Impact of Inquiry Stations on Visitor Time

Abstract

Children are encouraged to spend more time outdoors and zoos provide a safe natural environment. Interactive opportunities for learning engage zoo visitors. This study seeks to determine whether the presence of four self-led temporary inquiry stations significantly increases the time visitors spend on a loop trail. Group composition, the mixture of adults and children, was also measured, evaluating significance of time spent on the trail. It was found that there was no significant difference in time spent on the inquiry trail, but there was a significant time difference based on group composition for both the inquiry and non-inquiry trail. The addition of permanent or staffed inquiry stations may encourage visitors to spend more time on the trail.