IDS ANGELES

& November 17, 2016

ZOO Arts, Parks, and River Committeec/o Eric Villanueva, Office of the City ClerkRoom 395, City Hall Los Angeles, CA 90012"Nurturing

wildlife and enriching the human experience ” REPORT BACK REGARDING ZOO ACCESSIBILITYLos Angeles Zoo 5333 Zoo Drive Los Angeles California 90027 323/644-4200 Fax 323/662-9786 http://www.lazoo.org

This report is provided in response to a request for information at the August 1, 2016, Arts, Parks, and River Committee. At this meeting, information was requested regarding Zoo accessibility.

ZOO ACCESSIBILITYThe Zoo provides accessibility in a variety of ways to ensure that we are maximizing our reach into the community, as well as minimizing barriers to visiting the Zoo. The Zoo’s efforts in this area include school groups admission programs, the Recreation and Parks admission program, scholarship programs and outreach programs. Each of these programs is described below.

Eric Garcetti Mayor

David E. Ryu Council Member 4th District

Zoo Commissioners

School Groups Admission ProgramAll Los Angeles Unified School District Schools and Federally sponsored Head Start schools are admitted to the Zoo for free. One teacher/adult chaperone is admitted for free with every ten students. For each additional teacher/chaperone above the 1:10 ratio, the admission fee is $5.00 per person. All other public and private pre-school programs, elementary, middle and high schools is $3.00 per student with one teacher/adult chaperone admitted free with every ten students. For each additional teacher/chaperone above the 1:10 ratio, the admission fee is $5.00 per person. The Zoo also offers free admission for any adult who is a 1:1 aide for a student that has special needs and is visiting the Zoo on a school field trip. For the 2015-16 Fiscal Year, the Zoo had school group attendance as follows:

Karen B. Winnick President

Bernardo Silva Vice President

Yasmine Johnson

Tyler Kelley

Marc Mitchell

Richard Lichtenstein ex officio member

John R. Lewis Zoo Director Non-LAUSD

School Group Visits Adults Children Adults

LA USDSchool Group Visits Children

Head StartGRANDTOTAL

ProgramsChildren Adults

137,18024,194 1,032 81444,522 9,628 56,990

TOTAL 54,150 TOTAL .....81,184 TOTAL 1,846 137,180

Recreation and Parks Group Admission ProgramLos Angeles City Recreation and Parks center groups, which are funded and sponsored by the center, are allowed free admission to the Zoo. There must be a minimum of one adult per ten children. For each additional leader/chaperone above the 1:10 ratio, the admission fee is $5.00 per person. For Fiscal Year 2015-16, Recreation and Parks center attendance was 2,130 children and 353 adults.

o'.

An Equal Employment Opportunity Employer Member of the American Alliance

of MuseumsMember of the California Association of Zoos and Aquariums

Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums

Scholarship ProgramsAs a result of scholarship funds raised by the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA), the Zoo is able to offer free access to the Zoo for school groups and this also includes their bus transportation costs. This program is called the ZooPals Scholarship Program. In order to be eligible to receive the ZooPals scholarship, the school must be a Title I school serving disadvantaged students. A Title I school designation denotes that over 50% of the enrolled student population is eligible for the free lunch program. GLAZA has also secured grant funds for ZooPals scholarships for Boys and Girls Clubs in Los Angeles County. For the 2015-16 Fiscal Year, ZooPals scholarships served 5,134 children and 819 adults, and of this amount 4,950 were residents of the City of Los Angeles.

In addition to scholarships for Zoo visits, GLAZA also secured grant funds to provide scholarships for the summer Zoo Camp program offered by the Zoo’s Education Division. Zoo Camp is a week long program for children ages 4-12 who experience age-appropriate science- themed lessons, animal encounters and arts and crafts activities. Zoo Camp scholarships are awarded based on family income eligibility and serve disadvantaged children. For the 2015-16 Fiscal Year, 110 scholarships were awarded, with 68 recipients residing in the City of Los Angeles.

Outreach ProgramsThe Zoo’s outreach programs are managed and delivered by GLAZA’s docent and volunteers. The outreach program serves a variety of community locations including retirement facilities, Edelman’s Children’s Courthouse, the Braille Institute, hospitals, schools throughout Los Angeles County, and various community events. These programs involve serving people with special needs and/or who are unable to travel to the Zoo. Outreach animals and biofacts are taken into the community to give participants the opportunity to interact with and learn about animals, and also to be educated about wildlife and the role of zoos in conservation efforts. During the 2015-16 Fiscal Year, nearly 10,000 adults, children and seniors were served.

Respectfully submitted,

John R. Lewis, General Manager Zoo Department

Barbara Romero, Office of the MayorMiguel Santana, Office of the CAOSharon Tso, Office of the CLADov Lesel, Office of the City AttorneyConnie Morgan, Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association

cc: