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We're Going to the Zoo
Celebrate National Zoo and Aquarium Month with Your Toddler
By Melinda Copp
The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens in Florida has a new Kids' Zone with a petting zoo, adventure mazes, tree houses for climbing, splash ground with sea life sculptures that spray water, squirrel monkey area with vines for swinging and a tunnel where kids can view otters swimming overhead. Parents can relax while kids explore, discover and have fun in this safe environment. Make sure you pack your bathing suits, and don't forget to stop at the zoo's latest exhibit, Stingray Bay, where you can get up close and personal, feeding and petting the stingrays. For more information, visit them at www.jaxzoo.org.
The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium in Pennsylvania offers a popular Summer Camp program for kids ages 2 and up – and one for adults – that introduces participants to the wonders of nature through special tours, stories and a meet the keeper session. The zoo also has a new Water's Edge exhibit featuring polar bears. These fascinating creatures are at risk of extinction due to global warming, and this exhibit teaches families what they can do to protect the bears and their habitat. For more information, visit them at www.pittsburghzoo.org.
The Brookfield Zoo in Chicago has a host of programs dedicated to educating children and exposing them to the wonders of nature firsthand. The zoo has outdoor play areas, a petting zoo where kids can interact with farm animals and watch demonstrations, dolphin shows and plenty of animals from around the world to visit and observe. They also offer summer camps and classes for kids ages 4 and up. For more information, visit them at www.czs.org.
The Newport Aquarium in Kentucky