The King Conservation Leadership Academy (KCLA or King Academy) is a programmatic suite of free, nature- and conservation-minded, outside-of-school time, S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) learning opportunities for children, families, teenagers, and adults. The King Academy is part of the programmatic offerings from the Education and Community Engagement (ECE) department of Brookfield Zoo Chicago (BZC).
All KCLA programs welcome participation in nature-based learning that cultivates contemporary leadership skills based in conservation mindfulness and awareness as participants connect to the environment, our communities, and each other.
This is done by creating learning experiences that support individuals in:
• Developing interest in environmental science and conservation;
• Understanding environmental science and conservation knowledge;
• Engaging in scientific reasoning related to environmental science and conservation;
• Reflecting on their own process of learning about environmental science and conservation;
• Engaging in scientific practices used in environmental science and conservation;
• and Identifying as a member of the global pro-environmental community by contributing to environmental science and conservation action in our programs and in their everyday lives.
KCLA programs are informed by various developmental frameworks, educational and interpretive philosophies, learning standards applied through interdisciplinary approaches, and community input.
Currently, the KCLA-CE team's work takes place primarily within the central region of Cook County with estimated boundaries of: North Avenue to the north, Lake Michigan on the east, 71st street on the south, and I-294 to the west.
All KCLA Community Engagement (KCLA-CE) programs are made possible, in part, with support from: King Family Foundation, Anonymous, Bank of America Charitable Foundation, BNSF Railway Foundation, FedEx, the Julius N. Frankel Foundation, Kevin M. Keeley, the Edmond and Alice Opler Foundation, Peoples Gas Community Fund, the Schmidgall Family Foundation, the Dr. Scholl Foundation, State Farm®, Union Pacific Foundation, and Wintrust Financial Corporation.
Zoo Adventure Passport! (ZAP!) specific supporters from the above list include: Anonymous, Kevin M. Keeley, and the Schmidgall Family Foundation.
King Conservation Science Explorers (King Explorers or KCSE) specific supporters from the above list include: Bank of America Charitable Foundation.
©2024 Brookfield Zoo Chicago is a private nonprofit organization operated by the Chicago Zoological Society on land owned by the Forest Preserves of Cook County.