Spring into action for conservation this Earth Day! The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden and Bob Moore Subaru are proud to host Party for the Planet™–an Earth Day tradition supported by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ accredited zoos and aquariums that inspire millions to help protect our planet, its wildlife and wild places. Celebrate with the OKC Zoo on Saturday, April 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and participate in a variety of engaging activities geared towards families and individuals wanting to make a difference.

New this year, the Zoo invites guests to partake in a volunteer project planting a pollinator garden on grounds. The Zoo is dedicated to pollinator education and supports statewide conservation efforts to preserve and create habitat for monarchs and other pollinators. All ages welcome to volunteer. The first 300 guests to “dig-in” and help with the planting will receive a free milkweed plant! Join us from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of the Dan Moran Aviary located near the Children’s Zoo.

The Zoo is also excited to announce the public sale of its premium compost, ZOO POO, during Party for the Planet™. Green up your garden with our brown gold! This organic fertilizer sourced from many of your favorite Zoo animals including the Asian elephants, Indian rhinos, giraffe and various hoofstock will be available for purchase in the Zoo’s entry plaza during the event. ZOO POO package options include a small bag for $3.99 and a large box with pollinator seeds for $9.99.

Party for the Planet™ activities encourage guests of all ages to become environmental and climate aware citizens, ready to take action and be voices for change. Visit the information station in the entry plaza to get an event map before you start your Earth Day Zooventure. All activities are free with Zoo admission and include:

Education Stations: Talk with community partners, organizations to learn how you can help enrich and protect our natural resources. Stations will be located in the Zoo’s entry plaza from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

  • Okies for Monarchs: Pollinators need us and we need them. Learn how you can take steps to save these mighty creatures.
  • Minick Materials: Get the scoop on composting from the experts.
  • City of OKC Storm Water Quality: Discover how you can prevent storm water pollution and purchase a rain barren through the City of Oklahoma City for your home.
  • ZOO POO Sale: We have the compost you need to get your garden growing!
  • Bob Moore Subaru:  Kids 11 and under can visit their interactive station to win a prize.
  • Binocular Borrow Program presented by Dean McGee Eye Institute: Stop by this station to check out a pair of binoculars during your visit to enjoy a new view of the Zoo! No rental fee, photo ID required to borrow binoculars.
  • OK Compost hosted by Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality: Hear best practices for discarding compostable items at home, work or in your community. 
  • Oklahoma Conservation Commission: Check out their 8-ft. rainwater simulator and be inspired to protect our state’s water quality and prevent soil erosion.

Volunteer Project: The planting action takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of the Dan Moran Aviary located near the Children’s Zoo, look for the ZOObaru! All ages are welcome to volunteer. The first 300 volunteers will receive a free milkweed plant!

Kids Activity Station: Kids 11 and under are invited be creative for conservation and take our “Pollinator Pledge” with their painted handprint! Stop by the station setup by the Dan Moran Aviary, near the Children’s Zoo. The completed banner will be given to the Zoo’s Asian elephants as enrichment at the 2 p.m. elephant presentation.

ZooZeum Exhibit Debut: Monarchs are coming to the Zoo! Visit the ZooZeum, the Zoo’s onsite historical museum, for the grand opening of its new exhibit, Follow the Monarchs. This traveling art display features thousands of paper butterflies mimicking the monarch migration. During Party for the Planet™, children can create a personalized butterfly to be part of the traveling exhibit. The exhibit also features butterfly-themed art created by local artists and will be on display through September 14, 2019. The ZooZeum is open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.

Butterfly Garden Tour:  The Zoo’s Horticulture team will host a tour of the Butterfly Garden at 10 a.m. Explore the state’s largest outdoor butterfly garden while learning about pollinator plants. This activity is free with Zoo admission. Interested in attending? Meet outside the Guest Services office.

Eye Spy Safari presented by Dean McGee Eye Institute: Kids 11 and under will go wild for this interactive scavenger safari on Zoo grounds and the opportunity to learn more about the Zoo’s animals. Each child who completes their safari scratch-off card will receive a prize. Eye Spy Safari cards will be available at the event information station in the entry plaza. Participation is free with Zoo admission.

Art Contest Winners:  The Zoo and Dr Pepper are proud to announce the winners of the annual Dr Pepper Vending Machine Art Contest at 2 p.m. in the Zoo’s education auditorium. Oklahoma students in grades K-12 were encouraged to submit a vending machine design using the contest theme, A Future for Pollinators. The Zoo received 1,594 entries from students across the state.

Ask A Keeper: Make plans to attend the Zoo’s free, daily “Ask A Keeper” chats to ask questions about the Zoo’s wildlife and their counterparts in nature from the experts themselves–our keepers. Signage is posted on grounds.

Go wild as you party for a purpose–our planet! The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden is a proud member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the American Alliance of Museums, Oklahoma City’s Adventure District and an Adventure Road partner. Located at the crossroads of I-44 and I-35, the Zoo is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Regular admission is $11 for adults and $8 for children ages 3-11 and seniors ages 65 and over. Children two and under are admitted free. Connect with the Zoo on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and by visiting Our Stories. Zoo fans can support the OKC Zoo by becoming Oklahoma Zoological Society members at ZOOfriends.org or in-person at the Zoo!