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Earth Day Party for the Planet

EARTH DAY
SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 2012
11:00 A.M.-3:00 P.M.

Come to the National Zoo a free public event to celebrate Earth Day and the Zoo's commitment to green practices.

FEATURES

What You Can Do to Make a Difference

Learn about simple daily actions you can take for a more environmentally friendly lifestyle.

Recycle Your Cell Phone

Bring cell phones to recycle to stations in the Visitor's Center or at the event site.

Meet the National Zoo's Green Team

Talk to members of the Zoo's Green Team and learn about the Zoo's green achievements. See examples of how we're putting sustainability into practice in our exhibits, food service, gift shops, horticulture, water use, and even our coffee!

Party for the Planet

There is no better way to celebrate Earth Day than with the planet’s amazing and diverse wildlife. More than 100 of the top zoos and aquariums across North America (including the National Zoo) are throwing the 6th Annual Party for the Planet™—the largest combined Earth Day celebration in North America!

Animal demonstrations

Watch animal demonstrations featuring recycled items for animal enrichment.

ACTIVITIES

Crafts

State Farm® will host a special children’s area at the Kids’ Farm! Recycling is great, but reusing is even better!

Find out how to turn newspaper into a plant pot and take home your own. You'll make a pot, fill it with soil and drop in some seeds—when you get home you can put it right into the ground. Also, create your own nature journal to keep notes and draw pictures.

potting a plant

Music

Enjoy original music played on handmade instruments made from locally grown gourds from The Richmond Indigenous Gourd Orchestra.

Conservation-related games

Test your skills and see if you can sort recycling from trash.

MORE

Local environmental organizations

Meet environmental leaders from local organizations.

Wild Bunch Wildlife Rehabilitation

Forrester Construction

HSU

"Green" giveaways

Starbucks will be giving away coffee grounds (natural fertilizer) to the first 300 visitors. AZA is providing environmentally-friendly coloring pages.

Transportation Efforts

Check out the Zoo's fleet of alternative fuels and electric vehicles.

Operations

Meet the staff that is greening the Zoo's operations from recycling to using fewer resources.

Roots and Shoots

Learn how the Zoo's teen volunteer group is working on conservation projects locally and worldwide.

Horticulture

See how the Zoo's horticulture department uses recycled trees and branches to make animal "furniture."

Commissary

Learn how the Zoo's commissary is composting, buying local produce, and sustainable seafood.

Animal Care

Touch enrichment tools made from recycled materials.
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