The Zoo Comes to the Clubhouse!

What happens when a gopher tortoise, a sand boa, and an opossum walk into a gym? About 60 kids at the Ambler Boys & Girls Club found out last week.

The Elmwood Park Zoo brought its Zoo-On-Wheels program to the club, turning the fieldhouse floor into a pop-up animal habitat. Ren, an educator from the zoo, introduced three special guests and talked with the kids about how each one lives, eats, and survives in the wild.

Sandy the gopher tortoise set the pace with a slow, steady stroll across a patch of artificial grass. Gopher tortoises are known for digging long burrows that dozens of other animals use for shelter, which makes them a big deal in their home ecosystem.

Ka the Kenyan sand boa was next. This small, burrowing snake spends much of its life hidden under the sand, waiting for a meal to wander by. Some kids leaned in for a closer look. A few leaned back — especially the adults!

Marigold the opossum rounded out the visit. As North America's only marsupial, the opossum has plenty of surprises, and Marigold made a strong case that these animals deserve a much better reputation.

The best part of the afternoon was seeing the wide eyes, big grins, and hearing more questions than Ren could answer in one visit. Zoo-On-Wheels brings live animals to schools, clubs, libraries, and community spaces so kids can experience science up close, and you could see that spark at work.

The Boys & Girls Club gives kids in Ambler a safe, welcoming place to learn, play, and grow, and afternoons like this one are a big part of what makes it special. We're proud to support the club and the kids who fill it with so much energy.

Thank you to Ren and the Elmwood Park Zoo for bringing the wild to Ambler, and to the Boys & Girls Club for opening its doors to experiences like this one.