Carol Lebiedzinski was born and raised in Syracuse, attended Sacred Heart Academy and then received her BS and MS in Science Education from the State University of New York at Oswego, NY. Carol’s student teaching experience was at Rome Free Academy followed by a 34 year teaching career with the Chittenango Central School District where she taught science to students in grades 7 through 10.
These years of teaching included many field trips that included the Museum of Science and Technology (MOST), Rosamond Gifford Zoo and Green Lakes State Park. These experiences provided students with many new and varied learning opportunities that enhanced the classroom experience. Carol was also union president for the Chittenango Teachers’ Association for 14 years.
Carol loves to travel and during the summer months would take trips that enhanced her teaching/learning experience. These trips were a win-win for both student and teacher and included adventures in Hawaii, Europe, Canada and through the United States and Alaska. In Newfoundland, Canada, there was a volunteering experience to work with the Canadian Fisheries Service that involved freeing whales that got caught in fishing nets.
This experience lead to many trips with students to Cape Cod to go on whale watching weekends sponsored by the Girl Scouts. Carol said, “It is amazing how one experience can lead to a lifelong passion to educate others to conserve marine life, especially whales!”
Carol retired from teaching in 2005 but wanted to use her background in science and stay in touch with the public, so she decided to contact the Rosamond Gifford Zoo and complete the volunteer training class, then selecting the Zoo to You program as her focus. Zoo to You is a traveling, inquiry based education program that goes to schools, libraries, community centers, senior centers and hospitals to name a few locations.
Ellen Vaughn, the Zoo’s Volunteer Service Manager, introduced Carol to this program which included learning to be an animal handler to assist the zoo staff person. Vaughn said; “The program’s goal is to increase environmental consciousness, promote conservation and educate by bringing zoo staff to offsite locations with special ‘outreach’ animals. The reaction of people to seeing these animals ‘up close and personal’ is priceless!”
“Volunteers at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, like Carol Lebiedzinski, provide us with the foundation to inspire, excite and educate our guests, and to encourage everyone to care about worldwide conservation. Volunteers provide assistance with education programs at the zoo and as part of off-site, community-based learning. When you visit the zoo, our volunteers greet you when you arrive and help provide teachable moments to further enhance everyone’s zoo experience,” Vaughn added.
The Zoo to You program was Carol’s favorite for the last nine years, completing several programs each week with different zoo staff persons over the years. It was a wonderful experience that included volunteering when the program went to the Golisano Children’s Hospital and the county’s summer reading programs at the libraries. Carol is now volunteering in community based programs like the Tadpole Academy. This is a program for pre-school age children to learn about animals through storytelling, hands-on activities and bringing an animal into the classroom. “It is like a Zoo to You for 4-year-olds and I love it,” Carol said.
The first zoo in Syracuse opened in 1914 and was the Burnet Park Zoo, but for a variety of reasons, the zoo declined and was eventually taken over by the Onondaga County Parks Department. A complete renovation of the zoo began in 1983, following a two million dollar endowment by the Gifford Charity Corporation, to be renamed and re-opened as the Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park.
Along with the County, the zoo relies on the philanthropy of the community, businesses and individuals to sustain itself. One such fundraiser is Brew at the Zoo, which celebrated its 20th anniversary. Each year tickets are sold for an evening at the zoo — tasting a variety of beers, wines, food and entertainment.
Carol tries to volunteer at this event each year and often pours beer after taking a class to be a ‘bartender’ for the night. “It is a great community event and fundraiser,” said Carol.
Whenever Carol travels, she makes it a point to visit the local zoo in the area. Carol has found the Rosamond Gifford Zoo to be one of the best in diversity, public accessibility and friendliness. When asked about the zoo in the winter, Carol said that many of the animals are adapted for the cold weather. She said, “Several winters ago, on a very cold day in February, the tigers were frolicking in the snow! It was so much fun to watch and winter is a great time to come to the zoo!”
Jamie Alvarez, Director of Public Relations at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo, said, “Carol has been a volunteer at the zoo since 2006, and regularly works with the outreach program and as a zoo ambassador out in the community educating the public about the zoo and the animals under our care.”
Carol Lebiedzinski loves to read, garden and learn. She enjoys spending time with her two dogs and two cats when at home in Fayetteville. Carol has one sister who retired from the Syracuse City schools.
Carol loves bringing her family and friends to the zoo, sharing with them the wonder of animals. Teaching is in the family.
One last thought from Carol for the readers of this column: “The zoo is a wonderful place to visit, whether you are in a group or alone; it’s always an interesting place to visit with an opportunity to learn something new each time! Volunteering is a great and it is always nice to give back to one’s community!”
For more information about volunteering at the zoo, please visit rosamondgiffordzoo.org/volunteer.
To recommend someone with a stellar record of volunteering to be featured in this column contact Mel Rubenstein: [email protected] or 682-7162.
