Family programming announced for April 26 Cleveland Foundation Day at Cleveland
Metroparks Zoo

RELEASE DATE: 4.21.2014

CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Foundation’s April centennial gift to the community – free admission to Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and The RainForest from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 26 – will include just-announced activities and entertainment in honor of Earth Day. As the first free weekend day for all Zoo visitors in almost 20 years, the Park District, the Zoo and the Cleveland Zoological Society are collaborating to make it a day to remember for local families.

          

Radio Disney will be stationed at the Welcome Plaza from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to get the party started, and special Zoo tours will be offered throughout the day.  Animal enrichment demonstrations, Meet the Keeper sessions, live animal shows, costumed mascot characters, Cleveland Metroparks NatureTracks, crafts and hands-on, interactive programs are just some of the special activities planned every hour for visitors.

Guests are encouraged to bring their used cellphones and aluminum cans for recycling at a collection area on the Zoo’s Welcome Plaza.  Visitors will also be invited to join the Zoo Team in creating a replica of the Earth using recycled plastic bags.

The Zoo is encouraging guests to stop by the Rising Waters Camp in the African Savanna area to leave a commemorative message in a Cleveland Foundation Memory Book created for the special day.

Visit ClevelandFoundation.org/metroparks or www.clevelandmetroparks.com/zoo to see the full schedule of activities planned for Cleveland Foundation Day at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

Cleveland Foundation Day highlights:

10 a.m. Official start of Cleveland Foundation Day by Cleveland Metroparks CEO Brian Zimmerman, Cleveland Foundation President & CEO Ronn Richard, Executive Zoo Director Dr. Chris Kuhar and Cleveland Zoological Society Executive Director Liz Fowler at the main entrance

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Radio Disney on the Zoo’s Welcome Plaza

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cleveland Museum of Art performers on the Welcome Plaza

10:30 a.m. Animal enrichment demonstration at the lion exhibit in the African Savanna

11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Meet the elephant keeper at African Elephant Crossing

11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Elephant Crossing (weather permitting)

11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Professor Wylde Live Animal Show in the Savanna Theater

11:30 a.m. Browse Garden tour at the Sarah Allison Steffee Center for Zoological Medicine

11:30 a.m. Meet the gorilla keeper at Primate, Cat and Aquatics Building

Noon Animal enrichment demonstration at the fossa exhibit in the Primate, Cat and Aquatics Building

12:30 p.m. Meet the koala keeper at GumLeaf Hideout in Australian Adventure

1 p.m. Animal enrichment demonstration at the grizzly bear exhibit in Northern Trek

1 p.m. Browse Garden tour at the Primate, Cat and Aquatics Building

1:30 p.m. Meet the keeper of the Puerto Rican crested toad at The RainForest

2 p.m. Animal enrichment demonstration at the shark exhibit in the Primate, Cat and Aquatics Building

2:30 p.m. Meet the cheetah keeper at Primate, Cat and Aquatics Building

3 p.m. Animal enrichment demonstration at the sea lion exhibit in Northern Trek

4 p.m. Animal enrichment demonstration at the swamp monkey exhibit in the Primate, Cat and Aquatics Building 

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Cleveland Metroparks Communications

Joe Yachanin (216) 635-3310
jgy@clevelandmetroparks.com                                               

Sue Allen (216) 635-3338         
sja@clevelandmetroparks.com

Cleveland Foundation

Susan Christopher (216) 615-7591
[email username=”schristopher” link-text=”Email”]