Resource Library
A curated collection of event recordings, evaluation resources, scholarly articles, collaboratively created resources (such as toolkits), and projects created both for and by the Network.
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A session to inform how to develop capacity by providing advice on how to look for funding, conduct prospect, research, and build relationships with funders
In this event, we discuss biofact reorganization projects as well as the nuances of using biofacts that come from animals who used to live at the zoo.
Hear from zoos about how they have infused empathy effective practices into some of their school programs.
In this learning group, we examined what it looks like to foster empathy for plants and how that fits into our larger conservation themes as zoos and aquariums.
Learn how zoos incorporate empathy practices into their animal ambassador programs, outreach opportunities, and keeper talks.
After hearing from Stacey Luhring at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium about how they incorporate empathy into their volunteer department, this event focused on collaborative discussion.
Learning group that parses apart drivers of the exotic pet trade and how zoos and aquariums can promote responsible pet ownership.
This learning group discusses early childhood programs that employ empathy practices – helping children and their caretakers connect with animals and nature.
Join us for a learning group where Network Members discuss how they build and evaluate summer camps with empathy at the forefront.
A learning group that shares processes of creation and learnings from the use of empathy-infused animal fact sheets at their organization.
Evaluators across our Network discuss different approaches to evaluation empathy practices and more
Across the ACE for Wildlife Network, individuals and organizations are conducting empathy focused or empathy informed evaluation on a variety of programs and guest experiences. In this event, hear about the experiences and lessons learned from individuals who were a part of evaluation projects that looked at everything from the perceptions associated with an animal's name, to conservation calls to action, and collaboratively designed signage.
Staff from Lake Superior Zoo, Racine Zoo, and ZooMontana share how they incorporate effective empathy practices into their social media posts, the challenges they face, and the questions they have.
Network Members from the International Crane Foundation, Racine Zoo, and ZooMontana share out their successes and struggles with infusing empathy practices into their social media pages.
This event focuses on programs and strategies that foster empathy for species that are involved in human-wildlife conflict.
This learning group examines how to determine which stories to tell in our organizations
Take a deep dive into how to have productive conversations about the ethics of zoos, regardless of where people are coming into the conversation.
This learning group dives into differences between conservation actions and caring actions, including defining characteristics and how empathy-based programming can influence these types of behavior change.
This practitioners’ guide explores the most current research on the relationship between empathy and conservation action.
Empathy evaluation protocols and instruments developed during the Measuring Empathy Collaborative Assessment Project.
The following resources from the Milwaukee County Zoo guides participants through an activity where they learn about bears and how examining their fecal matter can help them learn about parasites and how they can affect bears.
This paper suggests those that attribute a mind to nature tend to empathize with nature more and act in a more pro-environmental manner than those that don't.
Recordings from the 4-part webinar series with the Native Governance Center
This document outlines the code of conduct for our community.
this empathy observation guide is a tool for zoos, aquariums, and related organizations interested in observing the variety of empathy-related behaviors their audiences engage in during exhibit visits or facilitated programs.
This document outlines the code of conduct for our community.
This toolkit offers the Network messaging and suggested actions to promote conservation actions to benefit pollinators.
In this event, attendees shared pollinator initiatives, programs, and messaging they promote at their organizations.
This article featured in AZA's Connect magazine defines critical anthropomorphism and showcases examples of it being done across the ACE for Wildlife Network.
This document outlines the code of conduct for our community.

Measuring Empathy Collaborative Assessment Project (MECAP)
With resources shared through CAISE’s InformalScience.org, project partners (Woodland Park Zoo, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, & Seattle Aquarium) aim to develop, test and share tools that can be used by accredited zoos & aquariums to assess whether their educational programs are having the desired impact of encouraging children’s empathy towards animals. As of January 2025, InformalScience.org, is inactive. Please search "MECAP" in our Resource Library to access the resources.
View MECAP Resources
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