during the celebration (the colony spends most of its time underground during the winter), the group decided that the prairie dogs didn’t see their shadow, signaling an early spring in Calhoun County.
“We wanted to put our own spin on Groundhog Day, so we decided that sharing the passion these young people have for prairie dogs — and many other animals, was the perfect tie," Alex Case, education manager at Binder Park Zoo, said in the release. "This group had recently participated in the BIG Zoo Lesson — a week-long immersive conservation education program held at the zoo. It was an experience that clearly gave them the inspiration and desire to dig in and help make a change for wildlife.”
Prairie dogs have been a popular attraction at the zoo since the original exhibit first opened in 1980.
The zoo will host all 16 donors to the “Prairie Pals” campaign in a special celebration to acknowledge their support when the zoo opens for the season this spring. In addition to Gordon and Jordan-rhymes-with-Gordon, their generosity provided these names for the colony: Annie, Chase, Dig-Dug, Elsa, Fearless, Helen, J.J., Lilly, Louise Binder Frey, Maynard, Peanut, Scene, Sully, T.G. Ko, Trixie and YumYum.
Binder Park Zoo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and an accredited member of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. Funds raised from this unique campaign help support the care of the black-tailed prairie dogs and the many other species of animals at the zoo.
The zoo opens for the season on May 1. For more information, visit binderparkzoo.org.
Contact reporter Greyson Steele at gsteele@battlecreekenquirer.com
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Elementary students raise $1,000 to name prairie dogs at local zoo
