The 'ultimate kids' job' is up for grabs at Bristol Zoo Project!
The zoo near Gloucestershire is giving 10 lucky children the chance to become official testers for its brand-new adventure playground, as part of an exciting new competition launching this week.
Keen kids could be among the first to try the conservation-themed attraction, Explorers Basecamp, which comprises a bespoke three-storey tower and playground.
Designed for all ages, abilities and needs with input from conservationists at Bristol Zoological Society as well as public engagement and education specialists, all that's left to do is test it on its target audience — animal-loving youngsters!
The play tester competition is open to children under 12-years-old and lucky winners will join an exclusive play session on Saturday 20 July 2024, where they'll be asked to give their feedback, ahead of the playground's grand opening for the summer holidays.
Explorers Basecamp adventure playground is split across three levels, each with a different theme. Features include a companion slide, floor trampolines, a racing zipline, a rope jungle, plus ground trampolines, a wheelchair accessible roundabout and a family swing.
Level one follows the theme of investigation, inspired by the work of Bristol Zoological Society conservationists, with an interactive rainfall measuring window and a 'guess the animal' BSL sign game; while level two is all about animals with a focus on games, with lots of sensory boards and Braille inserts as well as an animal footprint climbing wall and a kinetic primate sculpture made of scrap metals.
The third and final section of the playground explores the use of technology, linking to climate and connecting people to global biomes and ecosystems. It features a wobbly bridge and hammock for an opportunity to relax and enjoy nature from new heights!
Public engagement manager at Bristol Zoo Project, Rosie Sims, said: 'With fantastic interactive and accessible features, Explorers Basecamp offers kids the chance to learn about protecting species and habitats, through fully immersive play.
'Adventure play specialists CAP.CO have worked with us to design and construct Explorers Basecamp, which is based on a field station, which you’d find at one of our conservation project sites around the world, for example, in Equatorial Guinea and Madagascar.
'What makes it so special is that sustainability, inclusivity and authenticity are at the heart of the design, with a focus on inspiring and educating young minds.'
The creation of Explorers Basecamp is part of the first phase of work to create a new conservation zoo at Bristol Zoo Project — with work beginning this month towards a new central African forest habitat which will become home to the zoo's troop of critically endangered western lowland gorillas.
They'll be joined by cherry-crowned mangabeys, slender snouted crocodiles, African grey parrots and several species of West African freshwater fish — all species that are highly threatened in the wild.
All the details for how to apply to be a play tester for Explorers Basecamp can be found on the Bristol Zoo Project website.
