Mrs. Z and her young entrepreneurs at Ocean City Primary. ”We teach about science and endangered animals,” says Kathy Zeigenfus, “and I feel that we have the power to do something. (Photo courtesy of Kathy Zeigenfus.)

If you’ve ever been a second grade student in "Mrs. Z’s" class at Ocean City Primary School, you not only know a lot about endangered manatees, you’ve probably been an “adoptive parent” of a manatee, too.
 
Every year since 1994, New Jersey teacher Kathy Zeigenfus and her students have raised money for manatees. “The students design t-shirts and sell them,” says Zeigenfus. “Then we use the money to adopt a manatee for every one of the students in the hope that they will continue to adopt a manatee the following year.”

Caroline designed the winning picture featured on tote bags sold in 2006.

A student puts the final touches on a tote bag. “People in the community know about our manatee project and support it,” says Zeigenfus. “I see the tote bags all over town." (Photos courtesy of Kathy Zeigenfus.)

Zeigenfus first learned about the troubles manatees were experiencing after making a trip to Florida in 1991. Upon returning home, she happened to see a brochure for Save the Manatee Club and the wheels started turning.

”We teach about science and endangered animals,” says Zeigenfus, “and I feel that we have the power to do something. It would be a horrible thing to see this species – gentle and attractive to little kids – become extinct. There is often a conflict between development and nature, and I think we need to fight hard to keep these animals as part of our environment.”

Zeigenfus did some research and developed a “Marigolds for Manatees” project. The students sold flowers and made $35 their first year to send to the Club. The next year, they did a vegetable and salad cookbook (because manatees are herbivores) and sold it. The following year, a student’s father volunteered to make up t-shirts to sell and a precedent was set.

”Each year we have a contest,” says Zeigenfus. “All the students in my class create a manatee picture, then everyone gets to vote, and the picture that wins the contest goes on the t-shirt. Over the years, we have done 12 t-shirts, and one year we made over $2,000!”

In addition to creating t-shirts, the students have written plays, created educational skits, and produced a manatee version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire. They help develop the questions after reading about manatees, researching their needs, and doing activities from Save the Manatee Club’s  educator’s guide. Then they invite adults, such as the principal and new teachers, to play the game. The students also come up with a campaign for selling the shirts that involves making posters and visiting other classrooms to promote the program. They put together a store and take charge of sales.

“The goal is to make enough money to adopt a manatee for each child,” says Zeigenfus. “When their manatee adoption arrives, they get so excited about it. I’ll hear from them by phone or e-mail and they’ll say, ‘Guess what, I got my manatee!’ The child who designed the very first t-shirt is about 20 now. I see her mother from time to time, and she says Samantha is still a member.”

(Photo courtesy of Kathy Zeigenfus.)

“People in the community know about our manatee project and support it,” says Zeigenfus. “This year we did tote bags instead of t-shirts, and I see them all over. Proprietors in town will often sell leftover materials in their shops. Last year, we did a petition on downlisting manatees at our science fair and explained why it isn’t a good thing, and we had the whole community writing letters to Florida state and federal officials.”

“We live in a beautiful, shore community,” she continued. “It’s a barrier island, and I think it’s important that the students learn about the estuary and Atlantic Ocean and the animals that inhabit them. They live in a wonderful place, but they need to understand responsibility. Manatees live in a different place, but other sea animals in our own waters can be affected if we don’t take care of cleaning up the environment. I think every child should come out knowing that he or she can give back.”

“Even at that age, it is important to give back to the community and learn about environmental issues. It’s important to me that they take something more from my class than the ‘three R’s:’ something from the heart – something that’s a part of them.”

• Learn more about the manatees available for adoption
  
  
• Adopt-A-Manatee Online
  
  
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