NOTE TO MEDIA: Images are attached to this email. Photo credits are contained in the file name (example: Amanda Carberry, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium).
POWELL, OH – From April 20-26, 2024, join the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in honoring our planet by participating in impactful Earth Week activities.
Small, individual actions help make a difference, and the Zoo has lined up different activities each day for our guests and community so that, together, we can make an even bigger impact to protect wildlife and wild places.
Earth Week activities include:
EARTH DAY CELEBRATION WEEKEND: Saturday and Sunday, April 20-21
This two-day weekend event will feature live entertainment, activity booths hosted by local environmentally focused organizations, Character Ambassador meet and greets, and more! Event highlights include:
Conservation Activity Stations
In the Zoo’s Entry Village, visit with environmentally-focused local organizations and learn more about protecting the environment in a fun, interactive way.
OSU Bugmobile
The Bugmobile is a one-of-a-kind collaborative project between Airstream and The Ohio State University’s Entomology Department. Come meet the arthropods from the Ohio State Insectary, along with experts that will help you get acquainted! The activity will take place on Saturday, April 20 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. and Sunday, April 21 from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Party for the Planet Dance Party
Learn about the importance of being green while taking part in this high-energy dance party and other activities! This activity will take place in front of Lakeside Pavilion at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m.
GreenSpot and the Dots Story Time
Join us at Character Cottage located in the North America region for story time! Follow GreenSpot as he travels throughout Columbus to find out what makes spots green and inspires his friends to take care of the environment. This activity will take place in the front yard of Character Cottage at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., and 3 p.m.
How to Grow a Garden With Sydnee Koala
Enjoy this self-guided activity in Adventure Cove, presented by your favorite Character Ambassador from Down Under, Sydnee Koala. At each stop, locate the hidden letter and unscramble them to crack the code. Once you know what the secret word is, stop by the Earth Day information tent to collect your plant-tastic prize!
Character Ambassador Meet and Greets
The Zoo’s Character Ambassadors will be out and about to celebrate with you. Be sure to stop by Lakeside Pavilion and say hello to get a memorable photo with your pals! This attraction will be moved inside Lakeside Pavilion in the case of inclement weather.
Character Ambassador Rolling Celebrations
Now’s the time to party with our Character Ambassadors as they roll through the Zoo on a musical train that’s out of this world! Times are weather dependent and subject to change without notice.
Keeper Talks, presented by Fifth Third Bank
Learn about some of the Zoo’s animals from the people who know them best—our Animal Care team!
Schedule for both days (subject to change):
| Times | Animal | Location |
| 9:45 a.m. | Tigers | Asia Quest |
| 10:30 a.m. | Lions | Heart of Africa |
| 11:15 a.m. | Bears | Polar Frontier |
| 1:00 p.m. | Koalas | Australia and the Islands |
| 1:45 p.m. | Orangutans | Australia and the Islands |
| 2:30 p.m. | Penguins | Shores and Aquarium |
REDUCE, REUSE, AND RECYCLE DAYS
Monday, April 22 – Battery Donation Drive
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium will be collecting old single-use alkaline batteries for proper recycling.
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. inside the Zoo’s entrance. (Zoo membership/admission required for entry.)
Items that cannot be accepted include rechargeable lithium-ion, nickel-metal hydride, nickel-cadmium, and lead batteries.
Tuesday, April 23 – Handheld Electronics Recycling Drive benefiting Gorillas on the Line
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is proud to collect handheld electronics to benefit Gorillas on the Line. This annual electronics recycling campaign, sponsored by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Gorilla SAFE (Saving Animals From Extinction) program, has recycled more than 77,855 electronic devices and raised over $49,234 for gorilla conservation.
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. inside the Zoo’s entrance. (Zoo membership/admission required for entry. Support for Gorillas on the Line can also be provided online through the Zoo’s website.)
Accepted items include cell phones/smartphones, iPods, iPads or other tablets, Apple\Android watches, GPS units, MP3 players, e-readers, digital cameras, and handheld gaming systems. Laptops cannot be accepted.
Wednesday, April 24 – Styrofoam Recycling Drive in partnership with SWACO
Bring expanded polystyrene Styrofoam to the Zoo on this day so that it can be properly recycled!
11 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the Zoo’s parking lot. (Zoo admission is not required, but participants are encouraged to visit the Zoo after dropping off their Styrofoam to learn more about wildlife from around the globe.) Please visit our website for a list of accepted items.
Thursday, April 25 – Electronic Recycling Drive hosted in partnership with Accurate IT Services
Drop off your old electronics so that they can be properly recycled and repurposed!
10 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the Zoo’s parking lot. (Zoo admission is not required, but participants are encouraged to visit the Zoo after donating their items to celebrate the world’s wildlife.)
Visit the Zoo’s event page for a full list of accepted items. Certain items are subject to payment for proper recycling.
Friday, April 26 – Item Donation Drive in partnership with Goodwill
Instead of sending items you no longer use to the landfill, donate them to Goodwill so these items can be reused by others!
11 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the Zoo’s parking lot. (Zoo admission is not required, but participants are encouraged to visit the Zoo after donating their items to explore wildlife species that benefit from sustainable actions.) Check out the Zoo’s event page for a full list of accepted items.
For additional updates about the Columbus Zoo, events, and more, follow the Zoo’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok, and visit us at ColumbusZoo.org.
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About the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Home to more than 10,000 animals representing over 600 species worldwide, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium leads by making a positive impact on people, wildlife, and wild places. The Zoo complex is a recreational and education destination that includes the 22-acre Zoombezi Bay water park and 18-hole Safari Golf Club. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium also manages The Wilds, a 10,000-acre conservation center and safari park located in southeastern Ohio. The Zoo is a wildlife conservation organization with regional, national and global impact, annually supporting conservation and research projects locally and worldwide. For more information, please visit ColumbusZoo.org.
