Now You See Me

About the Book

Diane spent many hours walking the paths at the zoo photographing all the animals, not only at the city zoo but also the Children’s Zoo. When the Children’s Zoo was closed many of the animals she had come to know only to meet them again when they were relocated at the city zoo.

While on one of her photographic journeys to the main zoo, she happened to meet a wonderful man who was a docent, that is considered a mini-zoologist and is able to educate the visitors on facts the different animals and answer the many questions they had. After a pleasant conversation she was told she would make a good docent. The first opportunity did not begin until later that year but she volunteered and was trained as an educator in the Outback, where she educated visitors about the Red Kangaroos and eventually Bennett’s Wallaby. When the docent program was finally open she signed up and began her education in the study of different species of animals, habitats, behaviors and conservation. It was because of her educational background, she was asked to become one of the docents’ advanced educational programs. This program gave her the opportunity to visit schools, libraries, retirement centers and a number of other establishments where she did presentations on many topics where she showed skulls, skins and replicas of the animals. She believes that hands on approach along with a visual presentation will pique the interest in the conservation of the futures of these animals.

She supports many conservation organizations that bring awareness to the public about the many animals that are suffering from many dangers that are causing their numbers to sadly decrease to a level of near extinction. Zoos across the country and abroad participate in the Species Survival Program where animals that are on the brink of extinction have attempts to reproduce and keep the species alive.

Diane’s current position is as Director of Youth Education at the Belle Isle Aquarium in Detroit where she teaches the world of marine life and the dangers facing our oceans.

About the Author

Diane Brischke was born in Detroit, Michigan but later grew up in Eastpointe where she now resides with her sister, four turtles, two tortoises and number of Betta tanks and one dog. After graduating from South Lake High School in 1966, she was admitted to Wayne State University where she received an undergraduate degree in Bachelor of Arts. She continued her education to receive a Master’s Degree in Education and a Master’s Degree in Learning Disabilities. Diane went on to begin her teaching career at Ferry Elementary School in Detroit where she taught grades from first to third. Given the opportunity to change her teaching position, Diane accepted a teacher position in the preschool where she remained until retiring in 2004. Diane’s interest has always been to incorporate the use of animals in all of the subjects presented in her classroom. She took this opportunity to take her classes on field trips to the city zoo, the children’s zoo and aquarium. Diane’s love of animals has given her the opportunity to photograph wildlife. She volunteered to be a docent at the city zoo where she continued educating visitors especially children about the animals and their behaviors and habitats. She supports many conservation organizations that bring awareness to the public about the many animals that are suffering from many dangers that are causing their numbers to sadly decrease to a level of near extinction. Diane’s current position is as Director of Youth Education at the Belle Isle Aquarium in Detroit where she teaches the world of marine life and the dangers facing our oceans.