Evaluation Report Academy for Conservation Training 2006

The Academy for Conservation Training organized a three week conservation training program for zoo educators at the Chengdu Zoo in China. The program was headed by the Zoo Atlanta Conservation Education Division. The evaluation was designed to investigate the extent to which the Academy was meeting its program goals including (1) creating a train-the-trainer opportunity for zoo educators at the Chengdu Zoo, (2) providing the Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens educators with training and tools needed to carry out effective conservation education programs, and (3) creating a professional network for zoo educators in China. The evaluation design included pre, post and retrospective pretest elements. Data collection methods included questionnaires and daily logs completed by staff and program participants. The evaluation results led to a scaled down version of the program, with changes to the depth and focus of various topics as well as the length of the program, which was shortened from three weeks to ten days.