Philadelphia Zoo

Australian Animals Exhibit at the Philadelphia Zoo

After visiting the Rare Animal Conservation Center, hop on over to see the Australian animals. This mixed-species exhibit is home to red kangaroos, emus and Cape Barren geese. There's no better way to experience a slice of the "land down under" than to say G' Day to a few of its giants. Male red kangaroos stand five feet tall and clear 29 feet in a single bound! Emus are the second largest bird in the world and can weigh as much as 110 pounds. As for the Cape Barren geese, they may not hold any records for size, but they make up for it in attitude by keeping the other residents on their toes.

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Our animals won’t be hibernating this winter and neither should you!  Come to the Zoo for no lines and less crowds, which means more quality time with the Zoo’s 1,300 animals.  Families can keep warm by popping inside six fully-heated indoor exhibits of mammals, reptiles and amphibians.

 

During the Zoo Winter Camp 2009: Animals in Art and Culture, children get to travel the world without ever leaving the zoo. Through interactive activities, music, crafts and live animals demonstrations, kids will get to learn how arts and culture in different geographical areas use animals.  Celebrate the diverse array of animals of the world’s rainforests on December 28^th.  If you think Philly is cold this time of year, learn about the coldest regions on earth- the Polar Regions on December 29^th.  Warm up on December 30^th by “exploring” Tropical Islands and their learning about their customs.

 

 

November

 

Philadelphia Zoo Sesquicentennial History Tours

November 3, 7, 10, 15, 17, 21, and 24

Single Tour (includes Zoo admission) $23; $10, members

Combination Ticket (both tours): $30 (includes Zoo admission); $17, members)

 

Solitude Tours

10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Tours of The Solitude are given by the Friends of The Solitude and last between 45 to 60 minutes.

 

Art & Architecture Walkabouts

11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

These exciting tours cover just about every Zoo topic imaginable, last about 60 minutes and are given by Philadelphia Zoo docents.  Tickets for both events can be purchased online, or by calling 215-243-5235 for additional ticketing information. Note: Prices do not include parking and reservations must be made in advance.

 

Family Workshop: Leaves and Seeds

November 14

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

$30 per family of five or fewer

Celebrate the breathtaking colors of fall as we explore our Zoo.  Collect seeds, make leaf rubbings and take photographs of our beautiful foliage to create your own special natural centerpiece. You’ll also receive a CD with the day’s photos. Space is limited and advance reservations are required. Call (215) 243-5254 for more information.

 

 

December

 

Philadelphia Zoo Sesquicentennial History Tours

December 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, and 29

Single Tour (includes Zoo admission) $23; $10, members

Combination Ticket (both tours): $30 (includes Zoo admission); $17, members)

 

Solitude Tours

10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Tours of The Solitude are given by the Friends of The Solitude and last between 45 to 60 minutes.

 

Art & Architecture Walkabouts

11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

These exciting tours cover just about every Zoo topic you can imagine, last about 60 minutes, and are given by Philadelphia Zoo docents.  Tickets for both events can be purchased online, or call 215-243-5235 for additional ticketing information. Note: Prices do not include parking and reservations must be made in advance.

 

Holiday Festival

December 12 and 13, 19 and 20

11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Free with Zoo admission

Guests are invited to join us in the children’s Treehouse to meet Santa, make special crafts, explore holiday traditions from different cultures and enjoy festive games. Make a holiday card for your favorite animal, and Santa’s helpers will make sure it gets hand-delivered that day!

 

Zoo Winter Camp 2009 - Animals in Art and Culture

Monday, December 28 – Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Open to everyone. Pre-registration is required.

3- to 4- years olds                              5- to 9-years olds

9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.                        9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

$30 per day                                          $50 per day

 

At Winter Zoo Camp, we will explore the use of animals in art and culture using live animals, interactive activities, music and crafts. Each day will focus on a different geographical area:

Monday, December 28 – Rainforests

·        From South America to Australia, we will celebrate the diversity of the animals

and people who call the rainforests home!

Tuesday, December 29 – Polar Regions

·        We’ll take a plunge into the frigid artic to discover how both people and

animals survive in the coldest climates in earth! 

Wednesday, December 30 – Tropical Islands

·        Play a traditional Fijian game, sing a Hawaiian whale song, see leaping lemurs

 in the zoo and much more! 

 

For full-day campers who must be dropped off between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m., or those who have to stay beyond the 3:00 p.m. pick-up time, Before-Camp and After-Camp programs offer supervised games and activities. Pre-registration is required.

 

Before-Camp Program                                 After-Camp Program

8:00 to 9:00 a.m.                                            3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

$5 per day                                                        $10 per day

 

 

February

 

Great Backyard Bird Count Guided Walks

Saturday, February 13

7:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m.

Locations: Philadelphia Zoo and the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove

Keep your eyes on the sky during the Great Backyard Bird Count!  The Great Backyard Bird Count engages students of all ages in a bird watching and data collection experience across the country.  These simultaneous guided bird walks will last for about one hour and will be followed by warm refreshments.  For more information or to register for the Zoo walk, please contact Valerie Peckham at Peckham.valerie@phillyzoo.org.  For the Mill Grove walk, contact Steven Saffier at ssaffier@audubon.org.  Additional walk locations may be added, so be sure to check www.philadelphiazoo.org for updates.

 

Lovin’ on the Wild Side

Feb 13 & 14

10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

$75.00 Space is limited.

Adults only

What better way to spend Valentine’s Day than to bring you valentine to the Zoo! Once here you can take an “up close and personal tour” of the Zoo and learn fascinating mating behaviors of everything from tigers to tortoises. Enjoy a delicious brunch and champagne toast between close encounters with the Zoo’s animal celebrities. Advance reservations are required, to book tickets call 215-243-5254.

 

Family Overnight: Who’s Awake in Winter?

February 27

6:30 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. the next morning

$50 per person

Trying to keep warm this winter?  Learn how animals handle the weather when watering holes freeze and snowflakes fall. Bundle up and head out for an evening hike to see which animals love the cold and which ones would rather sleep the winter away.  This fun-filled overnight also includes a visit to an animal house, a chat with a keeper, a special craft, an evening snack, breakfast in the morning and loads of fun. "Hibernate" in one of the Zoo's heated classrooms.

 

Reader’s Club (Ages 2-6 w/ one adult)

February 28

$24 members, $38 Non-members

Read along as our favorite animal stories come to life! Meet the real-life animals from our animal tales, make critter crafts and receive a storybook that is yours to take home!

            2-to-3-year-olds: 10:00 to 10:45 a.m.

·   “Splash: A Penguin Counting Book” by Jonathan Chester

4-to-6-year-olds: 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

·   “If You Were a Parrot” by Kathryn Rawson

 

  

 

Looking for a cure for the winter blues?  Ring in spring with the Zoo’s hopping events!

 

Bunny Hop

March 27& 28

10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Free with Zoo Admission

Jump around to stations throughout the Zoo’s blooming gardens. Hop on down to the Treehouse for special spring-time activities and of course a visit from everyone’s favorite bunny. Bunny Hop at the Zoo will be a fun-filled afternoon for the whole family.

 

 The Philadelphia Zoo is located at 34^th Street and Girard Avenue - minutes from the historic downtown area - in beautiful Fairmount Park.  The Zoo is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. Admission for the Zoo is $15.00 for children under 12 and $18.00 for adults. Family memberships start at just $99; Zoo members receive free admission.

 

About the Philadelphia Zoo:

 

Philadelphia Zoo, America's first zoo, is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its founding. Chartered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on March 21, 1859, the Zoo is currently home to over 1,300 animals from around the world, many rare and endangered. Welcoming more than one million visitors each year from throughout the region and beyond, the Zoo serves children and families as a unique and engaging public resource for wildlife conservation and education. The Philadelphia Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. For more information or to purchase and print tickets online, visit www.philadelphiazoo.org.