*Picnic* Conservationist & Former Zookeeper Beth Armstrong with Ohio Wildlife Center's Rebecca Rose
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In conversation with Ohio Wildlife Center's Rebecca Rose, conservationist and former zookeeper Beth Armstrong discusses her fascinating memoir detailing her years as a gorilla keeper at the Columbus Zoo and her conservation work that was born out of her love for animals.
SCHEDULE:
‣ Picnic Social | 6:00-6:30 pm (Optional)
Enjoy a picnic dinner (ours or yours), unwind on the lawn, and take a free guided tour of Thurber House during this time frame.
‣ Main Program | 6:30-7:30 pm
Sit back, relax, and enjoy the program! You will have the opportunity to ask the speakers questions after the event.
‣ Book Signing | 7:30 pm
Purchase books and get them signed by the author.
REGISTER:
https://www.thurberhouse.org/events/beth-armstrong
ABOUT THE BOOK:
VOICES FROM THE APE HOUSE
Exploring the history humans share with gorillas, Voices from the Ape House offers a behind-the-scenes look at the complicated social lives of western lowland gorillas through the eyes of a devoted zookeeper.
The memoir traces Beth Armstrong’s love and fascination for animals, from her childhood to her work with captive primates as an adult. Through her eyes, readers sense the awe and privilege of working with these animals at the Columbus Zoo. Individual gorillas there had an enormous effect on her life, shaping and influencing her commitment to improving gorilla husbandry and to involving her zoo in taking an active role to protect gorillas in the wild.
Through anecdotal stories, readers get a glimpse into the fascinating lives of gorillas—the familiar gentleness of mothers and fathers toward their infants, power plays and social climbing, the unruly nature of teenagers, the capacity for humor, and the shared sadness by group members as they mourn the death of one of their own. In the end, Armstrong’s conflict with captivity and her lifelong fondness for these animals helped shape a zoo program dedicated to gorilla conservation.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:
AUTHOR BETH ARMSTRONG
Since 2023, Beth Armstrong has been a monthly columnist for the Clintonville Spotlight newspaper. Her essays have appeared in The Columbus Dispatch and 614 Magazine. Prior to becoming a writer, she was a gorilla keeper and the first conservation coordinator for the Columbus Zoo. Those years spent observing animal behaviors taught her the power of quietly watching the world, with many of those moments becoming the basis for her stories.
Beth believes that every person has a story to tell, that stories have the power to change the world, and that stories can alter people’s perspectives by creating space for empathy to grow and thrive.
Beth earned her bachelor’s degree in anthropology from OSU while working full-time at the zoo. She has given numerous lectures at international conferences about captive gorilla behaviors and husbandry, as well as the zoo community’s conservation efforts and commitment.
CONVERSATION PARTNER REBECCA ROSE
Rebecca Rose is the Conservation Liaison for the Ohio Wildlife Center, which operates Central Ohio’s largest native wildlife hospital. Previously, Rebecca served the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium for 30 years as an Environmental Education Specialist and Field Conservation Coordinator, directing the Zoo’s global conservation grants program.
Rebecca is dedicated to grassroots conservation initiatives throughout the world and serves on the board of directors for the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA), and Friends of Bonobos. She is an Ohio Certified Naturalist and is trained as a presenter by the Climate Reality Project.
Rebecca has traveled throughout the U.S., Central and South America, Southeast Asia, and Africa in support of wildlife conservation initiatives. She is a member of the Ohio Bat Working Group, the Ohio Wildlife Rehabilitators Association, and the Ohio State University Environmental Professionals Network.
SCHEDULE:
‣ Picnic Social | 6:00-6:30 pm (Optional)
Enjoy a picnic dinner (ours or yours), unwind on the lawn, and take a free guided tour of Thurber House during this time frame.
‣ Main Program | 6:30-7:30 pm
Sit back, relax, and enjoy the program! You will have the opportunity to ask the speakers questions after the event.
‣ Book Signing | 7:30 pm
Purchase books and get them signed by the author.
REGISTER:
https://www.thurberhouse.org/events/beth-armstrong
ABOUT THE BOOK:
VOICES FROM THE APE HOUSE
Exploring the history humans share with gorillas, Voices from the Ape House offers a behind-the-scenes look at the complicated social lives of western lowland gorillas through the eyes of a devoted zookeeper.
The memoir traces Beth Armstrong’s love and fascination for animals, from her childhood to her work with captive primates as an adult. Through her eyes, readers sense the awe and privilege of working with these animals at the Columbus Zoo. Individual gorillas there had an enormous effect on her life, shaping and influencing her commitment to improving gorilla husbandry and to involving her zoo in taking an active role to protect gorillas in the wild.
Through anecdotal stories, readers get a glimpse into the fascinating lives of gorillas—the familiar gentleness of mothers and fathers toward their infants, power plays and social climbing, the unruly nature of teenagers, the capacity for humor, and the shared sadness by group members as they mourn the death of one of their own. In the end, Armstrong’s conflict with captivity and her lifelong fondness for these animals helped shape a zoo program dedicated to gorilla conservation.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:
AUTHOR BETH ARMSTRONG
Since 2023, Beth Armstrong has been a monthly columnist for the Clintonville Spotlight newspaper. Her essays have appeared in The Columbus Dispatch and 614 Magazine. Prior to becoming a writer, she was a gorilla keeper and the first conservation coordinator for the Columbus Zoo. Those years spent observing animal behaviors taught her the power of quietly watching the world, with many of those moments becoming the basis for her stories.
Beth believes that every person has a story to tell, that stories have the power to change the world, and that stories can alter people’s perspectives by creating space for empathy to grow and thrive.
Beth earned her bachelor’s degree in anthropology from OSU while working full-time at the zoo. She has given numerous lectures at international conferences about captive gorilla behaviors and husbandry, as well as the zoo community’s conservation efforts and commitment.
CONVERSATION PARTNER REBECCA ROSE
Rebecca Rose is the Conservation Liaison for the Ohio Wildlife Center, which operates Central Ohio’s largest native wildlife hospital. Previously, Rebecca served the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium for 30 years as an Environmental Education Specialist and Field Conservation Coordinator, directing the Zoo’s global conservation grants program.
Rebecca is dedicated to grassroots conservation initiatives throughout the world and serves on the board of directors for the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA), and Friends of Bonobos. She is an Ohio Certified Naturalist and is trained as a presenter by the Climate Reality Project.
Rebecca has traveled throughout the U.S., Central and South America, Southeast Asia, and Africa in support of wildlife conservation initiatives. She is a member of the Ohio Bat Working Group, the Ohio Wildlife Rehabilitators Association, and the Ohio State University Environmental Professionals Network.
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Where is it happening?
77 Jefferson Ave, Columbus, OH, United States, Ohio 43215
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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Host or PublisherThurber House
