Zoo InternQuest is a seven-week career exploration program for San Diego County high school juniors and seniors. Students have the unique opportunity to meet professionals working for the San Diego Zoo, Safari Park, and Institute for Conservation Research, learn about their jobs, and then blog about their experience online. Follow their adventures here on the Zoo’s website! From the White’s tree frog native to Australia to various lizards right here San Diego, reptiles make up one of the most diverse animal families. Mr. Gilson, an Educator and Reptile Keeper at the San Diego Zoo, handles and works with reptiles and amphibians on a daily basis. Now let’s meet these scaly friends! What do reptiles eat? As mentioned the reptile family includes animals ranging from carnivorous alligators to herbivorous Galapagos tortoises who eat kale, dandelion greens, and other fruits and veggies. Is it true a Galapagos tortoise can live to be 100? Absolutely! On average they will live about 100 in the wild, and in captivity they have proven to live almost double that length. From amphibians like the poisonous dart frog to reptiles such as a skink, you can find over 1,400 reptiles at the Zoo. Wow! The Zoo is even home to the second deadliest dart frog species, but get this, in the Zoo they are harmless. How can that be you ask? The poison comes from toxins in the ants that they eat in South America. Here, at the Zoo, their diet keeps them harmless. What does the Zoo do to help reptile and amphibian species around the globe? The San Diego Zoo works effortlessly to help endangered reptiles around the globe. In Southern California, scientists have been working to understand and eliminate the threat of chytrid fungus. A specific strain of this fungus can eat away at the skin of amphibians. To help, the Zoo studies this fungus and other viruses to come up with an effective way to treat amphibians right here in San Diego and across the globe. What can we do to help reptiles and amphibians? Right here in San Diego, we are home to many incredible reptiles. Something everyone can do on a daily basis is pick up litter, which can often end up in streams and create highly polluted waters. Additionally, limit pesticides use in your backyard, certain chemicals can have negatives effects on reptiles such as the lizards you may often see scurrying across the grass. Lesson: Making frog life cycle and educational posters! Objectives: Children will follow along and learn about the development of a frog while learning about both the risks they face, and creating posters to educate the community. In addition, they will be critically thinking of ways to help frogs in the wild. What will the posters do? The posters will first and foremost have a drawing of the development of a frog. From egg to frog, each stage will be depicted and labeled. Then, a suggestion of ways people can help wild frogs will be added! Materials:

• White poster paper
• Green construction paper
• Black and green marker
• Frog cut out
• Googly eyes
• Glue stick
• Scissors

Directions

1. With the green construction paper, cut a lily pad shape (a circle with a small indent on any given side). Glue this to the top of the white construction paper.
2. Next, using the black marker, draw a group of circles at the top of the lily pad and title this “eggs”.
3. Then, draw a small oval with a tail on the right side and title this “tadpole”. Draw an arrow from eggs to tadpole.
4. Using the green marker draw another tadpole shaped animal but add legs. Label this “froglet” and draw an arrow from tadpole to froglet.
5. Finally glue the frog cut out on the left side and add the googly eyes. Label it “frog” and draw an arrow from froglet frog and from frog to eggs.
6. Add a suggestion on how to help out frogs everyday! A good example being “don't use pesticides on your backyard” or “pick up litter”. Be creative!
7. Be sure to recycle any paper scraps!

Avalon, Kid’s Corner Week One, Winter Session 2017