JMZ Initiative News 
The JMZ Presents Designs for a New Facility


Sequoia, the JMZ's signature bald eagle, accompanies JMZ Executive Director John Aikin to City Council

On November 21, 2016, designs and plans for rebuilding the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo (JMZ) were presented to the Palo Alto City Council for review and comment in a study session.

John Aikin, JMZ Executive Director, believes that the JMZ is a model for how museums can deliver better informal science education. "Children approach the world like scientists - they question, investigate, and discover. For me, the most exciting thing about the new JMZ is that we have added more exhibits and animal habitats to leverage play and encourage exploration in young children."

As we near the Peery Matching Challenge deadline on January 31, 2017, the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo is urging the community to donate generously.

For more information, please review our press release.
Events
Club JMZ Member Event
Come show your love for Nature's cutest little friends 
LoveBug!


Sunday, February 12th, 10:00 a.m. - Noon
at the Palo Alto J unior Museum & Zoo

  • Discover what makes bugs so special through games and activities
  • Come dressed as a bug for a special Valentine's Day photo
  • Show your love for all the JMZ animals and write a valentine to your favorite ones
  • Food and beverages sponsored by Izzy's Brooklyn Bagels and Hobee's Palo Alto
  • And much more!

 

This event is for Club JMZ members only
Join in person or online
JMZ Up Close 
Olive
  Meet Olive, the Western Screech Owl!
  
 
Olive, the Western Screech Owl, is one of the Junior Museum & Zoo's hidden gems. She fell out of her nest as a young owlet, fracturing her left foot and rendering herself unable to survive in the wild. Olive can be seen during the Junior Museum & Zoo's animal encounters with Jackie Turner, a regular volunteer who has worked with Olive for several years. 

Olive came to the JMZ in March 2014 from the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley. She loves snacking on mealworms, grasshoppers, and crickets, but tends to be feisty around new people. Olive also enjoys calling to the male screech owls in the neighborhood, who come to visit her from time to time.

The best time to meet Olive is on Wednesday afternoons while Jackie is volunteering. Please feel free to contact us for more information, and we look forward to seeing you then! 
 

Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo
1451 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA 94301
650-326-6338
The Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoois a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and enhancing the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo. Our public/private partnership with the City of Palo Alto provides families with a creative and nurturing environment for kids to learn about science. Thank you for your continued support!
You are receiving this email because you have expressed an interest in Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo. Don't forget to add [email protected] to your address book so we'll be sure to land in your inbox!
 
In This Issue
Designs for a New Facility
Club JMZ Event: Lovebug!
Olive the Western Screech Owl
Support the JMZ Initiative 
by Jan 31st !

Prospectus Image  
 
Help build a new JMZ by supporting the JMZ Initiative's matching challenge by January 31st. 
 
Donations will be matched 1:1.5 by the  generosity of the Peery Foundation toward our  $25 million goal. The new JMZ will offer:
  • A greener building design with renewable energy
  • Improved STEM and science education programs
  • New zoo exhibits with enhanced animal care
  • Better visitor amenities and experiences
 To learn more about this project, please view the JMZ Initiative Prospectus. For more information, please contact us. 

Donor Spotlight

 
Thank you to major donors to
Annual Fundand
Science Outreach Program:  

Anonymous
Annette Bialson & Gary Shannon
Gordon & Carolyn Davidson
Lisa Leinbaugh & David Bailey
Cindy Olander & Erin Olander-Hurd
William Reller
Edwin & Karen Samuels
The Santa Rita Foundation
Stephen S. & Paula K. Smith Family Foundation
Jianming Wu & Wenchen Luo
Yellow Chair Foundation
 
Community Foundation of Western Nevada
Fredricksen Green Foundation
 
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Jake & Robin Reynolds Fund