keeper kids melbourne zoo
Melbourne, VIC, Australia
2015
Set amongst live exhibits, Keeper Kids invites children to learn all about caring for animals in the zoo. Children wear a costume – perhaps a vet’s coat, reflective jacket or a keeper’s uniform – then off they go filling water bowls and food troughs, listening to the sick animals through stethoscopes and sawing up fallen logs. All in the safety of a purposely designed internal playspace. Another great example of playful learning.
Zoos have long been exciting places for children to visit. With this in mind Melbourne Zoo has been redefining several of its offerings to create specific early childhood attractive exhibits and interactives. Keeper Kids is the first in this offering and designed by Arterial. Excited youngsters can now explore the work of Zoo staff through play, role play and problem solving and all while using simulated equipment, toys and costumes.
As zoo keepers children prepare meals for different animals according to diet. As vets they inspect animal X-rays, check heart rates, perform operations and finally bandage and care for their animal toys. As researchers, children weigh and measure animals, and as horticulturists they cut up logs, compost and get creative by planting a garden bed.
Keeper Kids also includes live exhibits and most recently the space was updated to include a ‘works’ department.
