FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                    September 5, 2012

 

 

CONTACTS:  Candice Rennels: (405) 425-0298 (o), (405) 412-6172 (c) or crennels@okczoo.com 

                 Tara Henson:  (405) 425-0219 (o), (405) 919-9038 (c) or thenson@okczoo.com 

 

SEPTEMBER OKLAHOMA CITY ZOO HAPPENINGS 

 

SEPTEMBER 15:   TEACHERS’ SNEAK PEEK

This year’s Teachers’ Sneak Peek is Saturday, September 15, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For one day only, visit five Oklahoma City Adventure District locations to learn about affordable educational programs and speak with representatives about educational resources for students and classrooms. Located at the crossroads of I-35 and I-44, the Adventure District comprises:

• Remington Park, 1 Remington Place
• National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St.
• Oklahoma City Zoo, 2000 Remington Place
• ASA National Softball Hall of Fame and Museum, 2801 NE 50th St.
• Science Museum Oklahoma, 2100 NE 52nd St.

Visiting all five locations provides:

• Free admission for teachers and three family members to any participating attraction for the remainder of the day!
• Eligibility for drawings for prizes, including free field trips, suite packages from Remington Park, gift baskets and teacher supply bags from The Museum Store at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, and more!

Teachers and principals can register for this come-and-go event at www.okcadventure.com/teachers-sneak-peek by September 10 at 5 p.m., or on-site registration is available the day of the event. For more information, contact Tiffany Batdorf, manager for Oklahoma City's Adventure District, at (405) 290-PLAY (7529).

 

SEPTEMBER 21:  ZOOFRIENDS MEMBER-ONLY FAMILY FUN NIGHT

Don’t miss out on this fun-filled night for the entire family! Become a ZooFriends member and head to the Oklahoma City Zoo on September 21 from 5 to 8 p.m. You can participate in great meal deals, “super” special guest appearances, free rides, the sea lion show, zoo keeper chats, teddy bear check-ups and free comic books for the first 750 kids. For more information, call (405) 425-0618. See you there!

 

NOW THROUGH SEPTEMBER:   ZOO EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Dates are set for the Zoo’s fall educational programs. For questions and pre-registration, please call (405) 425-0218.

Toddler Programs

Check out our programs for you and your little ones! Toddlers delight in our animals through crafts, activities, discovery stations, presentations and/or guided Zoo excursions.

• 2 Years: On the Run, Sept. 6 or 8
• 3 Years: “T” is for Turtle, Sept. 13 or 15
• 4-5 Years: Catty Corner, Sept. 22

Family Programs

• 4 Years and Up: Overnight ZooSnooze, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. - Sept. 8 at 9 a.m.  Discover how animals at night survive in low light. Create lasting memories on a guided night hike with zoo animals, sounds, smells and stars. Cap your evening with campfire stories and snacks, before bunking down in our classrooms. Rise the next morning for juice, pastries and another guided tour of animals. Parent must accompany children. Cost: $25 per child, $10 per adult.

• All Ages: Monarch Migration, Sept. 17 - 22, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., daily. Each year cooler temperatures send monarchs south to the same trees within Mexico’s high forests. How do these migratory butterflies find a place they have never been? Flutter by the Zoo’s Butterfly Garden to catch the excitement this fall. FREE with paid Zoo admission.

School’s Out Day Camps

Want a unique adventure for your child during school holidays? Advance registration and payment of $30 per child, per day is required. Campers must bring their lunch, but snacks are provided.

• 4 - 12 Years: Tues. Sept. 4, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• 4 - 12 Years: Fri. Sept. 7, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Home School Programs

Want to learn who’s who at the Zoo? Each month focuses on a group of animals and includes an animal encounter and exhibit tour. Learn the characteristics, habitats and adaptations that make each unique. For more information, visit www.okczooed.com/homeschool.

• Biodiversity – Friday, Sept. 14, 10 a.m. 
• Mammals – Friday, Oct. 12, 10 a.m. 
• Amphibians – Friday, Nov. 9, 10 a.m. 
• Fish – Friday, Dec. 14, 10 a.m.

Scout Programs

Back by popular demand, Girl Scout and Boy Scout badge programs will resume in October and November. Visit www.okczooed.com/scouts for more information.

 

SEPTEMBER 2012 THROUGH MAY 2013:   NATURE EXPLORER PRESCHOOL PROGRAM

The Zoo’s preschool program helps your child’s development by providing personal connections with nature’s building blocks. And children grow up with the knowledge, passion and ability to help save plants and animals.  For more info, visit www.okczooed.com or contact Early Childhood Naturalist Randelyon at (405) 425-0257.

• 3 - 5 Years: September 2012 - May 2013
• Tues., Wed., Thurs., 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• Option to enroll in 2 or 3 days per week.

 

SEPTEMBER 28:   ZOOBREW

September at the Oklahoma City Zoo can only mean one thing…ZooBrew! The 4^th annual ZooBrew begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday, September 28. Come and sample more than 30 different beers from local breweries and distributors while enjoying music from Shock. You will also enjoy a silent auction and $3 meal deals. Tickets, limited to 750 guests, are $30 for ZooFriends’ members, $35 for non-members and $10 for designated drivers. If you want an early taste of ZooBrew, then Pre-Brew is for you. Be among 100 guests who are admitted an hour early to sample high-end beers and munch on delicious appetizers. Tickets for Pre-Brew are $60 and include admission to ZooBrew. All guests must be 21 or older to attend. IDs will be checked at the gate.  To purchase tickets or get more information, visit www.zoofriends.org/zoobrew-iv or call (405) 425-0618.

 

September 8, 2012, THROUGH June 1, 2013:   ENRICHED: ANIMAL ART from the OKC ZOO

Paintings by Oklahoma City Zoo animals are on exhibit at the Oklahoma History Center through June 1, 2013. Each work of art has been made by the Zoo’s talented residents, with some help from their caregivers. Techniques vary by animal; some use a paint brush while others choose to paint with their paws, claws, and even noses! Artist animals include elephants, snakes, rhinoceros and more! The exhibit also includes Oklahoma City Zoo history, animal enrichment programs and more. 

 

NOW THROUGH OCTOBER:   WEEKEND KEEPER CONNECTIONS

Connect with some of your favorite zoo animals and the people who care for them. The Zoo’s weekend Keeper Connections continue through October, weather permitting. Learn how the Zoo strives to conserve and preserve our natural resources, and what you can do to help, too. The weekend schedule is:

SATURDAYS:           

• 11 a.m.          Macaws @ the Children’s Zoo
• 11 a.m.          Black Rhino
• 1:15 p.m.       Elephant Presentation @ the Elephant Pavilion
• 1:30 p.m.       Birds of Prey (across from picnic pavilions)
• 1:30 p.m.       Great Apes Rotating Conservation Chats
• 2 p.m.            Cheetahs
• 2 p.m.            Upper Aquarium (Noble Aquatic Center)
• 2:30 p.m.       River Otters (Oklahoma Trails)
• 2:30 p.m.       Birds/Parrots @ Great EscApe’s Observation Tower
• 3 p.m.            Tigers
• 4 p.m.            Alligators (Oklahoma Trails)

 SUNDAYS:                

• 11 a.m.          Red Pandas
• 11 a.m.          Galapagos Tortoise @ Island Life
• 11 a.m.          Black Rhino
• 1:15 p.m.       Elephant Presentation @ the Elephant Pavilion
• 1:30 p.m.       Birds of Prey (across from picnic pavilions)
• 1:30 p.m.       Great Apes Rotating Conservation Chats
• 2 p.m.            Cheetahs
• 2 p.m.            Lower Aquarium (Noble Aquatic Center)
• 2:30 p.m.       River Otters (Oklahoma Trails)
• 2:30 p.m.       Birds/Parrots @ Great EscApe’s Observation Tower
• 3 p.m.            Tigers

 

HAPPENING NEXT MONTH:

 

OCTOBER 1: HAUNT THE ZOO TICKETS GO ON SALE

OCTOBER 6 - 14:   PUMPKIN DRIVE

OCTOBER 7:   PISTOL PETE’S 89^TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION, 2 P.M.

OCTOBER 26 - 31:   HAUNT THE ZOO, 6:30 – 8:30 P.M., NIGHTLY

 

Visit Oklahoma’s number one attraction and one of the nation’s top three zoos, as named in the 2012 10Besties Readers' Choice Travel Awards! The Zoo is a proud member of Oklahoma City’s Adventure District located near the crossroads of I-44 and I-35. The Zoo is open every day, except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s days. Regular hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is $8 for adults, and $5 for children ages 3-11 and seniors ages 65 and over. Children 2 and under are admitted free. Military members, spouses and up to 5 children receive a 50 percent discount. Parking is free. Additional fees for rides and attractions within the Zoo apply. The Zoo’s Web site posts discount and free days and some extended hours throughout the year. All exhibit buildings close 15 minutes prior to closing and all guests must exit the Zoo grounds at closing. Become a ZooFan at www.facebook.com/okczoobg, follow us on Twitter @okczoo and become a ZooFriends member at www.zoofriends.org.  For more information, call (405) 424-3344 or visit www.okczoo.com.

 

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