MAY HAPPENINGS

MAY - SEPTEMBER   SATURDAYS EQUAL MORE TIME TO PLAY AND DISCOVER!

            From April through September, the Oklahoma City Zoo will remain open until 8 p.m. on Saturdays with exhibit buildings and Dinosaurs Unearthed closing at 7:45 p.m. Dinosaurs Unearthed is at the Zoo until June 30!

MAY - AUGUST        VALVOLINE ZOO PROMOTION

            Join Valvoline as they encourage citizens to reduce, recycle and reuse by promoting their latest line of solvent-free products. 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.

MAY 9                        OSTRICH EGG BREAKFAST

            Rise and shine for one of the tastiest traditions in town! OZS ZooFriends will host the 23rd annual Ostrich Egg Breakfast on Saturday, May 9 from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Zoo. This wild morning includes all-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage, scrambled hens’ eggs,  the famous ostrich egg omelets and new this year – waffles and Krispy Kreme doughnuts! Tickets are $8 per adult and $5 per child for ZooFriends members, and $10 per adult and $7 per child for nonmembers. Children two and under eat free. Ticket prices include Zoo admission, breakfast and sea lion show admission. Event T-shirts custom designed by the late cartoon artist Jim Lange and his son Robert Lange are also available for sale at $10 for adult sizes and $7 for youth sizes. To order tickets or T-shirts, log on to the OZS ZooFriends web site at www.zoofriends.org or call ZooFriends at (405) 427-2461, ext. 618.

MAY 9                        CLEAN AIR CHALLENGE 5K RUN/WALK AT THE ZOO

            Run or walk to the Zoo and support clean air! In an effort to raise funds and increase awareness of clean air issues and how they affect our ability to breathe, the American Lung Association is holding its second annual Clean Air Challenge 5K at the Oklahoma City Zoo on Saturday, May 9. Registration begins at 8 a.m., the Kid’s Dash starts at 9 a.m., the 5K run begins at 9:15 a.m. and the Fun Walk at 9:30 a.m. Teams and individuals are encouraged to collect sponsor pledges to support their participation in the event. Funds raised by walkers go to support research, education and advocacy for programs in Oklahoma City and surrounding communities. For more information or to register a team, contact Jennifer Williams with the American Lung Association of Oklahoma at (405) 748-4674 ext. 205 or visit www.breathehealthy.org/okccac to learn more. All registered participants will enjoy free admission into the Zoo that day.

MAY 9                        INTERNATIONAL MIGRATORY BIRD & PLANT CONSERVATION DAY

            The day is going to the birds and plants as the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden celebrates International Migratory Bird and Plant Conservation Day! Be an early bird and join the Zoo’s bird team as they lead a free guided bird-watching tour on Zoo grounds from 6:30 to 8 a.m. Meet at the Zoo’s main gate at 6:30 a.m. to join the group. A biologist from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife will be assisting with the tours.  Later in the day, explore the Zoo and visit exciting information booths with bird posters, bird stickers and coloring for the kids from

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Zoo’s Global Plaza, and learn about plant and migratory bird issues while having fun and interacting with some of the Zoo’s favorite feathered friends. There will also be some fabulous plants for sale in the Global Plaza. Regular Zoo admission applies after 9 a.m.

MAY 9                        ZOOLYMPICS

            On your mark, get set, GO! To the Zoo for Zoolympics, that is, and learn fun facts about the animal world. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. children 11 and under are invited to participate in various activities that include learning about animal behaviors, conservation, and health and fitness! This fun-filled event is free with admission and will take place on Zoo grounds. Activity maps will be available at the turnstiles.

MAY 10                      MOTHER’S DAY AT THE ZOO

            Look Mom, no charge! Mothers receive free admission with any paid admission on Sunday, May 10.

MAY 12                      JUNIOR CURATOR OPEN HOUSE

            Interested in what goes on behind the scenes at the Zoo?  The Zoo is looking for dedicated, enthusiastic teen volunteers between the ages of 14 and 18 to join our Junior Curator program.   On Tuesday, May 12 from 6 to 7 p.m., there will be a Junior Curator open house at the Zoo’s Rosser Conservation Education Center. Meet and greet current Junior Curators and ask them questions and take in a program orientation and an overview of the application and interview process. The Junior Curator program is a great opportunity for young people to learn about the Zoo and our animals, special events and other programs. Each year 35 Junior Curators are selected, and they each work 100 hours at the Zoo during the following year. Junior Curator applications will be available at the Zoo’s Education Department, Guest Relations office and online at www.okczoo.com starting May 15. The application deadline is June 15. For more information, contact Lizabeth Ogle at (405) 425-0275.

MAY 15                      ENDANGERED SPECIES DAY

            Support animal conservation and endangered species by journeying to the Zoo on Friday, May 15 for Endangered Species Day. With a theme of “Endangered Means There is Still Time,” the Zoo will have information stations from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the exhibits of endangered species such as the rhino, snow leopard, Galapagos tortoise, gorilla, condor and others. Learn about the past, present and future of these endangered species while observing the fascinating animals in their habitats. This event is free with Zoo admission.

MAY 16                      LUPUS WALK

            Take a walk on the wild side and help support the Oklahoma Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America. The annual “Lupus Walk” will be at the Zoo on Saturday, May 16 from 8 to 11 a.m. To learn more, call (405) 427-8787.

MAY 22                      FLOWERS IN FLIGHT OPENING FOR THE SEASON

            Starting May 22, an explosion of color will be happening at the Oklahoma City Zoo as our butterfly garden exhibit, Flowers in Flight; The Butterfly Experience will be in full bloom and open to the public. Located inside the Pachyderm Building, Flowers in Flight is open Sunday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., weather permitting. This butterfly experience houses 200 to 300 butterflies representing various species native to the state of Oklahoma and is free with Zoo admission. 

Look what’s happening in June:       

               Wild Tuesdays Story Time Safaris    

               Summer Season Celebration

               Father’s Day                                               

               Zoobilation

            There’s more to see and do in the month of May at the Zoo, Oklahoma’s #1 attraction and one of the top three family-friendly zoos in the nation! The wild is calling! Located at NE 52nd at 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. April 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.