10.2190/ES.33.1.b 683PK55L50552805 2 Some Immediate and Longer-Term Effects of a Zoo Exhibit 19 28 20120119 20120119 20120119 20120119 683PK55L50552805.pdf http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=683PK55L50552805 1 R. De Young A. Dotzour C. Houston G. Manubay C. D. Saunders K. Schulz J. Smith Antioch University New England, Keene, New Hampshire University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Many people visit zoos each year to be entertained, restored, and educated. While the spotlight is usually on animals and habitats, zoos are increasingly focusing on humans and their role in environmental stewardship. The primate exhibit at Brookfield Zoo in Illinois was designed to address this new focus. The exhibit includes a multi-stage educational experience at its exit that highlights what visitors can do to incorporate conservation behavior into their lives. A feature of such an experience is the short time one spends in it. This article examines the effect of this brief educational exposure. The findings indicate that the experience does increase interest among those behaviors that demand a considerable investment of time. While a follow-up survey revealed this interest diminished over time, the exhibit's core messages were resilient. This study provides evidence that even briefly experienced, free-choice educational exhibits can promote concern for environmental stewardship. Allen, J. B., & Ferrand, J. L. (1999). Environmental locus of control, sympathy, and proenvironmental behavior: A test of Geller's actively caring hypothesis. <i>Behavior and Environment, 31</i>, 338-353. Andereck, K., & Caldwell, L. (1994). Motive-based segmentation of a public zoological park market. <i>Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, 12</i>, 19-31. Chicago Zoological Society & Lincoln Park Zoological Society. (1993). <i>Conservation related perceptions, attitudes, and behavior of adult visitors and non-visitors to Brookfield Zoo and Lincoln Park Zoo.</i> Chicago, IL: Chicago Zoological Society and Lincoln Park Zoological Society. De Young, R. (1993). Changing behavior and making it stick: The conceptualization and management of conservation behavior. <i>Environment and Behavior, 25</i>, 485-505. De Young, R. (2000). Expanding and evaluating motives for environmentally responsible behavior. In L. Zelezny & P. W. Schultz (Eds.), Promoting environmentalism. <i>Journal of Social Issues, 56</i>, 509-526. Dierking, L. D., Burtnyk, K., Buchner, K. S., & Falk, J. H. (2002). <i>Visitor learning in zoos and aquariums: A literature review.</i> Silver Spring, MD: American Zoo and Aquarium Association. Irvine, K., Foster, S., & Saunders, C. D. (1995). <i>Using evaluation to guide the development of behavior change programs.</i> Conference proceedings from the 1995 Visitor Studies Association on Theory, Research, and Practice, 8. Mazur, N. (1993). Attitudes towards the role of city zoos in conservation: An Adelaide case study. <i>International Association of Zoo Educators</i>, 26-29. Milan, L. M., & Wourms, M. K. (1992). A zoological park is not just another museum. <i>Curator, 35</i>, 120-136. Morgan, J., & Hodgkinson, M. (1996). The motivation and social orientation of visitors attending a contemporary zoological park. <i>Environment and Behavior, 31</i>, 227-239. Rabb, G. B, & Saunders, C. D. (2005). The future of zoos and aquariums: Conservation and caring. <i>International Zoo Yearbook, 39</i>(1), 1-26. Saunders, C. D. (1997). <i>Interpretive plan for the Quest to Save the Earth.</i> Unpublished manuscript. Brookfield, IL: Brookfield Zoo. Saunders, C. D., & Stuart-Perry, H. (1997). Summative evaluation of The Swamp: A conservation exhibit with a big idea. <i>Visitor Behavior, 12</i>, 4-7. Stoinski, T., Ogden, J., Gold, K., & Maple, T. (1999). <i>The role of education in the conservation agenda of modern zoos.</i> Proceedings of the Committing to Conservation Conference, San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA. Vining, J., & Ebreo, A. (2002). Emerging theoretical and methodological perspectives on conservation behavior. In R. B. Bechtel & A. Churchman (Eds.), <i>Handbook of environmental psychology</i> (pp. 541-558). New York: John Wiley & Sons. Zelezny, L. C. (1999). Educational interventions that improve environmental behaviors: A meta-analysis. <i>Journal of Environmental Educational, 31</i>, 5-14.