Las Vegas elementary school hosts the only zoo in the Clark County School District
Mabel Hoggard’s animal and agriculture program gives students hands-on learning alongside a full academic curriculum
LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — As students return to school for the first week of the new year, Mabel Hoggard Elementary School is preparing something most campuses don’t have: a zoo.
The school’s Farm & Nursery Manager, Michael Dancel, oversees the animals and has 18 years of experience working with exotic animals in Las Vegas. He is known at the school as The Zookeeper.
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‘A Squared’ program ties animals to the classroom
Mabel Hoggard offers one extracurricular beyond the full Clark County School District curriculum. The program, called A Squared, centers on animal and agriculture education.
Principal Melissa Giannantonio said the program gives students direct access to the animals and to Dancel’s expertise.
“So when they do their animal and agriculture special, they get to come in this room and participate in helping Mr. Michael care for the animals, feed the animals, learn about the animals,” Giannantonio said. “This zoo at this school gives children a college and career exposure that is so unique.”
Dancel said the zoo fills a gap left by the decline of exotic animal attractions in Las Vegas.
“When you think of Vegas, you think of the exotic animals, tigers and everything like that. But slowly, you know, a lot of it has gone,” Dancel said. “A lot of these kids won’t have the opportunity anymore to see these kind of animals.”
Students say the experience goes beyond the classroom
Fifth grader Arthur Phelps said the hands-on environment changes how he learns.
“It feels so much better than reading about it on an article,” Phelps said. “You literally, you can watch them, you can see their movements, you can see how they eat and how they sleep and live.”
Dancel said the lessons students take from caring for animals extend beyond the zoo.
“My quality of work is their quality of life,” Dancel said. “Do the best you can at everything you do. So, and it just, it plays throughout life.”
Giannantonio said the school is working on a concept to open the zoo to other CCSD schools in the future.
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