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As the dedicated fundraising partner of the Toronto Zoo, one of our main areas of focus is education and community. Through hands-on learning experiences and meaningful community engagement, the Toronto Zoo inspires people of all ages to connect with nature—sparking curiosity, encouraging collaboration, and empowering action to protect wildlife and biodiversity.

The Zoo’s educational programs are designed not only to deepen understanding of the natural world, but also to nurture social-emotional well-being. By connecting with nature and working alongside peers, scientists, and educators at the NEW Toronto Zoo Community Conservation Centre, youth will gain valuable critical thinking skills, build self-confidence, and develop lifelong tools that support both personal growth and future career success.

The impact of these experiences can last a lifetime. Jacob Gerard, a wildlife biologist and former Toronto Zoo camper and Zoomobile driver, recently shared how his early connection to wildlife at the Zoo inspired his career path and gave him the confidence to pursue his dreams.

The Toronto Zoo – My Second Home

by guest author Jacob Gerard, Wildlife Biologist

There are few places that have impacted my development both as a conservationist and as an individual as much as the Toronto Zoo has. To me, the Toronto Zoo has always felt like home. From going to Zoo Camp each summer to riding the Zoomobile, I always felt in awe of the wildlife and learning opportunities at the Zoo. When people ask me what drove me to pursue conservation as a career, I often credit all the time that I spent at the Zoo learning about wildlife. As a kid, I vividly remember telling my parents that I wanted to be a Zoomobile commentator when I grew up. Little did I know that I would one day achieve that goal, and it would be the starting point of a fantastic and exciting career in wildlife conservation.

Being a Zoomobile commentator in the summer of 2021 was the first step in realizing that I could achieve my goals of becoming a wildlife biologist. I loved interacting with guests and educating visitors on the Toronto Zoo’s local and global conservation programs. Working at the Zoo gave me the courage and experience to pursue working in wildlife research, education and advocacy across Canada. Since my time at the Zoo, I’ve been involved in a variety of different experiences, including wildlife research, education, advocacy, monitoring, tourism, and international relations. I’ve tracked eastern whip-poor-wills in Ontario, surveyed wildfire sites in Alberta and the Northwest Territories, and counted belugas by plane in northern Manitoba. I love spending time in nature and learning how to contribute to hands-on conservation programs.

Spending so much time at the Zoo taught me that you can make a difference in conservation through multiple paths, including research, animal care, outreach and education. I like to make an impact in as many ways as I can to protect our ecosystems and the wildlife that live within them. In addition to my research experience, I run a non-profit project where I donate wetland wildlife education kits to schools and non-profits in Ontario (some of which can be found at the Toronto Zoo’s Nature School!). I’ve also interned with National Geographic to create community-based science communication content about polar bears and belugas in Churchill, Manitoba.

If there’s any message that I could tell other young people, it’s that you can make an impact in your communities. All you have to do is find a local topic that your passionate about and use it to protect your ecosystems. If you keep working at it, you’ll never know where it might lead you. Even the smallest-seeming projects can make big changes! There’s no “right” way to get to where you want to be. Just keep doing what you enjoy and use that to protect wildlife. You’ll learn so many new skills and meet many amazing people who are interested in the same things that you are.

I cannot put into words how much the Toronto Zoo means to me, and to many others like me who grew up loving nature. I am forever grateful to the dedicated staff that taught me about animals as a child, and those who helped me grow while working on the Zoomobile. From meeting Zookeepers to learning from Zoo Camp staff, everyone that I met and interacted with at the Toronto Zoo has helped me along the way. The Toronto Zoo has always felt like home to me. So far, it’s helping me become the person that would make 10-year-old Jacob proud.