By Andy Dahn

BLOOMINGTON – The Miller Park Zoological Society has been supporting the local zoo with a variety of funding since 1960, and the society’s new Development Director is ready to continue that support.

Susie Ohley said the best way for residents to give back to Miller Park is by becoming Zoological Society members. A family membership is just $60, and Ohley said it offers a variety of benefits.

“It includes two adults and the children in the household,” Ohley said. “You can come to the zoo as often as you want during that year, you can get a discount on education classes, birthday parties and other special events. The other really neat thing is it allows for reciprocal visits to over 100 AZA credited zoos across the United States.”

Admission to those nationwide zoos may not be free, but members will receive ticket discounts.  Ohley said she believes the community is lucky to have a zoo like Miller Park.

“Unless you’re going to travel non-stop around the world, you’re not going to see animals from Asia, Australia and Africa right here in your backyard,” Ohley said. “It’s a living classroom. It’s a way to teach our children without them even knowing they’re learning about conservation and animal compassion.”

More information on becoming a zoological society member can be found at mpzs.org.

Andy Dahn can be reached at [email protected].