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We’re celebrating the extraordinary service of a special group of volunteers who’ve been with the Zoo for 50+ years! These dedicated docents have seen it all—from pith helmets to polar bears to pandas for the ‘84 Olympics—and they’re sharing the memories and moments that have made it all worthwhile to them for five decades.

I sit perched on the edge of an examination table with barely contained excitement. A nurse enters with a small syringe in hand, and my smile stretches widely as she wipes my arm with a cool alcohol swab. A rush of anticipation flutters in my chest; today I’m getting the rabies vaccine! It marks the first step toward realizing my 20-year dream of working with bats.