Post edited 7:01 am – October 4, 2011 by Kurst Hyperyote

Update X3 on the bottom of the message

Hello,

For those that do not know the Como Zoo (our 100+ year old local zoo) has a major funding effort in October that helps support their Zoo throughout the zoo.  This is a path the kids walk and greeted by non scary characters and get treats ranging from coloring books to candy to  some granola stuff that I would normally give to my dog after trick and treating.  Como Zoo for Zoo Boo has about 200+ themed costumed characters the majority of them made by the zoo itself that uses to entertain the children.  Last Year's Zoo Boo Ad On You Tube.

It takes about 500-600 volunteers to make this happen they do everything from check in to handing out candy.  But the big major of people they need is people willing to dress up in costumes to have their pictures taken and entertain adults and children.

They currently have the events pencilled in at October 22, 23, and 28-30 this is the latest I have seen Zoo Boo scheduled in the past 3 years.  I am trying to get my contact at Como Zoo to validate the dates but I haven't got a response lately.

In the past – Some of the local furs and I have done the event in the past and I got to say it's a wonderful but grueling experience.  Imagine coming there around 3:30 – 4:00 donning your or their own suit and then for the next 4 hours stand at a station that represents you.  For that a large part it is like non stop surrounded by children and adults posing and getting 100s of pictures taken of you. I can't tell you how rewarding it is to see the total of thousands of people who went by you.

Why do I mention it now?  Well in the past the people in the group signed up individually because we didn't have enough people to cover all the days to get our own special assign area.  While it's still fun and rewarding to do it as individual wouldn't it be fun to do it as a group?

What I want people to think about is

A) Does this event sound like something would you like to do?

B) Would this be an event you are willing to commit to?  

C) And if so how many days?

If there is enough commitment and support we can request our own area that we customize with our own theme that is approved by the zoo.  But more importantly if we do this as a team we can make sure our group stays together and have fun together.

Again this is Como Zoo's most visible and their best fund raising activity.  This is also their 25th Anniversary this is going to be cranked up to be their biggest and hopefully best one yet.

Update x3

To register go to the main ZooBoo page.  From there click on the registration link.  We have a large number of people going to the Oct 5th  - 7:15 orientation but…. they have closed that day down.  Please choose an orientation that will work well with you and if you want to still do the 5th 7:15 register picking a backup date that still would work for you then ask if you can still do the 5th at 7:15. 

Also there is a few people doing the 10th @ 7:15 and finally at 17th @ 6pm.  If either those days work and would like to be around other members please sign up for those dates.

Once you specify a date then you can specify if you have a costume and other details.  They closed the date Sat 22nd for custom costumes but other dates are available directly (You can still ask nicely at orientation or through email if you want).  If you are trying to choose a date or two you may want to choose 23rd (or 22nd) right now because we are a little light on volunteers from our group for those days.

When you do sign up set up the group name to be MNFurs and send a PM/email/im with your real email to me. I want to keep the members here together if possible.  And contacting me and putting the MNFurs name as the group will make it more likely it happens.  It's just more fun with being together.

For what days to volunteer that is up to you – We have people volunteering for just one day and people volunteering for all 5.  Again as much as you want to do.

Again – after you register drop me a line privately with your name so that I can help keep our group together at Como Zoo.

Again this is a volenteer activity to help out Como Zoo not a main outing for the group.  

If you have any questions please ask.

Happenstance said:

I did this last year and it was a blast. Definitely signing up again this time. I did 4 days before, so I don't see why I can't do that again.

But yes, it can get pretty hectic. Basically 4 hours with no breaks, though the weather is thankfully cool.

You did a great job there. It was fun to perform with you there.

Bumping the discussion – it's going to be coming up soon and again I would like to get an idea what people want to be doing for time.

This is one of the biggest fundraisers for Como Zoo and since they are free it's a great way to give back.

Jacek said:

Aerak said:

I had to take a break during last years zoo boo.  No one is going to yell at you for taking one, but it's more a matter of getting from your group's station to the staff area and back when you have many hundreds of people crowding around you.  And last year we were lucky to be stationed close to the entrance.  The year before that we weren't so lucky – Kurst and I were put near the wolf enclosure on the other side of the zoo.

 

If we get a larger group and supply some of our own handlers, I'm thinking it won't be as much of a problem.

Oh awesome! Then I shouldn't have an issue at all going =3 should be fun. Do we need to fill out a form and show them our costumes and stuff? Let me know! 

Officially they will want you to come in and show your costume and they will go oner stuff.

They have not made the paperwork to fill out available on line yet but even when it's ready I want to coordinate a little bit on this so don't fill out the paper work immediately.

If we get enough people on a day it will be a little bit easier to get a few extra things (like a decent mascot watcher and support staff) but it will not be clear until we get a head count of people who wants to go or not.

*Slap*

I almost forgot this point.

You don't have to have a costume to help out at Como Zoo ZooBoo.

They have many positions there to fill out there.  Everything from handing out candy, to helping parents, ticketing, and many other activities.

In fact they also have a large library of costumes that they have to get volunteer to wear.  While not exactly ones you see at a con it still is fun to dress up and have fun with the crowd.

So even if you don't have a costume are interested in helping out they will have ways you can help.

For those that are curious

Como Zoo is not at the point of asking for volunteers yet….  I think they do this to avoid start of school/State Fair issues.  They get a lot of college students to volunteer for this (Helps with humanitarian classes) so they don't start visibly thumping their drums until later.

Anyways still drop me a line if you are seriously thinking so I can figure out people, do they have costumes, and how many days they want to go to see what we can do for como on this.

Thanks!

Kurst