News from
CONCERN
Zoo Visit Aids Educational Experiences at Treatment Unit
Residents at CONCERN Treatment Unit for Boys – Coatesville Campus recently attended a trip to the Philadelphia Zoo. The young men had the opportunity to tour the zoo and were particularly glad to see the elephants, having learned in class that there are imminent plans to move the elephants to a larger, more elephant-friendly space.
Another favorite of the day was the vampire bats, which were in a darkened room at the small mammal house. Yes, the bats were hanging upside down in the darkness of their space and yes, there were trays of blood for them to feed on.
Yet another favorite for the day was the primate house. There, two recently arrived, young silverback males were on their second day of getting to know each other.
The main focus of the day was the big cats. The boys attended a special class at the zoo which taught about the classification of cats and present dangers to their survival. Some of the boys were surprised to learn that there are only four kinds of cats that are truly considered “big cats.” These are tigers, lions, jaguars and leopards. After the lecture, the young men transferred their classroom knowledge into a real-life experiences when they toured the new big cat exhibit and watched the animals in their environment.
Educational experiences such as the Philadelphia Zoo visit are just one component of the CTUB experience. Embracing the Balanced and Restorative Justice (BARJ) principles, CTUBs stress competency development through life-skills training and educational components. Thanks to the classroom portion of their program, seven young men completed their high school education through graduation or the General Educational Development program. Additionally, all young men in the program attended class to work toward their own graduation.
The additional BARJ components, also stressed in the CTUB program, include community protection and accountability.
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