It wasn't just the actual lynx animals at the Minnesota Zoo Thursday afternoon ... The pro basketball version was in the house as well as several Lynx players joined kids from the Minneapolis Hospitality House for a fun-filled excursion.
Indeed, children between the ages of five and nine joined six Lynx players for a behind-the-scenes tour of the MN Zoo, taking in a slew of interesting animals and exhibits before completing the day with the Zoo's Lynx exhibit and prizes from the players.
The Hospitality House kids split into two groups - teams, if you will - with group A being led by tour guide Melanie Sorenson with Lindsey Harding, Vanessa Hayden-Johnson and Kristin Rasmussen. Group B, led by the Zoo's Dawn Devens, featured Charde Houston, Nicky Anosike and Navonda Moore.
"We like to take one field trip a week just to get the kids out to enjoy different things," said Hospitality House employee Anthony McCoy during the tour. "The kids are really enjoying themselves, and like the special attention they're getting with a private tour. Plus, being behind the scenes is great."
In being behind normally closed doors, the kids learned a few interesting things many zoo-goers might not know. As Sorenson explained, the Zoo often has a few extra animals in holding pens of sort to be rotated with animals on display in case of sickness or fatigue. Among other things, the kids saw where Zoo staffers prepared food for the animals, including a nasty mix of worms and ... stuff.
"Yuck," explained Hayden-Johnson. "Nasty."
And, while at the Zoo, we thought it important to see what the players and others liked most and least:
Favorite Animal:
Harding: Cheetah
Hayden-Johnson: Dolphin
Rasmussen: Panda
McCoy: Tiger
Radio Producer John Focke: Dog, Bear
I hate this animal:
Harding: Snake
Hayden-Johnson: Anything small and furry
Rasmussen: Anaconda
McCoy: Tapir
Radio Producer John Focke: Snake, rat
The tour included a Q&A session with the kids and players, and the kids were provided with several prizes and gifts such as Lynx backpacks, stickers and more.
