Welcome to the home page of the
Association of Zoo and Aquarium
Docents,
an organization of volunteers who
educate people
about the need to develop a
caring attitude toward nature.
Welcome to the home page of the
Association of Zoo and Aquarium
Docents,
an organization of volunteers who
educate people
about the need to develop a
caring attitude toward nature.
Become a Docent! Join a Zoo or Aquarium.
Make a Difference!
The following are lucky winners for free one-year membership to AZAD for: June - Roger W Brockway, Denver Zoo, Denver CO and Mary Hunt, Houston Zoo, Houston TX; July - Carole N Ashmead, Philadelphia Zoo, Philadelphia, PA and Susi Spirita Wolf, Rio Grande Zoo, Albuquerque, NM. Click here for more details
"The dedication and
efforts of docents are a major contribution to the education of society. Their
volunteer services are exerting a real impact, particularly on this country's
young people who show a growing interest in natural history and
conservation."
- Russell A. Mittermeier, Ph.D.,
President, Conservation International.
We are an international
organization of volunteer zoo and aquarium guides and interpreters. We
currently number over two thousand members, including members from
Canada. Annual conferences are held in an AZAD Organization member's
city. Click on the conferences
link to see where we will be in future years.
The word docent is
derived from the Latin word meaning "to teach." Zoo and
Aquarium docents are special volunteers who are committed to educating school
children and the general public about our natural world. Docents receive
special educational training at their member institutions which prepares them
to act as exhibit interpreters, to deliver talks about specific exhibits,
display and explain animal biofacts, and to provide zoo and aquarium visitors
with valuable wildlife and ecology information. At many of our zoos and
aquariums, the docents conduct on-site and off-site educational programs to
children and adults on such topics as habitat, endangered species, birds,
mammals, reptiles, amphibians, marine mammals, fish, and insects.
Our website contains many links. If you choose to
select a link you may be redirected to another website. AZAD does its
best to monitor, but cannot assume responsibility for, the content of the
links. If you find an inactive or inappropriate link, please contact the
AZAD Webmaster.
07/10/08