Millions of zoo visitors in North America, Europe, and Australia are learning more about polar bears and climate change thanks to a network of Arctic Ambassador Centers established by PBI in alliance with the Zoological Society of San Diego. So far, more than 30 centers are up and running. In addition to offering educational programs, the centers focus on animal well-being issues and actively support research that will help wild polar bears.

The Arctic Ambassador Centers will allow PBI to reach more than 75 million people to inform, empower, and inspire change.

Some of the programs developed for these Arctic Ambassador Centers include:

• Two different Leadership Camps—one for teens and one for zoo keepers—to educate and inspire them to return to their communities and motivate change
  
• Tundra Connections Classrooms that connect students with polar bear experts in the field
  
• Project Polar Bear, a contest that challenges teens to reduce carbon emissions in their communities
  
• Interpretive Carts for each zoo consisting of a polar bear skull and claw replica, a polar bear pelt, a sample satellite collar, and images of polar bears in the wild
  
• The Guravich Library, a media resource of historical photos of the Arctic, plus a photo gallery of leading polar bear scientists working in the field, images of polar bears and other Arctic wildlife, and video and film clips
  
• Special tours to see polar bears and learn about the Arctic
  
• In-depth articles on polar bears and the problems they face
  
• Networking opportunities through PBI's Polar Bear Sustainability Alliance, which is focused on forging effective strategies to conserve polar bears in a rapidly warming Arctic
  
• Participation in PBI's Polar Population Project, a far-reaching research project to gain information on each of the world's 19 polar bear subpopulations and how they are faring

Each of these conservation centers will provide leadership in their communities to terms of reducing carbon emissions.

Participants to date include:
1. Alaska Zoo
2. Aquarium due Quebec
3. Assiniboine Park Partners in the Park
4. Brookfield Zoo, Chicago Zoological Society
5. Buffalo Zoological Gardens
6. Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
7. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo AAZK
8. Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
9. Como Zoo & Conservatory
10. Fernbank Museum of Natural History
11. Hannover Adventure Zoo
12. Henry Vilas Zoo
13. Indianapolis Zoo
14. Kansas City Zoo
15. Louisville Zoological Garden
16. The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
17. Memphis Zoo
18. Milwaukee County Zoo
19. National Museum of Wildlife Art
20. Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo
21. Oregon Zoo
22. The Philadelphia Zoo
23. Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
24. Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
25. Reid Park Zoo
26. Roger Williams Park Zoo
27. Saint Louis AAZK
28. San Diego Zoo
29. Scandinavian Wildlife Park
30. Sea World Gold Coast Australia
31. Smithsonian Institution’s National Zoological Park
32. Toledo Zoological Gardens
33. Toronto Zoo
34.Tulsa Zoo and Living Museum
35. Utah’s Hogle Zoo
36. Vienna Zoo

Arctic Ambassador Associates include:
European Bear TAG
Frontiers North Adventures
Future Farmers of America
Gault, Inc.
Manitoba Conservation
National Museum of Wildlife Art
Parks Canada/Wapusk National Park
PBI Australia