SALISBURY — Students from four counties - including from Warwick Elementary School in Secretary - are out raising money to support special projects for the Salisbury Zoo. They are part of the Delmarva Zoological Society’s (DZS) Just Zoo It! campaign to raise money for capital improvement projects at the Salisbury Zoo.

This is the seventh year for Just Zoo It!, which has raised more than $180,000 in nickels, dimes and quarters for DZS. All the money raised goes to help Renew the Zoo, including several projects that are already under way.

The Andean Bear exhibit received funding to improve fencing and gate entries over this past year thanks to the Just Zoo It! campaign in 2016.

DZS has partnered with area schools to distribute the specially made Just Zoo It cans which were donated by Pepsi Bottling Ventures in Salisbury. The staff at Lower Shore Enterprises helped wrap the cans with the Just Zoo It labels.

“Seeing how much students all over the Delmarva Peninsula love the Zoo helps motivate us to work even harder to make sure we have an outstanding Zoo in our community,” DZS Board Chair Ashley Bosche said in a prepared statement. “We know how special the Zoo is and it’s gratifying to see it reflected in the excitement every year of these students who want to do something to give back.”

The class that raises the most money from each county will be rewarded with a special all-expense paid trip to the Zoo this spring, including a pizza party, T-shirts, and a stuffed animal to take home. They also get to meet Zookeepers and interact with some of the animals during a special tour. In addition, a random participating class will also win an all-expense paid trip to the Zoo.

This year the class that raises the most overall will also get a VIP tour which includes interactions with several new species of animals at the zoo and learn what it means to be a zookeeper.

In addition, parents, grandparents, friends and neighbors can donate online at www.RenewTheZoo.com to help that child’s classroom reach their fund-raising goals.

Filled cans should be returned to each child’s classroom for credit for that class before Nov. 8. Filled cans can also be dropped off at any First Shore Federal location.

The Delmarva Zoological Society, Inc. is the 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that was created to raise funds for the Salisbury Zoo. To learn more about Just Zoo It or DZS, go to RenewTheZoo.com.