But the reality is it's this huge upside learning opportunity that I think we don't fully understand or conceptualize and don't really put it in its proper perspective.

Yeah, I think that's a good point.

You know, there's been such an evolution of zoos and aquariums and how they serve our communities and how they're valued and how they're perceived.

And I think you're absolutely right.

I think the opportunity it provides to give people that experiential learning and connection to things that they wouldn't otherwise be able to is so valuable and at the same time you know by coming to audubon and any of our facilities you're supporting work that is directly helping animals right so the things that our animal care professionals are learning about the animals here is helping people in the wild who are helping to conserve those species We also directly participate in programs over at the Species Survival Center on the West Bank.

We have scientists and animal care professionals who are actually raising and rearing animals, birds, like our whooping cranes and our Mississippi sandhill cranes, and releasing them back into the wild.

So again, there's so much going on behind the scenes.

population.

[laughs] So Amanda, tell us about what learning and engagement means here for the Audubon Institute.

Yeah.

Absolutely.

So, um, our team, alongside everybody else here at Audubon Nature Institute, are here to really help people connect to our mission.

Um, obviously, we have incredible animals.

Folks come and get to see them and learn about them.

Um, and the work that we do really helps people to connect on an even deeper level, to really understand the conservation work that Audubon Nature Institute does, how they can get involved, how their everyday actions can, um, impact the animals here in Louisiana and around the world, um, and of course, give them ways to have fun as well.

I mean, there are those that wanna criticize, but the reality is it's this huge upside learning opportunity that, that I think we, we don't fully understand or conceptualize and don't really put it in its proper perspective.