Deaf Culture Awareness Day
Join us Sunday, September 22nd as we celebrate Deaf Culture Awareness Day at the Zoo! This year we will be partnering with the Rochester School for the Deaf and RIT’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf to provide accessible programming.
September 22 is also Elephant Awareness Day.
View the schedule of fully interpreted experiences here!
Join us for Cold Asia Awareness Weekend, where the chill of the Asian wilderness comes to life! Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of some of our most captivating cold-climate animals.
Our expert naturalists will be on hand to share insights into the incredible adaptations that allow Snow Leopards and Red Pandas to thrive in their frosty habitats. Meanwhile, our knowledgeable docents will guide you through the striking differences and surprising similarities between Amur and Bengal tigers.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to deepen your understanding of these magnificent creatures and their icy homes. It’s an adventure the whole family will enjoy!
Get Tickets
Saturday:
10:30 a.m. – Red Panda Experience
2:30 p.m. – Snow Leopard Experience
Throughout the Day – Tiger Enrichment
Sunday:
10:30 a.m. – Red Panda Experience
2:30 p.m. – Snow Leopard Experience
Throughout the Day – Tiger Enrichment
Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor for Conservation Days:
September 22: Elephant Awareness Day
Get ready to go grey for Elephant Awareness Day at Seneca Park Zoo! Join us in celebrating these gentle giants by wearing your best grey attire as we shine a spotlight on the incredible world of elephants.
A weekend all about elephants! With elephant experiences all day long this is a day you won’t want to miss!
Elephant keepers will be providing special enrichment in the morning followed by a watermelon eating contest between some lucky guests and our elephants. At 2:00 p.m. join our amazing hoofstock team for an elephant keeper chat.
Zoo naturalists will be stationed by the elephant pool, sharing fascinating insights into the unique adaptations that make elephants so remarkable. Learn how their massive ears, trunk, and even their skin play a crucial role in their survival.
Our dedicated docents will be on hand to discuss the vital Elephant Corridor and its significance in preserving elephant populations. Discover how these majestic animals are key players in maintaining the balance of their ecosystems.
End the day with an Elephant Ear fried dough at the Trailside Cafe.
Elephant Awareness Day Schedule
11:00 a.m. Elephant enrichment
12:00 p.m. Watermelon eating contest between our elephants
2:00 p.m. Elephant Keeper Chat
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Presented By
Join us for Genesee Trail Awareness Weekend on August 17-18! This weekend, dive into the wonders of our local trails and waterways with engaging activities and educational opportunities for all ages! Explore our Nature Cart, where you can learn about the harmful effects of water pollution and discover how LittaTraps are making a difference in keeping our waterways clean.
You can also meet Dr. Wyatt, who will be sharing insights on proper and sustainable fishing practices. Learn how you can enjoy fishing responsibly while safeguarding our aquatic ecosystems. Don’t miss out on speaking with our docents who can tell you all about our local mustelids!
Get Tickets
Saturday:
11:00 a.m. – Otter Experience
1:30 p.m. – Hellbender Experience
3:00 p.m. – Sturgeon Feeding and Keeper Chat
Sunday:
11:00 a.m. – Sturgeon Weighing1:30 p.m. – Hellbender Experience3:30 p.m. – Otter Experience
Donate to Conservation
Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor for Conservation Days:
Enjoy afterhours admission to the Zoo for the whole family from 5:15 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. while three musical pieces about animals are performed as you stroll the paths and come face-to-face with the animals living in conservation care. 5:15pm – Gates open to guests5:30pm – 10,000 Birds by John Luther Adams on the Genesee Trail6:25pm – Five Frogs by Jenni Brandon at the Crater Canteen7:00pm – Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saens at the Eagle’s Landing Pavilion8:30pm – Gates closed to guests Site-specific dance by BIODANCE will also surprise visitors in various locations.
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In honor of the beautiful species in our back yard, we are celebrating Genesee Trail Awareness Weekend this year! We will be raising awareness for the many species who life along the Genesee Trail, and more August 8/17-18 here at the Zoo. Make plans to come out to get involved in the fun and learn about the many conservation efforts surrounding the Genesee Trail!
Get Tickets
Saturday: 9:30 a.m. – African Bull Frog Experience12:00 a.m. – Panamanian Golden Frog Experience11:00 a.m. – Dance Performance 1:30 p.m. – Dance Performance 2:00 p.m. – Parade
Donate to Conservation
Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor for Conservation Days:
In honor of the various species in our care that are endangered, we are celebrating Endangered Species Awareness Weekend this year! We will be raising awareness for animals like polar bears, giraffes, penguins, rhinos, and more July 27- 28 here at the Zoo. Make plans to come out to get involved in the fun and learn about the many conservation efforts surrounding endangered species in our care!
Get Tickets
Saturday:
10:30 a.m. – Polar Bear Experience11:30 a.m. – Giraffe Experience1:30 p.m. – Penguin Experience
1:30 p.m. – Reptile Experience2:30 p.m. – Giraffe Experience
3:30 p.m. – Rhino Experience
Sunday:
10:30 a.m. – Red Panda Experience10:30 a.m. – Penguin Feeding
11:30 p.m. – Giraffe Experience12:00 p.m. – Rhino Experience
2:30 p.m. – Giraffe Experience
Donate to Conservation
Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor for Conservation Days:
In honor of the beautiful species in our back yard, we are celebrating Genesee Trail Awareness Weekend this year! We will be raising awareness for the many species who life along the Genesee Trail, and more August 8/17-18 here at the Zoo. Make plans to come out to get involved in the fun and learn about the many conservation efforts surrounding the Genesee Trail!
Get Tickets
Saturday: 9:30 a.m. – African Bull Frog Experience12:00 a.m. – Panamanian Golden Frog Experience11:00 a.m. – Dance Performance 1:30 p.m. – Dance Performance 2:00 p.m. – Parade
Donate to Conservation
Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor for Conservation Days:
In honor of the beautiful species in our back yard, we are celebrating Genesee Trail Awareness Weekend this year! We will be raising awareness for the many species who life along the Genesee Trail, and more August 8/17-18 here at the Zoo. Make plans to come out to get involved in the fun and learn about the many conservation efforts surrounding the Genesee Trail!
Get Tickets
Saturday: 9:30 a.m. – African Bull Frog Experience12:00 a.m. – Panamanian Golden Frog Experience11:00 a.m. – Dance Performance 1:30 p.m. – Dance Performance 2:00 p.m. – Parade
Donate to Conservation
Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor for Conservation Days:
Earth Day at the Zoo – April 20th, 2024
Join us to celebrate the 54th anniversary of Earth Day at the Seneca Park Zoo! Come and learn about the environment and the individual actions you can take to make a difference.
The Zoo will be hosting Earth Day activities onsite and offsite. Onsite, join a naturalist at our animal experiences to learn about conservation, come talk to our various community and conservation partners to learn about the earth and participate in some fun activities, or stop by the Trailside Café and check out one of our Earth Day special sustainable food options. Alternatively, join us offsite between 9am-12pm at Durand Eastman Beach to participate in a park cleanup to help keep our planet healthy.
Earth Day Cleanup!
Join the Seneca Park Zoo for our annual Earth Day clean up at Durand Eastman Beach! Last year with the help of 260 volunteers we removed over 600lbs of trash from the beach.
Sign up here
Location: Durand Eastman Beach
Date: April 20th, 2024
Time: 9am-12pm
Address: 1342 Lakeshore Boulevard Rochester NY, 14617
Meeting location: Parking lot B
https://goo.gl/maps/sant8uLcUyY7yA238
Sign Up for Earth Day Cleanup!
The 2024 City Nature Challenge
Help Rochester compete with cities all around the world to make the most observations of nature, find the most species, and engage the most people over a three-day period!
Learn More
Earth Day Animal Experiences
At our animal experiences come and learn about the threats animals at the zoo would face out in nature and find ways you can get involved to help!
10:30 a.m. – Polar Bear & Climate Change
12:00 p.m. – Elephants & Poaching
1:30 p.m. – Frog or Turtle Keeper Chat & Pollution
2:30 p.m. – River Otters, Pollution & Hunting
3:30 p.m. – Baboons & Impact of Predator Loss
* Animal demos/enrichment are always subject to change/cancellation without notice due to to the care and comfort of the animal.
Environmental Stations to Investigate!
USDA (United States Department of Agriculture)- Invasive Species
Full Day Attendance
Join the USDA to learn about plant protection from invasive species that pose a threat to natural resources. The USDA’s role is the continued safeguarding U.S. agriculture and natural resources against the entry, establishment, and spread of environmentally significant pests. They will have temporary stick-on tattoos, informational flyers, biological samples of some of the invasive pests that USDA-APHIS monitors for, and insect traps to show visitors how they monitor for invasive pests.
Learn more about the USDA by visiting their website at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth
Department of Environmental Services- Solid Waste
Full Day Attendance
Join Meagan Evans-Saurini, the Environmental Educator for Monroe County’s Department of Environmental Services, to learn more about the County’s recycling programs, how to Recycle Right and information regarding the Monroe County / WM ecopark. Bring your questions and receive a free recycling magnet and bag (while supplies last)!
Genesee Land Trust- Nature is for Everyone!
9:30am-3:00pm
The Department of Environmental Services will have a table of ‘cool stuff’ found in nature, along with information about a fun-for-all team challenge they are running this year and upcoming free events people can enjoy. Genesee Land Trust, in partnership with communities and people like you, permanently protects local lands to help wildlife, support farming, keep our waters clean, slow the impacts of climate change, and provide people with access to nature. Since 1989 they have saved 8,000+ acres, including 22 families farms and 19 public nature preserves.
Visit the Genesee Land Trust website to find places to explore and free events for all ages and abilities at www.geneseelandtrust.org
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)- Butterfly BeltwayTBDJoin the RIT capstone students and learn about pollinators and wildflowers! Hands on seed ball making for wildflower plantings, coloring, and information for all ages.
Lollypop Farms & Rochester Animal Services (RAS)- Pet Body Language & Behavior9:30am-2:00pmLollypop & RAS will be talking about different community resources like their pet food pantry, low-cost vet services, TNVR, etc. Learn about animal body language through a red light/green light game with prizes! Make DIY pet enrichment items that you can take home or leave with Lollypop for the shelter pets to use.
Braddock Bay Bird Observatory- Helping Our Feathered Friends10:00am-3:00pmWhether you live on a large farm in the country or in a tiny apartment in the city, there are lots of things you can do to help our native birds! Braddock Bay Bird Observatory will be sharing ways you can help our feathered friends, as they share stories of some of our most amazing birds.
Rochester Museum and Science Center (RMSC)- Habitat Loss & Animal’s Adaptations to Their Habitats10:00am-3:00pmRMSC is planning to showcase the Enviro-scape demonstration, which educates on run-off and its environmental impacts, a touch table with different kinds of animal furs, as well as activity that involves examining various slides under a microscope.
Seneca Parks Zoo’s Docents- Our Collective impact9:30am-11:30am & 3:00pm-4:30pmWe may each be one person in a big world, but together we can make a big difference. At this station, guests will share conservation actions they’re taking or will take to help the planet, which will demonstrate our collective impact.
Other Great Earth Day Resources:
The Canopy Project – For every $1 donated 1 tree is planted!
Snailing at Chittenango Falls (blog)
Water and Where it Goes (blog)
Recycling
Otter Recycling (video)
Learn to How to Compost! (video)
Recycling Guides (Downloadable PDFs):
Mixed Recycling Guide 1
Mixed Recycling Guide 2
Climate Focused
Heat Trapping Metaphor (video)
Responsible Consumerism
Check out these programs and apps they have created to download and use to make sure you are making sustainable choices when you shop!
Seafood Watch
Sustainable Palm Oil
Upcycling
Paper Bag-Basket Project
Planters Project
Steps Toward Personal Sustainability
Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor: