Petting Zoo to Benefit School’s Farm and Garden

Aliso High School students will sponsor a petting zoo today for children.

Kids and their parents will have the opportunity to feed and handle the goats, potbellied pigs, rabbits, chicken, ducks and geese that are housed on the campus as part of the school’s animal science program.

Students are using the petting zoo to try to assist the campus farm and garden, in addition to doing volunteer community work--such as collecting for Toys for Tots. It is the first time the school has sponsored a petting zoo for the public.

The zoo will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 18741 Elkwood St. in Reseda, at the corner of Yolanda Ave. Admission for children is $1.50, which includes a cup of animal food.

In addition to the three Rs, students at Aliso are offered horticulture or animal science classes. The hands-on classes are part of the school’s innovative “Hope in Youth” program, which is designed to give students the freedom and motivation to take responsibility for themselves and others.

The farm and garden are mostly run by the students, said Jeanette Dow, an advisor to the students.

“I have some really good students,” said Dow, who added that tending for the animals and the garden have helped her individual students blossom.

“You get to see a really nice side to these kids,” said Dow. “It gives them a chance to show some affection without someone turning on them. The more work they do, the more they buy into the school and into themselves, actually.”

Alisa Williams, 17, has been in the program for a month and said she immediately responded to the challenge.

Instead of watching television, Williams said she’s instead helping to raise and care for animals and plant a community garden that will produce vegetables for market--as well as plan more volunteer projects to help others. “It makes me feel better about myself that I’ve helped other people,” she said.

For more information about the petting zoo, call (818) 345-0203.