Your Culinary Questions Answered!

Happy Earth Month!

Earth Day Green Crafts - Toothbrush Bracelets

Turn your toothbrush into a unique recycled bracelet and watch your kids start a new fashion craze for Earth Day!

What you'll need:

·        Old toothbrush

·        Tweezers or pliers

·        Pot

·        Tongs

·        Large mug

·        Oven gloves

How to make it:

1.      Remove all the bristles from the toothbrush with tweezers or pliers.

2.      Boil water.

3.      Keep water boiling, put toothbrush in water for five minutes.

4.      Remove toothbrush with tongs, bend to desired shape.

5.      If toothbrush doesn't bend enough, submerge again in water.

6.      Remove brush and bend as much as possible.

7.      Place bent toothbrush in bottom of mug to hold its shape while it cools.

8.      Pour cold water in mug and remove your new bracelet.

Tips:

1.      This craft requires fishing the hot toothbrushes out of boiling water and bending them while they are still hot. Be sure to use a simple toothbrush for this, it seems the fancier, and more high tech the toothbrush the stronger, and more difficult to bend. We had luck with the classic REACH toothbrushes.

For more green craft ideas visit: http://crafts.kaboose.com

We Love Our Volunteers!

Do you ever wonder how we clean, feed and care for hundreds of animals everyday? It is not magic, it is our volunteers!

April is the time of year when we reflect upon the amazing impact our volunteers have had on the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo! Our Docents are over a hundred strong and help shape our education programs. We have fifty adult volunteers who lend a hand anywhere they are needed. This can range from animal care and cleaning, horticulture, education and administrative work. We have large groups of students, military personnel and adults who come in for a day and take on large projects and assist with special event operations. Summer is around the corner and you will soon be seeing teens on zoo grounds helping animal keepers and educating the public. It takes many helping hands to make the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo run smoothly!

We are currently looking for groups to come and volunteer at this year's Run to the Shrine on May 19th. This is one of the zoo’s largest fundraising events of the year. Receive a Run to the Shrine t-shirt when you volunteer.

Do you want to be a part of the volunteer family? More information: http://cmzoo.org/getInvolved/volunteer/

Rocky Mountain Wild Questions Answered

The Hidden World of African Rift Valley

Ever wonder what lives beneath the giraffe barn in African Rift Valley? Or perhaps you didn’t realize there is a lower level to the building? Most people do not realize there is another world of animals that call African Rift Valley home, and these animals are not always visible to guests. From mischievous hornbills, to curious tortoises, to large African millipedes, we are going to introduce you to some unique animals with personalities as large as a giraffe.

Next time we will introduce you to some birds with huge bills and a knack for getting into trouble!