Zoo provides social and emotional learning

Most of the 900 students who attend Dr. Carter G. Woodson PK-8 Leadership Academy in Tampa have never visited ZooTampa, even though the school is less than 10 minutes away.

A grant from the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay allowed every student from the Leadership Academy to visit ZooTampa in November. The growing partnership provides social and emotional learning, which helps students acquire and apply knowledge, attitudes and skills needed to understand and manage emotions.

Interaction with animals teaches children empathy and shows them a view of different types of family and social structures that they can identify with.

– Wilma Norton, Community Foundation of Tampa Bay