June’s Featured Members – The Hill Family
We love our Members. Their incredible support allows us to make a difference to animals both locally and all over the world. This month, we’re spotlighting Zoo Members that deserve recognition. We’re thrilled to introduce you to June’s Featured Members: the Hill family.
We asked the Hill’s what being Zoo Members meant to their family. Here’s what they had to say. “I didn’t even know I could have so much fun at a zoo!” My 5 year old niece proclaimed this after a morning spent with our out-of-town family at the Houston Zoo. I’m proud of my city and I love showing it off to my friends and family when they visit from out of town. And no trip is complete without a day at the Houston Zoo!
Becoming members was a no-brainer for us: my sons would spend every waking hour there if we let them! The zoo has been a constant for my four year-old, Bradley, since our first play date there— when he was three months old! Even at that young age we saw the zoo as a place where he could learn and experience new sights, sounds and smells.
As he began to walk, the zoo was a safe place where we could allow him to “lead the way”. We would bounce between the various exhibits and point to the different animals. He loved pressing the buttons placed around the zoo that play animal noises!
The day before our second child, Brenham, was born we knew we wanted to do something special with just Big Brother. A family trip to the zoo was just the right thing! I waddled along behind him and we found gifts for Little Brother in the gift shop. When out-of-town family came to meet our new baby? Well you’d better believe they also took Bradley to the zoo (twice!) before they left town!
As our family continues to grow (now three sons: 4, 2, almost 1) the zoo provides us with more and more educational entertainment. We absolutely love the member mornings when we can beat the crowds (and the heat!) and see zookeepers feeding and caring for the animals. The Swap Shop has opened new ways of exploring our environment and Bradley proudly brings his treasures in to swap and share. Our Houston Zoo is set up in such a wonderful way that my kids can learn through play as they slide like otters, pop-up in the middle of the mongoose habitat or crawl through the fish aquarium.
We love our Houston Zoo and love being members. So, really, it came as no surprise when our niece proclaimed her new-found love for animals after her visit there with us. We are so thankful for the team of keepers, vets, staff and volunteers who keep the Houston Zoo a fun, safe, clean and educational place to bring our children and family. And we’ll continue to visit, with Texas-sized pride, for years to come!”
From all of us here at the Houston Zoo, we want to say thank you to all of our Zoo Members. As a Houston Zoo Member, your support truly makes an impact on the growth of our Zoo and conservation efforts. THANKS!
