San Joaquin Zoological Society

The San Joaquin Zoological Society is a nonprofit organization created to support the Micke Grove Zoo in Stockton. The society is dedicated to providing educational experiences and a place of wonder for children.

The society has an all-volunteer board of directors, while the zoo itself is managed by the San Joaquin County Parks and Recreation Department, with funding from the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors. The Zoological Society seeks to provide 21st-century care for the animals and educational, joyous experiences for members in the community—especially the children.

It’s a vision that hews to the original purpose of the zoo, which was gifted to the community by William and Julia Micke in 1957 as a place for the “education and enjoyment of children.” The society works to make the zoo a community asset, but it also has a larger goal: to seek accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

The Micke Grove Zoo was accredited between 1990 and 2006; to regain that status, it must meet the AZA’s current standards of animal care. The society is looking at AZA-accredited zoos that implement best practices and enhanced visitor experiences, but it is also soliciting ideas from local residents.