Lisa Allen/staff photo
Safaa Garwish, 11, of Everett, her younger brother Laith, and Evan Baxter (rear) emerge from a slide made of a reproduction of a “strangler fig,” a tree native to South and Central America, but can also be found as far north as Florida. Safaa and Evan are “ZooKids.”

Space designed to connect youngsters with nature

Zoomazium, Woodland Park Zoo’s newest attraction, is scheduled to open Friday, May 19.

Zoomazium is a covered, non-traditional nature-oriented play area designed for kids age 8 and under. It was designed to be interactive and to enhance the zoo experience for children. Young visitors will be able to learn about an animal and its habitat in the educational exhibit area, then follow it up by going into the zoo grounds and observing the animal itself.

Frank Hein, project manager for the zoo, said the play areas of climbing trees, tunnels and rocks are designed to connect kids with the natural world.

“We created a fun habitat with the tree and ‘underwater’ cave with lots of realistic sound and lights,” he said. “Nature is rich, complex and deep. Kids can begin learning about nature here and it integrates with the rest of the zoo.”

Zoo programmers and designers, in the early stages of planning the area, enlisted the help of local kids to get their viewpoints. An essay contest was held and the top ten young essayists were picked to be official “ZooKids” (ambassadors for Zoomazium). They attended meetings once a month for nine months to help planners design the play area and displays so that the facility is kid-friendly and fun. The ZooKid program is the first of its kind in the nation.

Besides offering fun climbing areas and tunnels, a more complex experience is available, called the Nature Exchange, where kids can trade their observations for prizes.

“Discovery Zones” include a mountain, forest, grassland, toddler zone, stage and the Nature Exchange. Different activities are planned for year-round.

The new area will also give youngsters and their parents a warm, dry place to go to enjoy the zoo during the winter months.

Zoo officials say recent research has shown that children derive benefit from interacting with the natural world and that the more time children spend with nature enhances their health and well being and aids in academic success.

The $9.4 million attraction was paid for by corporate and private donors. Mayor Greg Nickels and King County Executive Ron Sims will be special guests at the May 19th 10 a.m. grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Zoomazium is free with zoo admission and is located just inside the west entrance. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from March 15 to Oct. 14 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 15 to March 14.