News and Stories

One of the hidden gems of the Cincinnati Zoo is about to reach an incredible milestone—its 50th birthday! For half a century, Zoo Academy has been inspiring young conservationists through its unique two-year program for high school juniors and seniors, offering students a science focused high school experience alongside firsthand exposure to careers in zoology.

This isn’t your typical classroom: for two days each week, students spend four hours working side-by-side with zoo staff all over the zoo, from animal keepers to researchers and ground maintenance crews. It’s a special opportunity to gain essential skills, build valuable connections, and get a close-up view of what real careers in conservation look like.

But the learning doesn’t stop with animals. In the last year, Zoo Academy’s CREW Plant Lab opened its doors, welcoming students to leap into the world of botany and plant science. Though some students might not be excited about plants at first, the Plant Lab has helped them discover new strengths and passions, even leading some to pursue plant-focused senior projects.

Each student in the Plant Lab gets to design a project to complete at the end of the lab season. Projects can take any form: from a photo collage to a written research paper, the possibilities are endless! For example, past students Rachell Hemmila and Jason Ruthemeyer both found their niche in carnivorous plants. Rachell created a series of eye-catching infographics to highlight Ohio’s native carnivorous plants and share what she learned in the lab. Meanwhile, Jason wove his interests into a creative horror story centered on carnivorous plants, sparking his capstone project—a collection of short horror stories that he’ll submit at the end of the school year. He also used his skills to acclimatize two types of carnivorous plants and arranged a terrarium display in the lab.

Other students such as Srividya Bade Vinod, Deshlaren O’Bryant and Reid Elliot have taken on research projects in areas like germination, growth tracking, and phytoremediation.

At CREW, the focus isn’t only on science; students receive support in all areas of their high school lives. From academic tutoring to college application guidance, we’re here to help our students succeed.

The CREW Plant Lab and Zoo Academy are incredibly proud of their students, watching them grow into budding scientists with unique skills and passions. Here’s to another 50 years of learning, exploring, and inspiring the next generation of conservation leaders!