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"We have created a private room, called 'The Pouch,' and we're accepting 90-minute appointments," said Sierra Cortazzo, owner of Kangaroo Kids and a certified lactation counselor. These one-on-one appointments with a credentialed lactation specialist are designed for new moms with breastfeeding challenges or concerns. Kangaroo Kids also offers shorter one-on-one prenatal education sessions and general educational sessions for less involved questions.

"We have offered free lactation counseling for 17 years on a walk-in basis," Cortazzo said. "People come in whenever they need to, and we stop what we're doing retail-wise to help them. Historically, all employees have been counselors. We've dropped down to two counselors, and it's hard to maintain the free service. We wanted to increase the level of service we offer."

Kangaroo Kids will continue to offer its free nursing moms groups on Thursdays at 12:30 p.m. They also plan to start a Saturday nursing moms group. A formal breastfeeding telephone hotline is in the works, Cortazzo said.

"We're just so excited that we'll be able to offer people private and uninterrupted help," she said. "We can offer such a higher level of service to these moms and babies with private service."

Private consultation costs between $25 for an education session to $90 for a postnatal appointment.

Kangaroo Kids is located at 10030 Manchester Road, St. Louis, Mo., 63122. Call 314-835-9200 for information and appointments.

APRIL 4, 2012 -- Sea Lion Sound, the Saint Louis Zoo's new sea lion exhibit will open on Wednesday, June 30, 2012. It includes salt water pools, an underwater viewing area, an underwater walk-through tunnel and a new arena for sea lion shows. Construction of the exhibit is now 95 percent complete, according to a zoo news release.

The 1.5-acre sea lion habitat and arena will initially house 11 California sea lions and later will include harbor seals. The sea lions — six now at the zoo and five coming from SeaWorld San Antonio — will move into their new habitat this spring. Until the June 30 opening, the animals will be off view so that they can adjust to their new home. Four harbor seals from Storybook Gardens, London, Ontario, are expected to join the sea lions later this summer.

"The ability to see our sea lions so closely, interact with them and learn about them will give visitors the opportunity to form a connection and a new understanding of marine mammals and the need for their conservation," said Jeffrey Bonner, president and CEO of the Saint Louis Zoo.

The new $18 million, 10,400-square-foot Sea Lion Sound offers a naturalistic setting for the animals in a landscape inspired by the Pacific Northwest coast.

A spectacular 35-foot-long underwater viewing tunnel will be the first of its kind for sea lions in North America. Visitors will walk through the clear acrylic tunnel to see sea lions swimming all around them. This area also features a year-round outdoor pool and habitat with varying depths of water, rocky outcroppings and an underwater viewing window.

The Lichtenstein Sea Lion Arena replaces the zoo's former sea lion arena. This new venue features an 811-seat amphitheater for seasonal shows, a large stage, a rock bridge extending into the audience and a high diving platform and slide.

When the exhibit opens on June 30, sea lion shows and animal presentations will be held several times a day. Admission to the First Bank Sea Lion Show will be $4. Admission to Sea Lion Sound exhibit will be free. The former arena closed in fall 2011. There will be no sea lion shows in May or June prior to the exhibit opening.

Construction for Sea Lion Sound began in September 2010 as part of the zoo's Living Promise Campaign.

The Saint Louis Zoo is located at 1 Government Drive, St. Louis, Mo., 63110.

Visitors will get a close-up view of the eight-horse Clydesdale hitch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and photo opportunities will also be provided.

Grant's Farm is home to more than 1,000 feathered, furry and four-legged residents, and features Deer Park, where guests can view animals during a tram ride through the property; the Tier Garten with animal displays and shows; and the Clydesdale Stables.

"Each spring we welcome a number of new baby animals just as we have for almost 60 seasons," said Andy Elmore, general manager of Grant's Farm.

Baby wallabies, buffalo, elk, and whitetail deer will be born at the farm during spring and the beginning of the summer. Not to mention goats. With more than 150 Pygmy goats born at the farm this year, guests will once again have an opportunity to meet and feed the babies — a long-standing tradition dating back to 1954 — the farm's first year open to the public.

Grant's Farm is only open Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Sundays, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., through April 29. Beginning May 1, the farm is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and the farm is closed on Mondays except Memorial day. Admission is free, but parking is $12 per car.

Grant's Farm is located at 10501 Gravois Road, St. Louis, Mo., 63123. Call 314-843-1700 for more information. 

MARCH 29, 2012 -- When Don Robinson died March 19, 2012, at the age of 84, he ensured that his legacy would be a place for all to enjoy the Missouri's unique natural beauty.

"The Missouri Department of Natural Resources and Missouri State Parks are saddened by the passing of Don Robinson," said Bill Bryan, director of Missouri State Parks. "We are humbled that Don Robinson chose to donate his land to the Missouri State Park system. The Missouri State Park system will continue to preserve the natural landscapes of this property and will offer recreational opportunities for the public to enjoy in the near future. The Don Robinson State Park will become an invaluable addition to the Missouri State Park system."

Don Robinson State Park will be located in the upper watershed of the LaBarque Creek, just 38 miles southwest of St. Louis in Cedar Hill, making it a perfect spot for area families to spend a day in Missouri's outdoors. To learn more about plans for Don Robinson State Park and the rest of Missouri's state parks, visit mostateparks.com.

St. Louis Sprout will continue to follow this story and share more details on opening dates and amenities when that information becomes available.

Photo courtesy of Missouri State Parks.