Join the Utica Zoo on Saturday, April 25th from 10:00am to 3:00pm on zoo grounds for its Party For the Planet® Earth Day celebration! From Earth Day (April 22) to World Ocean Day (June 8), the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Party for the Planet® campaign leverages the reach and resources of accredited zoos, aquariums, and related facilities to provide family-friendly volunteer and conservation action opportunities that improve our planet. “The Utica Zoo is pleased to be accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and have the ability to contribute to valuable events such as this one that help drive our mission forward,” said Marley Hawthorne, Communications Manager of the Utica Zoo. “Inspiring the community to volunteer their time, give back to the planet, and learn about conservation in a fun and lively atmosphere is what we’re all about.”
Last year, Party for the Planet® prioritized community partnerships and collaborations, resulting in 96 accredited members partnering with community partners to host activities that engaged over 29,000 adults and 24,000 children, who logged nearly 17,000 volunteer hours. Utica Zoo’s Party for the Planet® event will offer:
• Conservation organizations present with their own booths for everyone to learn from and enjoy
• Citizen science information tables with sign-ups available
• Endangered animal enrichment and keeper talks
• Volunteer and clean-up opportunities on grounds (if interested in enjoying this beautiful day while also making a positive impact at the zoo, one must sign up ahead of time by contacting volunteer@uticazoo.org)
• Seed-bomb making crafts in the Twin Ponds activity room
• Bottles & cans donation drive at the zoo’s parking lot (all proceeds from bottles and cans
returned benefit the zoo and their animals)
• Silent auction in their visitor center for a hand-made quilt of ambassador animal footprints made by UZ docents
• Polly’s Concessions at the Utica Zoo
• Grapevine Mediterranean Restaurant
• Sweet Nook Bakery and Foxtree Bakery with delicious baked goods for sale
• Dustria Art with stunning artistic masterpieces for sale. This event is rain or shine. No prior registration is required. This event is free with regular zoo admission. A percentage of zoo admission will be donated to conservation! This conservation event is generously sponsored by Twin Ponds Golf and Country Club, who are located in New York Mills, New York and will be celebrating their 80th anniversary on April 27th
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To learn more, visit http://www.uticazoo.org/partyfortheplanet
About AZA:
Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, animal welfare, education, science, and recreation. AZA is the accrediting body for the top zoos and aquariums in the United States and 13 other countries. Look for the AZA accreditation logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. The AZA is a leader in saving species and your link to helping animals all over the world. To learn more, visit http://www.aza.org.
The Utica Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and is the Best of Mohawk Valley Community Choice Award Winner for 2025. It is a regional destination that inspires and promotes the appreciation of wildlife through education, conservation, and recreation. Situated in the heart of Central New York, the zoo features a diverse collection of animals from around the world and offers various educational programs and events for visitors of all ages. It is home to approximately 200 exotic and domestic animals, welcoming nearly 100,000 visitors annually and is open daily from 10 am to 4:30 pm
363 days a year, with only the exception of Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. For more information on this, and all things Utica Zoo, visit UticaZoo.org or follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn!
