One word describes it all – WILD! That’s what we’re bringing to your screen in this month’s segment of the Grapevine – All In experience, where feathery and furry friends are the main attractions.
Our Art Director, Shane Hughes, and our Social Media Brand Manager, Nicole Miller, traded office views for an eye-opening adventure, on site and behind the scenes with our client, Sarasota Jungle Gardens. While both Shane and Nicole were familiar with the Suncoast’s renowned family attraction, the experience was an incredible look at what it takes to keep each animal happy and healthy – and guests amazed. Here’s what they said about Sarasota Jungle Gardens, going “All In” as part of their team for a day!
What was your understanding of Sarasota Jungle Gardens prior to going ‘All In’ and did your perception change after your up-close experience?
Shane: “I first visited Sarasota Jungle Gardens as a kindergartener in 1975. I’ve always known about it and have taken family there several times. I now understand that a committed and caring group of humans are there daily to care for all the unique animals with passion.”
Nicole: “I actually had a pretty good understanding of Sarasota Jungle Gardens! I’m fortunate to work with them often on their social media content and get to spend a lot of time with different members of their team depending on the content. I didn’t know just how difficult it is to care for the animals! They all have different routines and needs that they have to attend to daily, and it was cool to lend a hand and experience it for myself.”
How did this ‘All In’ experience show you the importance of having face-to-face contact with the client – especially one that’s an entertainment destination?
Shane: “The staff at Sarasota Jungle Gardens genuinely enjoy their work. Lots of smiles and enthusiasm – and they appeared to relish seeing their agency representatives (us) join in. Having the hands-on experience will help us do our best creative work for them.”
Nicole: “I think that this experience was extra important because you really get to understand the ‘who’ behind the people you are doing business with and the ‘why’ of their business. With Sarasota Jungle Gardens, everyone knows it’s a place you go to for fun or to feed the flamingos. But they are a group of very caring and passionate people who love the animals they work with. From the entertainment team to the educational team, they love, care for, and enrich all the animals at Sarasota Jungle Gardens.
“Getting up close and personal, it’s cool to see how much the animals love the team and the guests! They love the attention and the treats, and it was awesome to experience what we help spread the word about. The staff makes being on the team just as fun as it is to be a guest, and the animals really do love any opportunity to show off a trick or play and get some extra treats.”
Attractions have their own sets of challenges. What did spending the day ‘All In’ teach you about the work that goes into operating Sarasota Jungle Gardens?
Shane: “Summer in Florida is stifling, so everyone can appreciate that the Sarasota Jungle Gardens staff commits hours in the sun cleaning the habitats, maintaining the grounds and feeding the animals.”
Nicole: “It taught me that these guys have some tough jobs! They work outside year-round and have to deal with the extreme heat and the colder weather (for the little time we have it). They also have to always be guest-facing and ready to answer questions or entertain visitors. It reminded me a lot of my time working at Walt Disney World. You are always on stage the moment you are on the clock, and everyone – no matter how big or small their role may be – is important in making the guests’ visit a great one.
“It was also so interesting to see how they work with the animals as a team, and it’s really dependent on their moods for the day. It’s cool to see that, just like people, they may not want the treats being offered. Instead of carrots, they want lettuce, and it’s amazing that the team picks up on that. They really know these animals and treat them like they are part of a family. It was rewarding to see those interactions. Even though I capture content for them often, I don’t always get to observe long interactions or help clean the enclosures.”
What’s one word you’d use to describe the ‘All In’ experience at Sarasota Jungle Gardens?
Shane: “Wild! The animals are friendly, especially the parrots and tortoises. We walked among the flamingos as part of their flamboyance (that’s what you call a flock of flamingos).”
Nicole: “WILD! Not only is the park something for guests to get wild about, but so was the entire experience! Who can say they helped feed a giant tortoise, cleaned a gator enclosure or fed parrots?! I know I can.
“It was so wonderful to basically be a member of their team and see what life would be like working with animals (since I’m an animal lover) – and feel like you’re a guest at the same time! We were able to feed animals which are part of the encounters that guests can purchase, and after getting to experience it myself, it is definitely worth doing when you visit the park.”
Throughout this experience, was there one moment that really stuck out to you?
Shane: “The alligators are antisocial and cower away from you… which I suppose is a good thing! When cleaning their pool, they all scurried away together – away from us.”
Nicole: “Feeding the animals was something that really stuck out to me because it’s such a big job – something that seems so small is so important in a place like this. Not only are you providing them with a basic need, but they rely on you for that, and I can see how these entertainment staff and education staff members build such strong relationships with them by just doing these same tasks throughout the day.
“It’s just so interesting to observe all the care that goes into just one animal, from the special foods and the games they like to play to the pets they like to receive. It was just an awesome thing to experience firsthand. I already loved their team. I just think they are so kind and incredible to work with, but this experience made me really appreciate how much they do for Sarasota Jungle Gardens.”
About Grapevine Communications
Grapevine Communications is a full-service creative marketing agency celebrating 24 years of success on the Suncoast of Florida. To learn more about what we do, visit our services page or call us at 941-351-0024.
