Trevor Zoo - Millbrook, New York - small private zoo with 180 animals on 6 acres

Trevor Zoo is unique, a word not used lightly. It is the only accredited zoo in the country that is located on a high school campus. Originally founded in 1936 by Frank Trevor, Millbrook School's first biology teacher, the Trevor Zoo is now home to 180 animals from 80 different species.

Millbrook School is a coeducational high school with a strong program in ecological sciences. What began as a personal project of a man who had a passion for animals has grown to house 180 animals, both indigenous and exotic, on six acres of land. The zoo is tended by about 40 Millbrook High students who are engaged in every aspect of zoo animal biology, including the planning and building of exhibits, daily care of the animals and cleaning of the exhibits. The students work under the supervision and tutelage of five full-time faculty and consulting veterinarians. By the time the students have finished their program with Trevor Zoo, they have learned all aspects of modern zoo management, including conservation and participation in captive breeding conservation programs.

The animals at Trevor Zoo are from six different continental areas around the world - Africa, Asia, Australia, North America, Central America and South America. In addition to the display and educational outreach in which the Zoo is involved, the Zoo participates in seven different animal conservation programs and is home to seven endangered species - Lake Victoria Cichlid, Ring-tailed lemur, white-naped crane, black and white ruffled lemur, red wolf, red panda and golden lion tamarin. Besides the seven endangered species, the Trevor Zoo also houses the Geoffrey's marmoset, which is on the protected list maintained by the Species Survival Plans.

Among the most popular animals at the Trevor Zoo are the numerous new babies in various exhibits. These include sugar gliders - nocturnal marsupials who glide long distances without wings - and chinchillas, as well as lemurs and slow loris, small mammals from Australia. The Trevor Zoo offers many educational opportunities both for students of the Millbrook School and to the community. Among those opportunities are summer volunteer positions for teens and adults to care for the animals and work alongside zoo staff.

In addition, Trevor offers special events at the zoo for groups of six people or more. The events include self-guided tours of the exhibits and a presentation by zoo staff featuring one or more of the animals. They welcome area families to hold birthday parties and other special events at the Trevor Zoo.

Finally, area teachers can take advantage of educational materials before or in conjunction with a classroom zoo visit. Those materials can be downloaded free from the zoo's web site and printed out free of charge.

The Trevor Zoo at Millbrook is open to the public year round, both for individual and group visits.

The Trevor Zoo is open to the public 365 days of the year from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is nominal. Annual and summer family memberships are available, as are group discount rates. For more information, contact Trevor Zoo at 845-677-3704.