Read about volunteer Susie Hons and work at the JMZ:

How did you first become involved with the Junior Museum & Zoo (JMZ)?

I met Rob Steele, JMZ Zoo Director, through my work at the Wildwood Veterinary Hospital. One day Rob asked if I would come to the Zoo and help him with a little pruning. Rob had the responsibility of all of the gardens as well as his Zoo duties, and there was just not enough time. When he asked me if I would like to volunteer and do the landscaping, I said "Yes!!" I love to garden, and ended up going crazy working on all of the planted beds. This really changed my life:  I had found myself at kind of a loss as to what I wanted to do to add joy to my life, and this was it. Not only do I get to make the garden flourish, but I get to work with the animals and all of the great volunteers and teachers at JMZ.

What's a typical day like when you volunteer at the JMZ?

My typical day at the Zoo starts with whatever Rob needs done, then I get to work on MY project for the day: "manicuring" the different beds, building something new, and planting and pruning as needed. Just making everything pretty and healthy takes most of the day. When I can, I work with some of the animals for enrichment - though I'm sure Scully (the African gray parrot) doesn't think her weekly bath falls into that category!

In your opinion, what's the most important work the JMZ does?

The most important thing that the Zoo does is educate the public - Kids! - about caring for and respecting the animals, and how all of nature interacts with itself. Children get to see the animals up close, touch them, and experience the wonder.

What do you do when you aren't volunteering at the JMZ?

The Palo Alto Art Center and the Junior Museum & Zoo are collaborating on a project that blends both art and science:  Creative Ecology: Exploring Our Environment with Art, Science, and the Community. This project, funded by an $88,000 Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS) grant, will allow four artists-in-residence to explore the natural world around Palo Alto and exhibit the culminating artwork at the Art Center over an 18-month period.

Artists will explore areas such as the Baylands Nature Preserve, Foothills Park, and Cooley Landing in East Palo Alto. Their investigations will focus on the artwork and its setting in a natural environment, and will engage the community in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) education.