Explore ASL
It’s the annual celebration of American Sign Language (ASL) where students experience a day of ASL discovery and learning. Get registered for a day of educational and fun events for families and educators. No cost. Explore ASL is made possible by the Iowa Department of Education and Iowa School for the Deaf Outreach. Nancy Barker, Ph.D., the first Deaf person the world to receive a doctoral degree in zoology, will be at the Blank Park Zoo to provide participants in-depth information about various animals.
Barker is a Canadian who has worked and lived in Africa for 11 years while studying large carnivores for both her master’s of zoology and doctorate degrees in conservation ecology and biological sciences. Barker is profoundly Deaf, is from a Deaf family and was raised in Toronto, Canada where her Deaf parents instilled in her a curiosity of the natural world and taught her to appreciate and value all living things. Having access to sign language from the start, and with the continued support of her family, Barker was given a foundation to experience a world where a young Deaf woman could follow her dreams to Africa to live and work with wild animals. Barker will present about her life’s experiences in the African bush, where elephants, leopards, and baboons would come to visit her camp regularly. Learn about Barker’s inspirational journey of hard work and persistence to become the world’s first Deaf zoologist!
Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: Blank Park Zoo
7401 SW 9th St, Des Moines
Tentative Schedule:
10 – 10:30 a.m.: Registration/drop kids off at the camp
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.: Keynote presentation
11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.: Lunch break/visit zoo
2 – 2:45 p.m.: Nancy at Kids Camp/service dog presentation for adults
2:45 – 3 p.m.: Break/pick up kids
3 – 4 p.m.: Animal Encounter with Nancy for everyone (both adults and children)
Events are in ASL. Interpretation from ASL into English will be available.
Registration is required and includes lunch, snacks and Kids Camp for ages 5-12. The deadline to register is Oct. 19.
Questions? Email Carly Hiser at carly.hiser@iaedb.org.
