FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                         June 2, 2009 

JUNE HAPPENINGS AT THE OKC ZOO

 

CONTACTS:  Tara Henson                 (405) 425-0219, office, (405) 919-9038, cell or thenson@okczoo.com

                        Candice Rennels           (405) 425-0298, office, (405) 412-6172, cell or crennels@okczoo.com

 

 

NOW–OCTOBER:  ANIMAL FEEDS

Watch and learn about some of the Zoo’s scaled, feathered and furry friends during regularly scheduled animal feedings taking place now through October! See the schedule below. All feedings are weather permitting.

SATURDAYS:

• 10:30 a.m. Spectacled Bear (Wild Dog Drive)
• 11:00 a.m. Sam Moore Aviary
• 1:30 p.m. Andean Condor (across from picnic pavilions)
• 1:30 p.m. Great EscApe
• 2:00 p.m. Pygmy Hippopotamus
• 2:30 p.m. Bats (Oklahoma Trails Nocturnal Barn)
• 3:00 p.m. Grizzly Bears (Oklahoma Trails)
• 3:30 p.m. Upper Aquarium (Noble Aquatic Center)
• 4:00 p.m. Alligators (Oklahoma Trails)

SUNDAYS:

• 10:30 a.m. Giraffe
• 11:00 a.m. Butterfly Garden (lakeside)
• 11:30 a.m. Galapagos Tortoise (Island Life)
• 1:30 p.m. Andean Condor (across from picnic pavilions)
• 1:30 p.m. Great EscApe
• 2:00 p.m. Pygmy Hippopotamus
• 2:30 p.m. Bats (Oklahoma Trails Nocturnal Barn)
• 3:00 p.m. Grizzly Bears (Oklahoma Trails)
• 3:30 p.m. Lower Aquarium (Noble Aquatic Center)

TUESDAYS:

• 11:00 a.m. Alligators (Oklahoma Trails)

NOW–SEPTEMBER:  SATURDAYS EQUAL MORE TIME TO PLAY AND DISCOVER!

Stay late and play on Saturdays. The Zoo will remain open until 8 p.m. on Saturdays though September with exhibit buildings and Dinosaurs Unearthed closing at 7:45 p.m. (Dinosaurs Unearthed is at the Zoo until June 30.)

JUNE 1–AUGUST 31:  OBI AND ZOO SUMMER PARTNERSHIP

Feel good. Give blood. Visit the Zoo–for free! The Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) and the Oklahoma City Zoo are teaming up for a good cause. When you donate blood at any OBI drive between June 1 and August 31, you will receive two free adult admission tickets to the Zoo, an OBI T-shirt, health screenings and Members for Life Points. For more information, visit www.obi.org.

JUNE 1–AUGUST 31:  VALVOLINE PROMOTION

Go green with Valvoline! Purchase any of the Valvoline Professional Series solvent-free products and receive a certificate good for one free admission to the Oklahoma City Zoo (or any participating zoo or aquarium) with the purchase of one standard adult admission ticket. For more information, see your local Valvoline retailer or visit www.aza.org.

JUNE–AUGUST:  SUMMER DAY CAMPS AT THE ZOO

This summer send your kids on safari with the Zoo’s summer day camps. These exciting and enriching four-day camps will provide endless entertainment for your child! Campers will have the opportunity to experience an animal up-close, crafts, games and walks around the Zoo!  The scoop on summer camps...

• All camps meet Tuesday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Zoo’s Education Department.
• Camps are designed for children four to 15 years old.
• Cost is $85 per child with a ZooFriends membership and $95 per child for non-members.
• Advance registration and payment is required.
• A snack will be provided but children need to bring their own lunch.

Birth certificates are required to verify age. Registrations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis and may be made online at http://okczoo.recware.com or by calling the Zoo’s Education Department at (405) 425-0218.

JUNE 1-30:  DINOSAURS UNEARTHED

Discover Dinosaurs Unearthed, a full-blown dino-reality experience on exhibit at the Zoo. See such prehistoric giants as T-Rex, Stegosaurus, Triceratops and many others—moving, roaring, life-size animatronic wonders that will take your breath away! But hurry–by June 30, these dinosaurs will vanish all over again. Presented by Dr Pepper, Dinosaurs Unearthed is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. and on Saturdays until 7:45 p.m., and is part of your paid admission.

 JUNE:  WILD TUESDAYS STORY TIME SAFARIS

Every Tuesday in June, children ages 11 and under will enjoy fascinating stories, a meet-and-greet with a Zoo keeper or naturalist, a craft activity and a free juice drink. Story time sessions take place at 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. at the Judy Memorial Garden (across from the Pachyderm Building) and are sponsored by the Junior League of Oklahoma City. Also on Tuesdays the first 100 children who bring a book to the Zoo between 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. will receive a voucher for free zoo admission compliments of Bank of Oklahoma. Vouchers will be distributed from the Bank of Oklahoma table located at the Zoo’s front entrance. For more information, call the Zoo at (405) 425-0262.

JUNE:  BEHIND THE SCENES:  AN ENRICHING EXPERIENCE

Be an animal keeper for a day and discover first-hand how the Zoo cares for its animal collection. Enroll in our Behind the Scenes:  An Enriching Experience program and meet the faces of conservation by working with Zoo keepers from various areas. See how we safely work with animals to keep them active and healthy! These experiences take place every Tuesday in June and July from 8:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and participants must be 14 or older.  The cost per day is $100 for ZooFriends members and $120 for non-members, and advanced registration is required.  Participants may choose one of two options:

• Option A: Herpetarium, Sea Lions, Aquaticus and Children’s Zoo area
• Option B:  Pachyderm, Cat Forest, Antelope, Great EscApe and Giraffe

For information or to register, please contact the Zoo’s Education Department at (405) 425-0218.

JUNE 6:  CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK “WALK FOR MIRACLES”

Take steps in support of The Children’s Miracle Network by participating in the 3^rd Annual “Walk For Miracles” taking place at the Oklahoma City Zoo on Saturday, June 6. Registration begins at 9 a.m. at the Zoo’s former entry plaza (located by the Jungle Gym Playground). The walk begins at 10 a.m.  All participants will receive $1 admission to the Zoo for that day.  For more information, contact Sue Osban at (405) 249-4211.

JUNE 6:  ADULT VOLUNTEER OPEN HOUSE

Be a part of one of the top zoos in the nation by joining our team as a volunteer!  On Saturday, June 6, the Zoo is hosting an open house for adults ages 18 and older who are interested in volunteering with the Zoo. If you are interested in working with the Zoo’s plants, animals or guests, come to this orientation at noon in the Zoo’s Rosser Conservation Education Center.  Brief interviews immediately follow orientation.  To learn more contact the Zoo’s Education Department at (405) 425-0275.

JUNE 19:  ZOOBILATION 2009 FEATURING GRAHAM COLTON

You are invited to an evening of fun on the wild side! The Oklahoma Zoological Society (OZS) and the Oklahoma City Zoo invite you to Zoobilation 2009 on Friday, June 19 from 7 to 11 p.m. Zoobilation is the largest fundraiser of the year specifically to support the Oklahoma City Zoo. The evening includes a private night on Zoo grounds where guests will enjoy gourmet food, a silent auction, dancing and music from Oklahoma’s own Graham Colton. All proceeds from Zoobilation will go toward building a new Children’s Zoo set to open in 2010. For an invitation to Zoobilation call (405) 425-0611 or go online to www.zoofriends.com. Individual tickets are $75 each and group tickets of 10 or more cost $65 each. Price includes an invitation to the Zoo for an evening of food, drink and entertainment. Tickets purchased after June 10th will be held at Will Call. This event will be held rain or shine and guests must be 21 years or older to attend. The Zoo will be closing at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 19 to prepare for Zoobilation. Visitors are encouraged to visit early this day.

JUNE 20:  SUMMER SEASON CELEBRATION

Join the Zoo for a “fun”tastic summer event during Summer Season Celebration.  On Saturday, June 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., guests can enjoy a variety of craft activities, summer safety information booths, giveaways and more.  This event is free with regular Zoo admission.

JUNE 21:  KKNG’S “KING OF THE JUNGLE"

 Does your “King of the Jungle” deserve something special for Father’s Day?  KKNG 93.3 FM and the Zoo are celebrating Father’s Day by hosting the KKNG “King of the Jungle” giveaway!  From June 8-21, listen to KKNG 93.3 FM to find out how your dad can get his very own Father’s Day shirt.  Then on Sunday, June 21, come out to the Zoo from 1 to 3 p.m. and if Dad is spotted in his shirt, he could win $93.  There’s more!  Find the KKNG booth at the Zoo and register to win a wild prize.  For more information and official contest rules, log on to www.kkng.com. Plus, Dad receives free Zoo admission with purchase of any paid admission on Father’s Day.

JUNE 27:  BOWLING FOR RHINOS

Roll out for a good cause and take part in the 16^th Annual Bowling for Rhinos!  The Zoo’s chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK) will host this fun-filled event on Saturday, June 27 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Heritage Lanes Bowling Alley, 11917 N. Pennsylvania Ave.  The cost is $20 per bowler. The fee includes three games of bowling, shoe rental, a Bowling for Rhinos T-shirt and door prize opportunities.  Space is limited, so pre-registration is recommended.  To register call the Zoo’s Guest Relations office at (405) 425-0262 or download a form from our web site at okczoo.com.  All proceeds from Bowling for Rhinos benefit rhino conservation projects in Asia and Africa.  Out of the 100 species of rhinos that formerly roamed the Earth, only five exist today.  All five rhino species—Black, White, Sumatran, Javan and Indian—are considered endangered.  Some species have fewer than 100 animals alive today, making extinction a real possibility unless conservation efforts help turn the fate of these mammoth pachyderms. Through community and sponsorship support, the Zoo’s Bowling for Rhinos event has raised over $120,000 in the past five years to benefit rhino conservation. Let’s keep the effort rolling!

JUNE 28:  OKC ZOO SCOOT FOR CONSERVATION

Rev up your engines for the wildest ride in town and join the Oklahoma City Zoo and KRXO 107.7 for the 1st Oklahoma City Zoo Scoot for Conservation. This inaugural scoot will be held Sunday, June 28 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and all proceeds benefit the Zoo’s conservation projects. There will be a total of five stops on the route beginning at Atomic Brown Scooter Shop and ending at the wildest place in town, the Zoo! Scooterists can enjoy special offers at each stop as well as chances to win fabulous prizes! A grand prize drawing will be held at the Zoo for a $250 gift certificate from Atomic Brown. Plus, all registrants will receive complimentary admission to the Zoo after the ride. All this for only $20 per individual. Pre-registration begins June 1 online at okczoo.com and walk-ups the day of (at Atomic Brown Scooter Shop only) are also welcome. Be one of the first 107 people to register and receive a commemorative Scoot for Conservation T-shirt. For more information, call (405) 425-0262 or visit okczoo.com to register. Sponsors include Atomic Brown Scooter Shop, Irma’s Burger Shack, KRXO 107.7, OZS ZooFriends, Remington Park, Shartel Café and the Zoo.

 

Coming in July:

• Tuesdays in July:  Wild Tuesdays Story Time Safaris
• Wednesdays in July:  Way Back Wednesdays–$.75 admission and specials!
• July 1:  Morning Zoo Rise begins– Zoo opens at 8 a.m. daily.
• July 17:  Sales Tax Appreciation Day–admission is free!

 

Oklahoma’s #1 attraction and one of the top three family-friendly zoos in the nation, visit the Oklahoma City Zoo today. The wild is calling! Located at NE 52nd and Martin Luther King Blvd., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73111, in the heart of Oklahoma City’s Adventure District, the Zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Now through September, the Zoo will remain open until 8 p.m. on Saturdays with exhibit buildings and Dinosaurs Unearthed closing at 7:45 p.m. Admission is $7 for adults and $4 for children ages three to 11 and seniors ages 65 and older. Children two and under are free. For more information, call (405) 424-3344 or visit okczoo.com.

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