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Spire Awards Birmingham Zoo Grant to Fund ZooSchool

Spire recently awarded the Birmingham Zoo a $50,000 grant to help fund the ZooSchool program. Newly named through the sponsorship, Spire ZooSchool inspires passion for the natural world through a hands-on, E-STEM (environment, science, technology, engineering and math) initiative offered at no cost to participating seventh-grade students and teachers from Birmingham City Schools. The five-day program (which runs for 20 weeks during the school-year) reinforces learning opportunities for students. The curriculum is correlated with Alabama College and Career Readiness Standards, as well as national standards.

“Spire ZooSchool combines two great resources—Birmingham City Schools and our Birmingham Zoo—in a program that will enrich lives and strengthen the community where we live and work,” said Spire President Ken Smith. “We are proud to be supporting this important education initiative.”

Spire ZooSchool strives to ensure that each student departs with a greater appreciation for the environment, conservation and recycling, both locally and globally. “The goal of the program is to provide an extraordinary learning and mentoring experience concerning issues that affect both global and local biodiversity in the hopes that students will find a connection with the natural world,” says Birmingham Zoo Vice President of Education Roger Torbert.

With more than 900 animals and 230 species, the Birmingham Zoo protects and preserves endangered animals and promotes conservation. The Birmingham Zoo is a 4-Star Charity and has a Platinum ranking from GuideStar. The Birmingham Zoo is also the only accredited Zoo in the state by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. For more information, please go to www.birminghamzoo.com.