Dung, feces, scat, waste, the classic "poop," and a new favorite, "gut garbage," are just a few ways to describe the stuff featured in Point Defiance Zoo's most recent special exhibit, "The Scoop on Poop: The Science of What Animals Leave Behind." My son, Ellis, and I decided nothing could keep us away from learning more about this giggle-inducing subject. Would there be buckets of poop? Does admission come with a shovel? We packed a lunch and made our way to the zoo, unsure of what to expect.
Based on the book, The Scoop on Poop, written by popular science writer Dr. Wayne Lynch, the exhibit is actually a series of colorful kiosks packed with photos, models of poop and "aha" inducing factoids about poop and its role in the animal kingdom. About a third of the kiosks have interactive properties: a map of the world with buttons that speak the word "poop" in different languages, a photo op where your little one can sit in a cartoon outhouse, and a fun game in which two players roll a ball of (fake!) dung to control a dung beetle's laborious climb to the top of a hill with its treasured load of feces. These kiosks were a crafty way to teach the younger ones facts while they played.
Older zoo-goers will be amazed by explanations of the previously unknown – for example, why do daisies smell so bad? Their fragrance mimics that of dung in order to attract the flies that pollinate their flowers. To prove it, the kiosk provides a picture of a bunch of daisies and a "sniff here" vent; I would recommend not sniffing.
If your young zoo-goer eventually tires of poop (poops out?), the exhibit is conveniently located on the upper floor of the North Pacific Aquarium between the tactile Marine Discovery Center and the super dreamy Seahorse exhibit. You'll definitely want to leave yourself time to explore the entire grounds of the Zoo, see the sharks, the baby tigers, the new Wolf exhibit, etc. Be sure to bring a picnic lunch, as there are several places to sit, eat, rest and enjoy the view of the water. If you forget your picnic basket, there is also a café located near the entrance across from the gift shop.
Overall, the exhibit is a great mix of fun and education, as evidenced by the "ewwww!" and "oh no!" exclamations resounding from all who checked it out. One grandmother, Tina Harris, a former camper who used to identify feces while she camped, drove all the way from Poulsbo to show her grandson the exhibit.
Was it worth the drive?
"Yes – did you see the bear poop?" Harris asked, making sure her grandson got a good look. "It's important to know bear poop when you see it in the woods!"
One of Ellis' favorite kiosks featured a microscope through which he was able to examine fecal samples in search of parasites, as well as a how-to on replicating a fecal exam at home in five steps – step one read, simply: "Find some feces."
I, as Mommy, added a sixth step: "Wash your hands."
IF YOU GO
Where: Point Defiance Zoo, located in Point Defiance Park in Tacoma
When: The zoo is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. “The Scoop on Poop” runs through Sept. 11, 2011.
Cost: “The Scoop on Poop” is included with regular admission. Non-Pierce County residents: Adults (ages 13 to 64) $15.25, seniors (ages 65 and older) $14.25, youth (ages 5 to 12) $11.75, tots (ages 3 to 4) $7.75. Pierce County residents: Adults (ages 13 to 64) $13.25, seniors (ages 65 and older) $12.25, youth (ages 5 to 12) $9.75, tots (ages 3 to 4) $5.75.
Contact: 253-591-5337; www.pdza.org.
Jenni Prange Boran is the proud mom of 4-year-old Ellis as well as a freelance writer and screenwriter in Tacoma.