Hannah Cannon
Texas Christian University Environmental Science, HARE
With our Zoo Teen program, your teen will embark on a transformative journey the at the Abilene Zoo. This is a dynamic program designed to foster leadership, conservation knowledge, and personal growth. They will experience an enriching and well-rounded adventure that begins with animal care and husbandry as a Zoo Camp Counselor Tier 1 during the summer months and expanding with our tiered training program. Mentorship from Ambassador Keepers, Education, Development, and Zookeepers teams year-round will help develop your teens confidence.
 Spots for Zoo teens are limited. Teens must be 14 years old by June 3rd, 2024 to apply to the Zoo Teen program. The last day that applications will be accepted is April 12th at 5 pm. To Complete the Application process, apply at the link below and send  2 Letters of Recommendation (LOR) (Send LOR’s to zoo.education@abilenetx.gov
Program fees due by May 3rd. Acceptance Notification will be emailed April 19th.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at 325-676-6487 or zoo.education@abilenetx.gov
My name is Hannah Cannon, and I’m currently a student at Texas Christian University studying Environmental Science with a minor in Human-Animal Relationships. I got on this track after my six years at the Abilene Zoo with the Zoo Teens program. The program was probably the number one deciding factor in what I wanted to do with my life. Not only did it help me with that, but it also helped me with getting into the school of my dreams.
Zoo Teens is more than just something to do with your summer, as I first thought it was going to be, when I was thirteen. I made an impact in others’ lives, I made friends that I am still in contact with today, having not seen them in years, and I have made an impact on this earth. Zoo Teens allows you to not only learn about this the animals on this beautiful planet, but also to help make a difference, you get to teach the youth, the future of this world, all about the animals and how they can help – and they really care!
The kids at camp love coming, and seeing all the different animals that YOU get to handle, they love touching them, and they love learning about them. They ask questions, and remember what you tell them. The kids that come back camp after camp are proof of that. Zoo Teens gave me a chance to have more than just the typical summer year after year, it gave me the opportunity to make a difference, and figure out where I wanted to be, and what I wanted to do, not just each summer but for the rest of my life.
