Ultimate kids' jobs up for grabs at Bristol Zoo Project

The hunt is on for ten lucky children to become official testers at the region’s new conservation-themed adventure playground at Bristol Zoo Project.

In what’s being dubbed the ‘ultimate kids’ job,' the zoo is launching a competition to find keen youngsters to be among the first to try out Explorers Basecamp.

The bespoke three-storey tower and playground has been adesigned for all ages, abilities and needs, with input and insight from Bristol Zoological Society’s conservationists and public engagement and education specialists.

Its features include a companion slide, floor trampolines, racing zipline and rope jungle, as well as ground trampolines, a wheelchair accessible roundabout and family swing.

Image: CGI visualisation of the new adventure playground at Bristol Zoo Project

The play tester competition is open to children under 12 and will see the lucky winners join an exclusive play session on Saturday 20 July, ahead of Explorers Basecamp opening for the summer holidays. After trying out the different levels, they’ll be asked to give their feedback to the zoo’s team.

Rosie Sims, Public Engagement Manager at Bristol Zoo Project, said: “We’re hugely excited about the opening of Explorers Basecamp this summer and are proud to have created an accessible adventure play area that children of all ages, needs and abilities can enjoy. With fantastic interactive and accessible features, it offers kids the chance to learn about protecting species and habitats, through fully immersive play.

“Of course, the best people to test it for us for the first time are the children themselves, so this competition is a perfect way to find some lucky youngsters to try it out and let us know what they think.

“Adventure play specialists CAP.CO have worked with us to design and construct Explorers Basecamp, which is based on a field station, which you’d find at one of our conservation project sites around the world, for example, in Equatorial Guinea and Madagascar.  What makes it so special is that sustainability, inclusivity and authenticity are at the heart of the design, with a focus on inspiring and educating young minds.”

Explorers Basecamp is split over three levels, each with a different theme and focus. Level one is based on the work that Bristol Zoological Society’s conservationists do in the field and follows the theme of investigation. It includes an explorer’s study full of sensory play items, an interactive rainfall measuring window, toddler play, “guess the animal” BSL sign game, as well as an accessible ramp and companion slide.

Image: CGI visualisation of the new adventure playground at Bristol Zoo Project

As children climb up through the station, level two is all about animals and has a focus on games, including sensory boards and braille inserts. It also includes an animal footprint climbing wall, as well as a kinetic primate sculpture made from scrap metals.

Further up the structure are more sensory activities, a wobbly bridge and hammock which will provide a wonderful opportunity to relax and enjoy nature at height. Level three explores the use of technology in conservation work particularly linked to climate, connecting people to global biomes, or ecosystems.

The creation of Explorers Basecamp is part of the first phase of work to create a new conservation zoo at Bristol Zoo Project. Work will begin this month on a new Central African Forest habitat which will become home to the zoo’s existing troop of Critically Endangered western lowland gorillas. They’ll be joined by cherry-crowned mangabeys, slender snouted crocodiles, African grey parrots and several species of West African freshwater fish – all highly threatened species.

For full details of how to enter the Explorers Basecamp play tester competition, visit: bristolzoo.org.uk/play-tester-competition.