Every day, the Minnesota Zoo strives to make connections – connections among people, animals, and the natural world. These connections may start in Minnesota, but their reach is much greater.

Tai Baird has been experiencing this first-hand. She recently made a special visit to the Zoo, coming all the way from her home in Hawaii. Being a Special Education 4th Grade Inclusion Teacher at Lihikai Elementary on Maui, Baird has been teaching her students about wolves, thanks to the Minnesota Zoo’s ZOOMS STEM Design Challenge presented by Flint Hills Resources. The challenge has allowed her to take her students on an educational journey in the classroom. It’s also led to a nearly 4,000-mile journey for herself.

Tai Baird, a Special Education 4th Grade Inclusion Teacher from Hawaii, visits the Minnesota Zoo in January.

“I’m a very passionate teacher and was like ‘I’m not just going to teach this, I’m going to go there,’” Baird explained.

Baird first learned of the yearly education challenge through a colleague, who came across the Zoo’s virtual resources. This year’s challenge tasks students with using innovation and engineering to create a plan to expand the current wolf habitat at the Zoo or design a unique piece of enrichment. Baird jumped at the opportunity to weave this into her lesson plans.

“Asking kids the question at the beginning of the school year, ‘What do you want to learn about?’ and they all love animals. But they love it in a different way than adults do and that’s what I think inspires them or drives them,” said Baird.

So the challenge seemed like a perfect fit. Baird’s class has been spending time learning about wolves and having discussions about their various needs, be it food, shelter, or a strong social structure. It’s something that has really resonated with her students.

Baird views the wolves along the Zoo’s Minnesota Trail.

“If you can challenge kids with what they love to learn about, it minimizes classroom distractions and you can teach your standards and teach your lessons better. Implementation is a very powerful resource when kids are the teachers and you are the facilitator. So I have 20 bosses every day, and that’s a big responsibility,” said Baird.

Baird is so passionate, she wanted to visit the Minnesota Zoo for herself and see the wolves. Meeting with the Zoo’s STEM Specialist, Kristi Berg, and touring the Minnesota Trail in late January, gave Baird a first-hand experience that she can now bring back to her students. She hopes it will continue to drive enthusiastic discussions and encourage a further interest in education.

“I see what inspires them to learn and when I see what gets them to be excited to come to my classroom and be excited about school, I love that and I love promoting that, and I love that it makes them better,” said Baird.

To learn more about the Zoo’s ZOOMS STEM Design Challenge, click here.