Detroit Zoological Society

1.DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP IN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND ANIMAL WELFARE
2.PROVIDE A BROAD AUDIENCE WITH OUTSTANDING AND UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT LEAD TO THE APPRECIATION AND STEWARDSHIP OF NATURE
3.INSPIRE OUR COMMUNITY WITH ENGAGING, MEANINGFUL AND MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES
4.PROVIDE INNOVATIVE ZOOLOGICAL FACILITIES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE REGION'S ECONOMIC VITALITY
5.DEMONSTRATE ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE CONSISTENT WITH A COMMITMENT TO OUTSTANDING SERVICE, PROGRESSIVE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP

The initiatives and actions in the 2013 operating plan are areas of special staff focus for 2013. They reinforce and complement ongoing mission-related core activities and functions (e.g., animal care and welfare, guest services, facilities maintenance, fundraising, conservation and education programs). As always, we strive every year to improve and strengthen all of our fundamental operations – it is not the intent of this document to capture ongoing fundamentals – only what's special for the coming year. All work supports the Detroit Zoological Society's purpose and mission, directly connects to the 2013 budget and furthers the DZS strategic plan, including the Physical Master Plan. Initiatives are grouped primarily by mission elements that they support. These plans cascade to all management team members for implementation. Though detailed and extensive, this is not an exhaustive listing of all efforts and the order is not intended to designate priority. Unforeseen opportunities and/or challenges may arise leading to some changes.

Detroit Zoological Society
• Non-profit organization that operates Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo
• 205 full- and part-time employees
• 53,000 member households
• 1,156 volunteers
• $29.8 million budget
• Statement of Purpose: “Celebrating & Saving Wildlife"
Detroit Zoo
• One of the largest paid family attractions in Michigan
• More than 1.2 million visitors annually
• 125 acres with many naturalistic and immersive animal habitats
• Major exhibits include Arctic Ring of Life, Australian Outback Adventure, Butterfly Garden, Great Apes of Harambee, National Amphibian Conservation Center, Penguinarium
• Home to more than 4,500 animals of 269 species
• Economic impact of $60-80 million
• Accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums
• Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through Labor Day (until 8 p.m. on Wednesdays in July and August), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. day after Labor Day through October and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day)
• Admission is $14 for adults 15 to 61, $12 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $9 for children ages 2 to 14; children under 2 are free
Belle Isle Nature Zoo
• Situated on approximately 10 acres of Michigan's forested wetland
• Focuses on Michigan wildlife, flora and fauna
• Offers family nature programs and education programs for school and community groups
• Open Wednesday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March (closed Monday and Tuesday as well as on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day); admission is free

Progress in 2012:
Record One Day Attendance of 19,234
Attendance over one million for the 7th consecutive year (1,272,574)
Membership at 51,000 households (record peak at 59,951)
Facebook - #4 in hte country - 142,000 fans
Meet Your Best Friend at the Zoo - over 400 pet adoptions
Volunteers contributed 102,489 hours
Clean USDA inspection report

GREENPRINT PROGRESS - Completed 25% of $2.0 million Energy Efficiency Improvement Plan Project, FEC LEED certification underway, DTE assisted in the assembly of over 200 Waste/Recycling Bins

Implemented ZooMORE ticket packages. Increased Rides and Attractions by 26%
Wildlike Photographer of the Year
Lezotte/Kalter Wildlife Rescue Fund Established

EDUCATION - Expanded outreach (all 3rd graders) to Utica Schools, Sucessful Summer Safari Theater Camp, Began outreach partnership with Beaumount Hospital.
HUMANE EDUCATION - Hosting 2013 Association of Professional Humane Educators - National Humane Education Conference, Alternative Dissection in the H.E. Lab, 246 educators went through the H.E. for professional development, New Mural in the H.E. lab, Partnership with Mosaic Youth Theater, Sowing seeds workshop, ACCESS youth summer camp.
AWARDS/ACHIEVMENTS - Noyce Leadership program, "Michigan's Finest Meeting Site", IAAPA Brass Ring Award for Vitamin Z marketing campaign, AZA award for the conservation of Grevy Zebras, AZA award for the conservation of the Puerto Rican crested toad.
CONSERVATION PROGRESS - Conservation Master Plan Workshop, First rearing of Common Terns on Belle Isle in more than 50 years, Blanding Turtles "head-starting" returning 12 hatchlings back to their native habitat, Planted forty-two large trees.
COMMUNITY SERVICE - Over 14,000 lbs of cloths donated to the Salvation Army, American Red Cross Blood Drives - DZS ticket incentive with WCSX radio resulted in record of 1,300 units of blood, Gleaner's Community Food Bank - 9,000 lbs of food collected, Holiday gift donations to children in need - 3 carloads of items delivered to Big Family of Michigan for distribution to children in Michigan's foster care, Electronic Waste Recycling - 103,000 lbs collected, Free tickets distributed to over 1,500 non-profits, Day at the Zoo - over 2,000 underserved youth at the Zoo,
Education Outreach programs to over 8,500 students unable to access the Zoo, Just ZOO It - All DZS staff participated in four days of community service at the Friends of the Rouge, Habitat for Humanitty, Ideal Group, and Belle Isle Nature Center.