Archer Daniels Midland Company recently donated $3,400 to Rolling Hills Zoo.  The donation helps support the Zoo’s the summer camp program where 150 students enjoyed hands on activities and close encounters with educational animals while developing a passion for wildlife and wildlife conservation.

“Rolling Hills Zoo’s Education Department is dedicated to providing fun and interactive educational experiences,” shared Amy Barnhill, Director of Education.  “This year the Zoo was able to offer five week long summer camps and three week day camps.  We appreciate the financial support we received from ADM Cares which helped us create quality programing for the youth of this area.”

During the summer camp, campers enjoyed nature unplugged by learning about a variety of species and native animals habitats that are in their own back yard. They explored new and creative ways to be outside and discovered ways they could help our local community through conservation efforts.  Campers built bat houses and toad abodes, fed the giraffes and road the trams to meet a live animal on a daily basis.

While camp is designed to inspire a passion for animals and conservation locally and worldwide, the bigger impact is to ignite passion for our environment.  To encourage them to recycle and don’t litter, and to take charge and make an environmental difference in their community.

Funds provided by ADM Cares were used for supplies, two snacks daily for camper; paint materials, bat houses, toad abodes, interactive games and teaching resources.  The donations were given through ADM Cares.  ADM Cares is a social investment program that directs funds to initiatives and organizations that drive meaningful social, economic and environmental progress worldwide.  The program comprises three distinct focus areas: supporting the responsible development of agriculture, improving the quality of life in ADM communities and fostering employee giving and volunteer activities.