Goodbye, Sun

This is the time of year we start to worry about seasonal depression. A lack of sunlight can cause us lethargy and sadness. But did you know that animals also feel the effects of lacking sunlight?

If you've been following The Drawing Zoo on our Instagram or Facebook, you've probably notice that we house many of our animals outside in the summer. Or you may be familiar with the image of lizards, snakes or turtles basking on a rock in the sun. For diurnal animals, (animals that are awake in the day), the rays from the sun don't only keep them warm, but are necessary for them to digest their food and absorb the Vitamin D which allows them to digest their food, and specifically absorb calcium. When we keep animals out of their natural environment, it our responsibility to mimic the elements as best we can. This includes UVB rays.

This is the time of year we've moved the animals inside because the temperature is not warm enough for the animals to keep healthy. "Then how do they get their UVB rays?" you may ask. We buy ZooMed UVB spectrum bulbs! Although they can't replace the sun, these bulbs supplement the animals' UVB needs during the colder months. In fact, I just changed all our bulbs this week. Buyer beware- even if the light still works, these bulbs fail to emit the necessary rays for more than 6-12 months. Since our animals spend half their time in the sun (and therefore, not using the bulbs) I feel comfortable changing my bulbs every Fall.

 

The concequences of failing to provide proper lighting are very grim. The most common result is Metobolic Bone Disease. A lizard with MBD can have a malformed jaw, legs, a kink in their spine. While turtles and tortoises will grow deformed shells and beaks.

Please note, that keeping animals like ours is an ever developing art. As veterinarians and zoologists learn more about these animals, and captive methods evolve, it is also my responsibility to keep up. This information I'm sharing right now will likely be improved upon in the near future!

-Brittany Roger

Sources: http://greenigsociety.org/heatlighthumidity.htm

Why The Drawing Zoo?

For those who wonder "How did such a business begin?" and "Why would I try something so new?"

All roads led me here.

Since I was 5 years old, I could wield pencils and paints. I’m lucky that my proud parents saw my passion and embellished me with art lessons. And one day at age 6, I came home with a big black rat snake. I found it in our creek, picked it up and allowed it to drape around my shoulders. And a fire was ignited inside me. From that moment on, I’ve been able to love, understand and draw beings that make most people recoil. Thank goodness, my parents saw my passion and supported it.

When I was in college, I was volunteering at Baltimore’s then exotic animal rescue. At the time I was also illustrating, photographing and cataloging plants and animals for the Smithsonian. A dream come true. I wanted to go back in time and high-five 6-year-old me.

Prepping a Coral Snake specimen for photography.

Bathing and drying an Albino Burmese Python at Charm City Reptile Rescue.

After a 14-hour shift waiting tables, I came home and greeted my darling rescue iguana. It was late and I was supposed to be creating a thesis paper for a grad school. But all I wanted to do was love on him and paint him. And why not? That’s what I’m good at. Art, natural science and loving the unlovable. Shortly after, I got a request from an old professor at MICA. She was teaching Nature Drawing and remembered the girl with the odd rescue pets. She asked if I’d be willing to bring them in one day to model. And the light bulb lit up over my head! I had my thesis.

Pierce, the Iguana, was my first, most severe rescue and most popular model. 

Graduation from MICA' Masters of Business of Art & Design

I tested my service throughout 2012 and incorporated The Drawing Zoo in February 2013. The service has been evolving fast. What started out at a resource for college art students has turned into a forward thinking arts integration service that meets Common Core requirements in elementary school arts and science. 

Refinement.
While building my brand, I secured a job teaching at The Legacy School. My learning curve was steep, as I was responsible for lesson planning, the supply closet, the syllabus and of course-classroom management. I enjoyed this huge experience for two and a half years. I had the pleasure of teaching art in Fall, Spring and Summer and learned to accommodate students with all kinds of learning differences and needs.
Immediately after gave my tearful "good-bye" to the Legacy community, I participated in "Artists as Educators" seminar from The Kennedy Center. I learned the mission, applications and methods of teaching Arts Integration. It was a validating experience- as The Drawing Zoo naturally met every criteria with gold stars!
My experience at with The Kennedy Center and recent friendship with Young Audiences fueled my enthusiasm for taking the Teaching Artist Institute Seminar and Training. Through this experience, I test and revise my current lessons to ensure that on top of having an inspiring experience, the students will be able to self assess, reflect and retain the information.

As the person responsible for The Drawing Zoo, I am constantly in a state of refinement and thinking ahead.
Lesson planning is a big part of my "behind the scenes" job. When a teacher is interested in booking a visit, I like to communicate what my procedures and plans are to ensure they and their students are getting the most value out of our time together!

In addition to "freelancing" our services, The Drawing Zoo has an awesome partnership with Arts Everyday.  Our programs meet Common Core Science Standards and Fine Arts Standards. Our program options are evolving even fast!

Students learn how snakes move by building their own model.

We are developing programs that can help kids retain their math requirements, literature standards and are even piloting a program with FutureMakers that teaches kids about mechanics and animal locomotion.
Keep an eye on our Facebook and website to be the first to book these innovative learning experiences.

-Brittany Roger