Strategic Plan Analysis Essay Example

the basis of our organizational culture. Despite external influences, these core values remain unwavering. Embracing them allows us to maintain what we believe in, set ourselves apart from others, and achieve successful conservation outcomes.
Stewardship is a crucial aspect of our work as we take personal responsibility for all resources used and animals under our care. Our commitment to integrity ensures fairness, reliability, honesty, sincerity while valuing the trust placed in us by the community. Furthermore, we strive for excellence in everything we do by treating animals, the public, staff,and volunteers with respect. Professional conduct reflects integrity during interactions.
Our strategic vision,motivating mission,and shared values instill pride in those who wish to be part of our efforts.At Plumpest Park Zoo ,we aim to engage individuals with animals while inspiring everyone to appreciate and care for the natural worldOur mission is to provide exceptional service to animals and guests, while also making meaningful contributions to our community. We are a trusted resource that offers services and programs aimed at enriching daily life. Recently, a group of dedicated volunteers installed a new fence for Jimmie, one of our animals, allowing him to freely explore his surroundings. This act exemplifies our commitment to caring for our animals.

However, it's important to acknowledge the challenges faced by wildlife today. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), there is a high risk of extinction in the near future for 25% of mammals, 12.5% of birds, and 33% of amphibians. Currently, there are 8,462 threatened animal species.

As a private company operating since 1986, Plumpest Park Zoo faces both internal and external factors that impact its operations. Internally, we prioritize staffing levels,

facility improvements, and financial stability. Externally, economic conditions, weather patterns, school holidays competitors population demographics also influence us.

Despite these challenges, we remain dedicated to providing visitors with a quality experience and promoting conservation efforts.The Plumpest Park Zoo is currently working on various projects including renovations, space utilization improvements, habitat enhancements, enrichment activities, and creating new exhibits or environments. These projects align with the zoo's strategic priorities which focus on coeducation, sustainability, and tuning Ana.

In terms of staffing, the zoo employs four full-time and four part-time employees. However, they also rely on volunteers who generously contribute their time without compensation. The zoo has a long history of providing valuable volunteer opportunities to diverse groups such as families, adults, youth, students, seniors, corporate teams, and community organizations.

Every year, numerous volunteers dedicate themselves to supporting the zoo's mission of education conservation and recreation by assisting with tasks like education programs coordination for special events horticulture work,and animal care. There are different positions available for those interested in volunteering at the zoo that can cater to different schedules and interests.

Moreover,the zoo offers an internship program specifically designed for high school and college students as well as individuals pursuing careers in fields like animal care ,tertiary medicine ,zoology ,biology,wildlife management ,conservation,and related areas.

When it comes to the planned renovations at Plumpest Park Zoo,it will be a collaborative effort involving input from multiple stakeholders.The Plumpest Park Zoo is undergoing renovations gradually over several years, in conjunction with other major projects. These renovations will begin once funding becomes available and involve constructing new fencing and housing structures to provide appropriate shelter for animals during the winter seasons. The Giraffe habitat at the

zoo has already undergone expansion and fencing replacement, but only 12 acres out of the total 117-acre space are currently being utilized. Expansion plans are on hold until all habitats are repaired, replaced, or improved for safety and security purposes. The focus of expansion will be incorporating existing elements such as fencing, landscape features, fallen trees, low areas, and other natural elements that can benefit the animals. For instance, an in-ground pool could potentially be transformed into a prairie dog habitat to enhance living spaces while maintaining cost control. Additionally, paths within the zoo aim to separate visitors from animals by either surrounding them entirely or keeping them away from animal spaces. As for giraffe "Jimmie," a more stimulating environment has been created by placing high feeding racks on the fence to simulate foraging activities. Future plans include expanding the enclosure to include an indoor viewing area and potentially introducing another giraffe as a companion.We have relocated larger animals such as the Waits to new habitats that offer more enrichment and suitability. Our upcoming exhibits will include an improved primate enclosure where primates can swing from trees and search for food. Additionally, we are currently constructing an enhanced reptile house that is open to guests.

Education is a focal point at our zoo. Each animal's habitat features detailed signage with information about their origin and migration patterns. We are also considering interactive guided tours led by knowledgeable individuals and designing programs specifically for boy and girl scouts to earn merit badges.

Effective communication plays a vital role in increasing attendance at the zoo. Our website now has a new "Zoo News" section, which keeps the public updated

on various programs, events, and activities happening every weekend. Furthermore, we have established a mailing list to send email alerts about upcoming activities to registered individuals.

Our ultimate goal through all these events, activities, and programs is to boost attendance and encourage visitors to return again. Creating a family-friendly atmosphere and ensuring accessibility for handicapped individuals are top priorities for us. To achieve this, we plan on redesigning the current playground area with a zoo-theme incorporating giraffe-shaped slides or monkey bars featuring monkey images.Additionally, there is room for improvement in the concession stand and gift shop. The gift store, which is managed by zoo volunteers, offers wildlife-themed items such as small animal tastes, framed pictures and posters. They also sell tee shirts with the Plumpest Park Zoo insignia and logo. At the concession stand, visitors can purchase beverages, snacks, and ice cream.

Plumpest Park Zoo houses a variety of animals including Bacteria Camels (2), Bison (9), Alpacas (4), Goats (2), Miniature donkeys (4), Turkeys (8), Siberian Tiger (1), Bear (1), Giraffe (1), Timber Wolves (2), Lion (1), Cougar(1 ), Lynx( 1 ), Bobcat( 1 ), Silver Fox( 1 ), Arctic Foxes( 2 ), Owl( 1 ), Monkeys( 2 ), Prairie Dogs(4) ,and Peacocks(15).

The general admission prices at Plumpest Park Zoo are as follows: Adults $10.0, Seniors $8.00 ,Children(Ages 4 -12)$6.0,and Children(Ages3 & under) FREE.

Some animals had to be relocated due to USDA violations; however, efforts have been made to bring back or invite new animals only if they can provide an improved living situation.

It should be noted that there is a lack of signage and information about the animals.

Unfortunately, due to a lack of financial investment in

the zoo's facilities, they have been neglected over time which has resulted in a decrease in animal numbers and conservation efforts.The main limitation faced by Plumpest Park Zoo, like other zoos, is funding. Despite being a non-profit organization, it still needs to generate income in order to cover expenses and maintain a balance between revenue and costs. Typically, a zoo relies on various sources such as corporate donations, private donations, membership fees, grants, and revenue from the concession stand and gift shop to generate around 80% of its funding. However, with an annual visitor count of approximately 52 thousand and an admission price of $8 per person, the total yearly revenue amounts to about $416,000. Unfortunately, this falls short by $85,000 in covering all facility expenses solely with admission fees. Therefore, additional income is necessary through grants,donations,fundraising efforts for programs/campaigns,and annual memberships.In order to achieve our strategic goals,it will be crucial to identify influential individuals and philanthropists who have expressed interest in animals and wildlife.Additionally ,there are several external factors that should be taken into consideration.For instance,zoos in our country receive more visitors than all professional sporting events combined—an intriguing observation.Moreover,a "successful" museum or science center typically garners only 10% of its attendance from the local community;however,a "successful" zoo surpasses 50% local attendance.The Plumpest Park Zoo is influenced by various external factors such as economic conditions, weather conditions, school holidays competitors, and population density. Being categorized as an entertainment venue, it faces strong competition from other options in the area. However, almost everyone enjoys visiting a zoo and seeing live animals. It is highly likely that nearly every child in Cecil County will visit Plumpest

Park Zoo multiple times with their families over the years. Despite the competition, the zoo offers a family of four admission for $27. The population of Cecil County was around 103,800 in 2010 and is projected to increase to approximately 154,900 by 2030. This indicates significant potential for new customers and sustainable growth for the zoo.

Summary of Strategic Priorities: Our planning process has led us to identify four strategic priorities that will serve as the foundation for achieving our vision and mission outlined in our strategic plan.

These priorities primarily focus on ensuring the welfare of captive animals, educating about wildlife and native habitats, sharing knowledge to strengthen the human-animal-earth bond, maintaining financial strength for research activities and conservation efforts, and ensuring a sustainable future through growth in attendance and programs for young families.Enrichment plays a crucial role in the care of animals for institutions seeking accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZ). Plumpest Park Zoo strives to enhance its habitats by providing enriching environments that promote exercise, mental stimulation, pleasure, and new sensory experiences. Enrichment is essential for improving the welfare of captive animals and can be achieved through various means such as toys, scents or sounds, and new or different foods or treats. It serves to stimulate an animal's curiosity and species-typical behaviors while also providing entertainment and enjoyment for them. Our strategic priority at Plumpest Park Zoo is enrichment, focusing on creating appropriate physical, social, and environmental conditions and stimuli to enhance the well-being of our animals. To achieve this goal, we have set several objectives which include developing a comprehensive plan to repair and modernize our facilities on campus,

constructing or enhancing one new enriching exhibit every quarter, and introducing new activities to six existing animal habitats to stimulate the animals. The management team is responsible for implementing these goals. These initiatives began in IQ 2011 and are still ongoing. In November 2010, Bruno - our African Waits - moved into his new habitat which offers a more enriching environment as he now has a full view of deer and giraffes – animals he would encounter in the wild.In addition to enrichment, educating visitors about wildlife is a strategic priority for us. We believe that developing an appreciation for wild animals is crucial in our zoo's education program. Our main objectives under this priority are increasing environmental awareness and gaining support for worldwide conservation efforts. Conservation plays a significant role in our educational programs with a particular focus on vanishing species. We incorporate various approaches to raise public environmental awareness throughout our educational initiatives.

Zoo educators employ various methods to enhance public appreciation and respect for nature. One effective approach involves providing personal encounters with live animals during zoo visits. These connections between humans and animals in zoos include activities like adoption programs, naming individual animals, and behind-the-scenes visits.

The ultimate aim is to create a bond among people, animals, and the environment, fostering respect and appreciation for the natural world while empowering individuals to make informed conservation decisions. It is crucial to raise awareness about the challenges and dangers faced by wild animals while promoting respect for all forms of life and our shared world.

The strategic objective is to educate people through engaging zoo programs that teach and inspire them about wildlife and native habitats.

Sharing knowledge aims at strengthening the connection between humans, animals, and the Earth.The objectives of the zoo include captivating visitors with innovative experiences that combine education with entertainment, such as guided tours. They also aim to enhance guests' experience in existing animal habitats and new ones by utilizing market research. Additionally, another objective is to develop a monthly learning experience focusing on diverse conservation activities.

The goal of this learning experience is to bring about specific changes in guests' knowledge, actions, and attitudes towards wildlife conservation. Since 2011, the education director (volunteer) and marketing manager Adam Haycocks have been working on establishing a strong financial base for the zoo.

Their ongoing effort includes various strategies like securing grants, donations, programs/campaigns, fundraising efforts, annual memberships, and visitor attendance. To achieve this objective, they plan to recruit experienced grant writers and explore grant opportunities through the National Zoological Society for small zoos.

They are also considering launching a Foundation dedicated to fundraising initiatives and initiating an "adopt an animal" campaign to cultivate individual donors. These actions aim to improve the zoo's financial stability while raising awareness about wildlife conservation among visitors.At Plumpest Park Zoo in 2011, the Education Director (Volunteer), Marketing Manager (Adam Haycocks), Chief Financial Officer (CUFF), and Marketing MGM (CUFF) held a meeting to discuss the importance of establishing a reliable financial base for the zoo. It was acknowledged that while many zoos in the United States receive public funding from their municipalities, additional financial support is needed. Proposed measures include recruiting experienced grant writers, exploring grant opportunities through the National Zoological Society, and potentially establishing a foundation for fundraising efforts. They also plan to involve individual donors

through an "adopt an animal" campaign and introduce two new programs to boost membership, attendance, and revenue. One of these programs showcased Thro, an endangered Bacteria camel who impressed guests on opening day. The discussion also focused on educating visitors about the differences between African and Asian camels at Plumpest Park Zoo's camel habitat. Notably, it was emphasized that Bacteria camels have two humps instead of one and are well-suited for cold weather climates. Overall, sustaining Plumpest Park Zoo emerged as a strategic priority during this gathering with a focus on enhancing infrastructure, attendance levels, as well as strengthening financial performance and stability.The objective is to gradually raise annual operating revenues in order to build up enough financial reserves. These reserves would then be used for important capital projects, deferred maintenance tasks, and funding new initiatives. The significance of keeping visitors and members interested in the zoo was highlighted. To achieve this, several steps were proposed: implementing innovative marketing techniques to boost attendance, expanding membership programs for a steady income stream, creating a welcoming and enjoyable environment to encourage repeat visits and support, generating extra revenue through audience cultivation and new offerings, and securing additional private funding to meet the financial goals outlined in the Strategic Plan.