The Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society is announcing the following special events and promotions for the month of April 2015:
Breakfast with the Bunny, April 4, 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. –Out of the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society’s hundreds of animals, one in particular will be an “egg-xtra” special guest when “Breakfast with the Bunny” returns. Guests are invited to hop into the Zoo on Saturday, April 4 at either 8:30 a.m. or 10 a.m. and join in “egg-citing” egg hunts, an “egg-cellent” hot breakfast buffet at the Zoo’s Tropics Café, and a meet and greet “egg-stravaganza” with the Easter Bunny and his Zoo animal ambassador friends. Pre-registration is required, and guests are encouraged to register early since space is limited. For additional information or to register, please visit us online at www.palmbeachzoo.org/bunny.
Fees include Zoo admission, and are as follows:
Zoo Members
Adults — $22.95
Children (ages 3-12) — $14.95
Toddlers (ages 0-2) — $4.95
Non-members
Adults — $32.95
Children (ages 3-12) — $24.95
Toddlers (ages 0-2) — $4.95
Story Time at the Zoo:
“Horton Hatches the Egg” by Dr. Seuss, April 4, 10:30 a.m. – The book read during Story Time at the Zoo at 10:30 a.m. on April 4, 2015 will be “Horton Hatches the Egg” by Dr. Seuss.
Curious George Plants a Tree” by Margret & H.A. Rey, April 11, 10:30 a.m. – The book read during Story Time at the Zoo at 10:30 a.m. on April 11, 2015 will be “Curious George Plants a Treet” by Margret & H.A. Rey.
“The EARTH Book” by Todd Parr, April 18, 10:30 a.m. – The book read during Story Time at the Zoo at 10:30 a.m. on April 18, 2015 will be “The EARTH Book” by Todd Parr.
“A Visitor for Bear” by Bonny Becker, April 25, 10:30 a.m. – The book read during Story Time at the Zoo at 10:30 a.m. on April 25, 2015 will be “A Visitor for Bear” by Bonny Becker.
The popular event will take place at the Zoo’s Conservation Station by the Safari Train and the Wildlife Carousel. Story Time at the Zoo is geared towards encouraging children to connect with wildlife through reading, and it is included in the cost of Zoo admission.
Produce Stand:
April 4, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. – Guests are invited to take home farm-fresh Florida produce from the Zoo’s Produce Stand on April 4, 2015 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. directly inside of the Zoo’s exit gate.
April 18, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. – As part of the Party for the Planet activities on Saturday, April 18, 2015, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., guests are invited to take home farm-fresh Florida produce from the Zoo’s Produce Stand directly inside of the Zoo’s exit gate.
Visiting the Produce Stand is free with the cost of regular Zoo admission. Guests can pick up this week’s sustainably-harvested items, and learn about how buying local produce protects wildlife. At the Produce Stand, guests can purchase the Zoo’s own bird-friendly, sustainably-grown coffee! Guests can see a sample CSA box at the Produce Stand, now that the Zoo has become a CSA box pick-up site.
Brew at the Zoo, presented by Dixie Grill & Bar:
April 11, 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. — The third annual “Brew at the Zoo,” presented by Dixie Grill & Bar, returns to the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society on Saturday, April 11, 2015 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. With more than 25 craft breweries, including the local favorites, live music and delicious food, the event is Palm Beach County’s most unique craft beer festival! Guests are encouraged to purchase tickets early, since tickets must be purchased in advance and the event is predicted to sell out. “Brew at the Zoo” guests must be 21 years old to enter, with a government-issued photo ID. Email info@palmbeachzoo.org for additional information.
VIP Admission costs $65, and includes the following:
• Early admission at 5:30 p.m.
• Limited edition t-shirt
• Exclusive premium beer samples
• Buffet meal in the air-conditioned Tropics Café with live music by Andre Michaud
• All elements of a General Admission ticket
General Admission is $35, and includes the following:
• Admission beginning at 6 p.m. until the festival closes at 9:30 p.m.
• Collectible sampling mug
• Unlimited samples from 25 brewers, estimated 60+ different brews (Please drink responsibly)
• Much of the Zoo will be open (note; some animals may be sleeping or choose to stay in the shadows)
• A variety of food to purchase from local restaurants and/or food trucks (cash or credit)
• Live music by The Goodnicks in the Interactive Fountain Plaza and Bobby G in the Mayan Plaza
Designated Driver Admission is $15, and includes the following:
• Admission to the Zoo beginning at 6 p.m. (5:30 p.m. when accompanying a VIP ticket holder)
• Free water and soft drinks at the Tropics Café Snack Bar
• A pledge to arrive sober and not consume any beer during the event.
All attendees will be required to wear a wristband specific to their admission level. All ticket purchases are final, with no refunds.
Link to one-minute video of 2014 Brew at the Zoo — http://youtu.be/YgMmN0dDorc
Conservation Leadership Lecture:
“From Glades to Gulf: 1,000 Miles in 100 Days, a Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition” featuring Carlton Ward, Jr. and Mallory Lykes Dimmitt with the Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition, April 16, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. — The Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society is announcing the next Conservation Leadership Lecture, generously supported by presenting sponsor Bank of America. The lecture, entitled “From Glades to Gulf: 1,000 Miles in 100 Days, a Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition,” will feature renowned photojournalist Carlton Ward, Jr. and conservationist Mallory Lykes Dimmitt. The event will occur from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Zoo’s Tropics Café. Guests are invited to enjoy cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and Zoo animal encounters from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. before the lecture presentation.
Seating for the Conservation Leadership Lecture Series is limited. Tickets are $20.00 per person per event, or a series package can be purchased for $55 per person. Cocktails & passed hors d’oeuvres will be served. To purchase your tickets online, visit www.palmbeachzoo.org. If you have any questions about the event, please call the Zoo at (561) 547-WILD ext. 285.
Carlton Ward, Jr. is a conservation photographer and eighth-generation Floridian focused on Florida’s living heritage. His work is exhibited widely and published in magazines including Audubon, Smithsonian, Geo and Nature Conservancy. He began his career with seven expeditions to the Congo rainforests of Gabon with the Smithsonian Institution, resulting in his award-winning book, “The Edge of Africa,” with a foreword by Colin Powell presidential exhibit with the United Nations in New York. While remaining engaged internationally, Ward’s primary purpose is to protect Florida’s nature and culture through art. His 2009 book, “Florida Cowboys,” won a silver medal in the Florida Book Awards, and Popular Photography Magazine featured him for working to save vanishing America. Ward is a founding member of the International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP) and president of the Florida-based Legacy Institute for Nature & Culture (LINC). He is a National Geographic Explorer for the Florida Wildlife Corridor project, which included a 100-day, 1000-mile trek in 2012 from Everglades National Park to the Okefenokee Swamp in southern Georgia.
Mallory Lykes Dimmitt is a seventh generation Floridian whose childhood was partly spent exploring the lands and waters of central Florida. She pursued her passion for the outdoors by receiving her B.S. in Natural Resources from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. She was also awarded a Doris Duke Conservation Fellowship at Duke University’s Nicholas School of Environment, where she earned a Master’s of Environmental Management.
Some of Mallory’s projects include protecting river corridors and large landscapes in Colorado with The Nature Conservancy, research in Sri Lanka for the International Water Management Institute and strategic planning and organizational development with LINC.
Party for the Planet:
April 18 and April 19, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Celebrate Earth Day with a zoo twist as you discover how you can help our planet! Every day is Earth Day at the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society, but on Saturday, April 18, 2015, and Sunday, April 19, 2015, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days, the Zoo will showcase some of the steps guests can take that will truly make a difference for animals across the globe. Party for the Planet will be filled with educational, engaging, and fun activities for the entire family, including a Grow Your Own Vegetable Station, face painting, eco-friendly crafts, children’s giveaways and special visits from the Zoo Crew mascots. These activities are aimed at helping guests discover more about the environment, wildlife, the Earth’s natural resources and even solar power. Activities are free with Zoo admission.
On Saturday, guests can attend a special interactive percussion performance by Steve Gryb, the Pied Piper of Percussion, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., followed by a book signing by Adam P. Rutstein, author of the popular children’s book, My Planet is Purple. Then the public is invited to learn more about how buying local produce protects wildlife during the Zoo’s Produce Stand from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. (see next calendar item for more Produce Stand information).
The next day, the Zoo welcomes FPL Sun-Day at the Zoo! Guests can experience hands-on solar power exhibits with the help of the Zoo’s friends from Florida Power & Light Company. There will be an Earth Day DJ, raffles and giveaways, plus a chance for guests to learn how FPL is bringing clean solar energy to local communities and how they can get involved through FPL’s voluntary solar partnership program.
Beginning Saturday, April 18th in the Zoo’s Florida Pioneer House, fifth-grade students from Meadow Park Elementary will be displaying their eco-animals. The students created these animals by using recycled materials that can be found in any home. Animals will include a family of alligators including hatchlings, tropical fish, tortoises, sea turtles, flamingos and snakes.
Businesses and organizations are invited to participate in the celebration. Our united goal is to promote appreciation of the Earth and conservation of all natural resources. This event is an interactive experience. Each booth must have a conservation or environmental message that is carried out through your hands-on activity and educational information. For more information or to register, please email info@palmbeachzoo.org.
About the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society
The Zoological Society of the Palm Beaches exists to inspire people to act on behalf of wildlife and the natural world. We advance our conservation mission through endangered species propagation, education and support of conservation initiatives in the field. Our commitment to sustainable business practices elevates our capacity to inspire others.
The Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society is located at 1301 Summit Boulevard in West Palm Beach, Florida. The Zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, except Thanksgiving and Christmas. For more information, visit http://www.palmbeachzoo.org.
