Animal Management Facilities
Jefferson Community College
Jefferson
Community College is one of 64 campuses--and one of 30 community colleges--which
comprise the State
University of New York (SUNY) system; it is the only institution of
higher education whose campus is within a 50 mile radius of the city of
Watertown, NY.
The Jefferson Community College Mission states:
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Teaching and learning are the focus of Jefferson Community College.
Through educational excellence, innovative services and community partnerships,
the College advances the quality of life of our students and community.
The College is supervised by the State University of New York and sponsored by Jefferson County. Its service area is largely rural, with agriculture and tourism the dominant industries. In 1985, the US Army posted the 10th Mountain Division at nearby Ft. Drum, bringing some 30,000 new residents to the area and doubling the population of the Watertown metropolitan area.
The College offers 16 A.A.S. career curricula, 10 transfer A.A. or A.S. curricula and 6 certificate programs. (A complete listing is available on the Academic Programs page.) Along with its credit bearing programs, the College offers a variety of workshops, seminars and workforce training opportunities. Cultural events, open to the public, routinely include film and theatrical events, lectures, seminars, and art exhibitions. The library resources are open to the public, and community members are encouraged to use them. Personal, academic, and vocational counseling are provided to both students and the community. A SUNY Small Business Development Center was opened on the campus in 1986.
The College
campus, located near Interstate Highway 81 on the western boundary
of the City of Watertown, consists of eight permanent buildings, athletic
fields and ample parking for its commuter student body.
Animal Management students will take their general education courses on campus as well as their Ornithology, Herpetology, Aquarium Science and Mammalogy classes. Laboratory facilities are provided on campus for these courses and are stocked with a variety of animal related biofacts and educational tools. Classrooms utilize up-to-date technology and students can be provided with laptop computers during laboratories to access JCC resources and the wireless Internet.
Jefferson Community College is proud to be a Conservation Partner with
the American Zoo and Aquarium Association.
About the New York State Zoo (NYSZ) at Thompson Park
Thompson Park is a 365-acre park located in the city of Watertown. The historic Olmstead design was developed in the early 1900s to reflect its beauty and natural setting. The park attracts nearly 100,000 visitors annually. The Zoo, located in the heart of Thompson Park, offers exhibits that feature the natural history of New York State and highlights the unique adaptations of native species. It is truly New York State's Wildest Destination. The 32-acre public zoo facility consists of an aviary, discovery/education/visitor center, butterfly house, classroom/laboratory facility, education animal complex, quarantine facility, veterinary hospital, gift shop, and commissary. The zoo houses one hundred and sixty specimens representing ninety-seven species including birds, reptiles, invertebrates, fish, amphibians, large and small mammals. The NYSZ is run by the Thompson Park Conservancy and receives a tremendous amount of support from the local community.
The New York State Zoo is the primary clinical site for JCC's Animal Management Program. Each week students participate in laboratories and gain valuable work experience with zoo staff. The NYSZ is committed to zoological excellence and a passion to inspire fascination in New York's wild things and wild places while instilling new depths of curiosity and knowledge for our visitors and community.
About the Rosamond Gifford Zoo (RGZ) at Burnet Park
The goal of RGZ is to bring people close enough to care.
Syracuse’s Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park is located in the beautiful Burnet Park. Its mission is to conserve, exhibit and interpret a living animal collection in order to promote public recreation, understanding of the relationship between animals and people, and action to sustain the environment we share.
With over 227 species including birds, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, primates, fish, small mammals, carnivores, hoofstock and elephants, the zoo is a busy place. Each year 330,000 people visit the zoo to see the zoo’s wild animals up close, meet the zoo staff, and attend special events such as Zoo Camp, Penguin Palooza, Elephant Extravaganza and The Great Zoo Boo. The RGZ is proud to be one of 210 AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) accredited zoos and aquariums; first receiving accreditation in 1987. It is committed to the highest standards of animal care & welfare and is committed to conservation education. With other AZA member institutions, RGZ is actively promoting the survival of endangered species by participating in breeding programs for endangered species (SSPs).
The Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park partners with JCC’s Animal Management Program to offer hands-on experience to the student keepers. During the program, students will rotate through different areas of the zoo to be trained by RGZ’s team of experienced keepers.
