Who We Are - Bronx Zoo

WCS Education

Inspiring a diverse, inclusive movement of conservation advocates.

The goal of WCS Education is to inspire a diverse, inclusive movement of conservation advocates. We do this by sparking connection with animals and nature; enhancing scientific literacy through hands-on investigation; and engaging constituents in stewardship and action to conserve wildlife and wildplaces.

Our Commitment

Representation in science matters, and we are committed to disrupt notions of who scientists are, what they do, and who can be one. As one of the largest conservation organizations in the world, WCS employ thousands of scientists whose backgrounds and experiences are as diverse as the biodiversity they protect. By centering these stories in our programs, we inspire all New Yorkers to see themselves in science.

Our Approach

Inspire

We provide deep, lasting interactions with wildlife in our parks and beyond, inspiring connection and wonder for animals and nature.

Discover

We challenge learners to observe, question, predict, and test to make sense of the natural world, enhancing scientific literacy through inquiry-based learning.

Protect

We champion real-life conservation challenges, solutions and changemakers, motivating our audiences to take action to protect wildlife and the environment.

Our Audiences

We bring conservation action to life through our programs. Every year, we reach close to one million students, educators, families, youth, adults and zoo and aquarium visitors through education activities at our five New York City parks.

WCS is dedicated to serving a broad constituency that mirrors the diversity of our surrounding neighborhoods and our city. As such, we have launched key initiatives to engage all New Yorkers in science and conservation:

Science for All

Inspiring more than 15,000 students from Title 1 schools to connect to science and conservation through free interactive workshops.

Youth Career Lattice

Enhancing scientific literacy and professional mobility for more than 1,400 youth age 14-24 who work, intern or volunteer at our facilities.

Digital Learning Resources

Making WCS’s global field work and zoos and aquarium science to thousands of students and young children through free digital resources.

Research & Evaluation

WCS is committed to advancing the fields of informal and formal science learning through rigorous program evaluation and educational research. Read more about our current research efforts here.

Supporters

A special thanks to the supporters of our work:

21st Century Fox
Ameriprise Financial
The Association of Zoos & Aquariums
The Barker Welfare Foundation
The Borrego Foundation
Club de Naturaleza
Cannon USA, Inc.
Chevron Corporation
City Council Member Fernando Cabrera
City Council Member Andrew Cohen
City Council Member Costa Constantinidis
City Council Member Chaim M. Deustch
City Council Member Ruben Diaz
City Council Member Mattieu Eugene
City Council Member Julissa Ferreras
City Council Member Barry Grodenchick
City Council Member Eric Ulrich
City Council Member Paul Vallone
City Council Member Daniel Garodnick
City Council Member Vanessa Gibson
City Council Member David Greenfield
City Council Member Corey Johnson
City Council Member Brad Lander
City Council Member Farah Louis
City Council Member Alan Maisel
City Council Member Francisco Moya
City Council Member Annabel Palma
City Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez
City Council Member Ritchie Torres
City Council Member Mark Treyger
City Council Member James Van Bramer
City Council Member Jumaane Williams
The Charina Endowment Fund
Citi Foundation
Coca Cola, Inc
Con Edison, Inc
New York City Deparment of Education
The New York City Department of Youth & Community Development
The New York State Department of Health

The New York State Parks Recreation & Historics Preservation
The Dimon Family Foundation
Douglass Kruse & Betty Welchel
Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield
The Emre Fund
The Gray Foundation
HealthPlex
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Investors Foundation
John N. Irwin III
The Dale & Laura Kutnick Foundation
The Laura J. Niles Foundation
The Lemberg Foundation
Loretta Stadler | Defenders of Wildlife
Lyda Hill Philanthropies
The MacGrath Foundation
MacMillan Publishers, Inc
Mattel Children's Foundation
Richard and Ronay Menchel
M.J. Murdock Charitable Rust
The Moonlight Community Foundation
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
The National Science Foundation
National Grid
New York State Assembly Member Joe Lentol
New York State Parks and Recreation
The Henry Nias Foundation
The Nichols Foundation
Patagonia, Inc.
Philippe B. Visser
The May and Samuel Rudin Family Foundation
The Safari Club International Foundation
The Pinkerton Foundation
The Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP)
TD Bank
The Wortman Foundation
Barbara Zucker