The Reason for the Season

It's been said that if your job as a designated "Appreciation Week," it probably means that you aren't being paid enough.  After all, whoever heard of National CEO Week, or Captains of Industry Week?  It's certainly true for zookeepers and aquarists, which might be the reason that members of our field tend to make such a big to-do every NZKW every July.

But exactly what to do with that week is sometimes subject to debate.  There are some zoos that see it as an educational opportunity, with lots of events highlighting keepers to the public, heavy social media exposure, maybe events or even a "Zookeeper Camp."  This can be a big hit with the public, but can also seriously add to the keepers' workload, and leave them always feeling "on."

Other zoos respond by thinking of it more as a week for the keepers.  They respond by dumping loads of cake, ice cream, and pizza on their keepers, hoping for the best.  This is generally appreciated... but you also hear a lot of cranky keepers comment that it a pizza party now and then doesn't make up for the low pay and tough conditions.  

I've worked at zoos at both extremes, as well as some where I'm pretty sure management never even heard of the concept of zookeeper week.  At each facility, I always felt like there were lots of keepers who were dissatisfied at the end of the week - keepers who felt like there should have been something more, whether its more appreciation, more money (never going to happen), or more validation that all of the struggle and sacrifice is worthwhile.

I was recently reminded, however, that National Zookeeper Week isn't the brainchild of the zoos themselves, nor of any of our governing bodies or accrediting associations.  It was created for keepers, to celebrate keepers.  It's not a pat on the head and acknowledgement from the outside world.  It's members of the zoo community lifting each other up and saying, "We see what you do, and we appreciate it."

This cake was baked by a keeper at a zoo where I worked years ago, a tiny unaccredited zoo, shoddy in both its build and its management.  The only way we made it through each week was by supporting each other as a team.  The zoo director and the zoo owner didn't acknowledge the week - we decided to celebrate it ourselves, and one keeper baked this cake for us to share at lunch one day.  It remains, in my memory, the most satisfying, meaningful National Zookeeper Week treat I've ever had.