FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - Mental health is such an important part of overall wellness, and the Fresno Chaffee Zoo, in conjunction with Community and other partners, have come together to support a program that is fantastic for kids called "Art in the Wild." “Art in the wild is an opportunity for the students not only to just enjoy the zoo, but also for them to explore what art can bring to the experience. It helps them connect deeper with the animals,” said Bricken Sparacino, director of learning at Fresno Chaffee Zoo. “They're going to learn about sketching and one of our art experts here at the zoo, who's also one of our educators, is going to teach them some of the basic tools you need." Click here for more MedWatch Today Click here for Community Medical Centers' homepage The kids arrive once a week after school at one of the education centers at the zoo. They get a snack and dive into exploring nature for the day. “It allows children who wouldn't otherwise hang out in nature an opportunity to just look at the world around them and see the beauty. And because they are at the zoo, the nature they get to experience is nature from all over the world,” said Sparacino. The program is multi-faceted. Besides learning about animals and art, the kids get outside and get moving. “It can provide us with physical health because you're walking all over the zoo and getting your steps in. And then the art component helps us to express our emotions in a really positive way,” Sparacino said. Additionally, the program makes a positive impact on the kid’s mental health, alleviating stress and providing a sense of security. “These children come from places where they don't have permanent homes. And so they're living in temporary housing. And often when they come home after school, they don't have a safe, comfortable place to hang out like you or I might have when we were children,” Sparacino said. Thanks to several partnerships the zoo hopes to have an even bigger impact going forward. “We can make a little bit of impact here with what we have, but with the support of people like Community, we can then grow the program, we can do more, we can reach more kids."