FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                  May 20, 2010

 

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. Children’s Zoo (Barnyard)
• 1:30 p.m. Andean Condor (across from picnic pavilions)
• 1:30 p.m. Great EscApe
• 2:00 p.m. Indian Rhino
• 2:30 p.m. Beaver/Otter (Oklahoma Trails)
• 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. Children’s Zoo (Grandma’s Porch)
• 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. Indian Rhino
• 2:30 p.m. Beaver/Otter (Oklahoma Trails)
• 3:00 p.m. Grizzly Bears (Oklahoma Trails)
• 3:30 p.m. Lower Aquarium (Noble Aquatic Center)
• 4:00 p.m. Bird Aviary (Oklahoma Trails)

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 4 with exhibit buildings closing at 7:45 p.m.  

 

JUNE 1–AUGUST 31:  OBI AND ZOO SUMMER PARTNERSHIP

            Feel wild. 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–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 01:  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 Grandma’s Porch in the new Children’s Zoo and are hosted by volunteers from the Junior League of Oklahoma City. Wait there’s more! Donate a children’s book on the morning of Tuesday, June 1 and receive a voucher for one child’s admittance into the Zoo compliments of Bank of Oklahoma. Vouchers will be distributed from the Bank of Oklahoma table located at the Zoo’s front entrance.  

 

JUNE - JULY:  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 areas
• Option B:  Pachyderm, Cat Forest, Antelope, Great EscApe and Giraffe areas

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

 

JUNE 08-30:   WORLD OCEANS CELEBRATION AT THE OKLAHOMA CITY ZOO

The Oklahoma City Zoo is so excited about celebrating World Oceans Day that we’re celebrating for a whole month! Throughout the month of June learn about water conservation and ways to help protect wildlife and wild places during our sea lion shows, animal feeds and special events at the Zoo. The fun kicks off on Tuesday, June 8 with a complimentary party favor for the first 500 children ages 11 and under to visit the Zoo. The “aquatic amusement” continues:  

• Tuesday, June 15: Party favor for the first 500 children ages 11 and under to visit the Zoo.
• Saturday, June 19: Join us for Summer Season Celebration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and some wild water fun!
• Tuesday, June 22: Party favor for the first 500 children ages 11 and under to visit the Zoo.
• Tuesday, June 29: Party favor for the first 500 children ages 11 and under to visit the Zoo.

• Animal feeds on Saturdays at 3:30 p.m. in the Upper Aquarium and on Sundays at 3:30 p.m. in the Lower Aquarium at the Noble Aquatic Center.

 

 JUNE 11:  ZOOBILATION 2010

            You are invited to Zoobilation 2010– A great cause. A wild time! The Oklahoma Zoological Society (OZS) and the Oklahoma City Zoo invite you to Zoobilation 2010 on Friday, June 11 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 Born in November featuring CPlus. For an invitation to Zoobilation call (405) 425-0612 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. This year, the celebration does not end at 11 p.m.! Be sure to make plans to join us at the 51^st St. Speakeasy for the Zoobilation After Party! Your ticket to Zoobilation will get you in the door free of charge where the party will be continued with grooves from Born in November featuring Cplus. This after party will be open to the public and the cover will be $5 a person.  A portion of the cover charge will be donated back to the Oklahoma Zoological Society. 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 11 to prepare for Zoobilation. Visitors are encouraged to visit early this day.

 

JUNE 19:  SUMMER SEASON CELEBRATION

            Join the Zoo for a “fun”tastic summer event during Summer Season Celebration.  On Saturday, June 19 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 19:  CAMP WITH THE KEEPERS

            Join us for an extraordinary wildlife experience hosted by the Zoo’s chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers! Overnight campers will be treated to activities, animal presentations, night and morning hikes, a light evening snacks and continental breakfast. Better yet, all proceeds will support Zoo conservation efforts! The cost is $25 per child and $15 per adults. Campers must be over the age of four and accompanied by a parent. Pre-registration is required no later than June 12. To register, please call (405) 425-0218 or visit http://okczoo.recware.com.

 

JUNE 20:  FATHER’S DAY

Sunday, June 20 is Father’s Day and today all dads get into the Zoo for free with any paid admission!

 

JUNE 26:  BOWLING FOR RHINOS

                Roll out for a good cause and take part in the 16th 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 26 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, contact Melissa Kesler at (405) 425-0257 or outreach@okczoo.com. Registration forms are also available in the Zoo’s Guest Relations office and at www.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 more than $208,000 since 1992 to benefit rhino conservation. Let’s keep the effort rolling!

 

JUNE 27: SCOOT FOR CONSERVATION

            Rev up your engines for the wildest ride in town and join the Oklahoma City Zoo, Atomic Brown Scooter Shop, Pops, Irma’s Burger Shack, Kolache Kitchen and KRXO 107.7 for the 2^nd annual Oklahoma City Zoo Scoot for Conservation. The scoot will be held Sunday, June 27 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and all proceeds benefit the Zoo’s conservation projects. Registration will be available online beginning June 1 at www.okczoo.com. Cost is $25 per person. The first 107 registrants receive an official event t-shirt. All participants will be eligible for door prizes and goodies along the route.

 

July is wild with fun events for all. Look what’s coming…

 

• Tuesdays in July:  Wild Tuesdays Storytime Safaris
• Wednesdays in July:  Way Back Wednesdays - $1 admission plus concession and ride specials!
• July 1: Morning Zoo Rise – Zoo opens at 8 a.m. daily.
• July 17: Sales Tax Appreciation Day – admission is free!

 

Visit the Oklahoma City Zoo, the state’s #1 attraction and one of the top three family-friendly zoos in the nation–the wild is calling! Located at the crossroads of I-35 and I-44 in the heart of Oklahoma City’s Adventure District, the Zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with exhibit building closing at 4:45 p.m. Saturdays through September 4, the Zoo will remain open until 8 p.m. on Saturdays only with exhibit buildings 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. Friend us on Facebook!

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