Carder Burgener feeds Clementine, the giraffe.
What do Joey the Baird’s Tapir, Clementine the Reticulated Giraffe, and Badu the Francois Langur have in common? Well, they are all residents of Mesker Park Zoo in Evansville, Ind. There, they interact with Zooteens in the volunteer program, where teenagers experience zoo care firsthand. Among them is Olney FFA Chapter member Carder Burgener.
Herding Sheep…Or Children
“I am deeply passionate about animal conservation, and have been since the dawn of time. Through this volunteering opportunity, I get to help students find their passions for this field, too,” Burgener said.
One of the highlights of his volunteering is Zoo Camp. In this camp, 80 children from kindergarten to fifth grade visit the zoo for seven hours. During this time, he assists groups and educates students about the importance of animal conservation. This impacts so many children’s lives and helps solidify animal conservation for generations.
Burgener plays with Badu, the langur. This is one of his favorite animals in the entire zoo.
Hoofin’ It
Why does Burgener drive 90 minutes from Olney, Ill., to Evansville to volunteer? He finds a passion in doing what he loves. He also enjoys informing a broader audience about exotic animals and bringing knowledge back to his rural community. He’s always thinking about animal facts. For instance, did you know tapirs use their short trunk, or proboscis, as a snorkel to breathe while underwater? So, no, the drive doesn’t faze Burgener because he gets to live his dream while serving various communities.
Through this event, Burgener has recorded over 100 community service hours in a little over six months. It doesn’t even feel like work to him because he loves what he is doing. On an average zoo day, you can find Burgener in various biomes, on a tour, or at the conservation cart where he interprets or educates the public on the species of the day.
An Eager Beaver
“I’ve always been so fascinated by animals, even from a young age, I knew I wanted to work with them, so this opportunity to educate people about my passion is truly a dream come true,” Burgener says.
A page out of Burgener’s first-grade class book, “When I Grow Up.” The students were tasked to write and illustrate their futures; he chose to be a veterinarian.
Anyone who knows Burgener knows that he has wanted to be a zoo veterinarian his entire life. His passion for animals and helping them shines through in all that he does, and he has been able to fuel his fire while igniting others’ matches.
“If you educate people and leave an impact, then it could help preserve animals for the future,” Burgener says.
See You Later, Alligator!
Burgener has been able to explore his passion and help share it with the world through volunteering at the Mesker Park Zoo. He has also gained confidence for the future and a strong sense of community through his work. Now, if you ever find yourself in the Midwest, don’t hesitate to go to the Mesker Park Zoo and see Burgener living to serve the animals and his community.
