Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo To Premiere “Avenue ZOO” At 3rd Annual Animal Tales Extravaganza

Here is another great family event.

Gregory

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Avenue ZOO:

A family-friendly production featuring Kate Monster

from the Tony Award-winning musical Avenue Q

Animal Tales Extravaganza at the Bronx Zoo

returns on Earth Day weekend with rainforest creature parades,

character appearances, and a full line-up of entertainment on the main stage

Headliners include Yo Gabba Gabba, Curious George,

Marvel’s Avengers, Disney’s Choo Choo Soul,

Nickelodeon’s Dora & Diego, and more

Special story book reading

with actor LeVar Burton of Reading Rainbow

and appearance by Academy Award winner Alan Menken

Visit www.bronxzoo.com for a detailed schedule

of showtimes and appearances

Weekends from Saturday, April 21 through Sunday, June 30

Bronx, N.Y. – April 5, 2012 – Animal Tales Extravaganza returns to the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo for the third year with special production – Avenue ZOO – featuring a guest appearance by Kate Monster, the beloved puppet star of the Tony Award-winning musical AVENUE Q.

Running each weekend on the zoo’s Asia Plaza Stage, Avenue ZOO highlights the importance of wildlife conservation in a fun, entertaining way. It is a musical tale in which Kate Monster meets exotic animals and discovers that though they may seem strange and different, they are not so scary after all. Avenue ZOO performances will be at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. each weekend from Saturday, April 21 through Sunday, Sept. 9.

Each weekend of Animal Tales Extravaganza includes an array of activities for families and children. The zoo’s Dancing Crane Pavilion will be transformed into an intimate story time corner, presented by Plum Organics. Zoo-goers can take a break and read from a wide variety of animal-themed books from Simon & Schuster, Candlewick Press, and Hyperion. Children can then stage their own animal tale with a puppet they create at the Bright Horizons Early Education & Preschools crafts area.

The main stage has something for everyone throughout the spring season. Highlights of this season’s main stage entertainment include:

· April 28 and 29 - Marvel’s Avengers: Heroes Saving the Earth featuring Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and HULK

· May 5 and 6 – Nickelodeon’s Dora and Diego: We Did It!

· May 12 and 13 – Sportacus from Sprout’s Lazytown

· May 19 and 20 – Disney’s Choo-Choo Soul with Genevieve

· June 2 and 3 - Ferdinand the Bull

· June 9 and 10 - Barney™ Sing-Along

· June 16 and 17 - Super Sprowtz™

· June 30 – Spider-Man takes over the zoo

Children will enjoy meeting some of their favorite personalities at the Dancing Crane Pavilion. Meet-and-greets are scheduled with top children’s entertainment characters including Yo Gabba Gabba; Marvel’s Avengers; Nickelodeon’s Dora and Diego, Sportacus from Sprout’s Lazytown; Mo Willems’ Elephant and Piggie; Buddy the T-Rex from Dinosaur Train; Maisy Mouse; Olivia™, and more.

Eight-time Academy Award-winning composer Alan Menken will present favorite songs from his collection along with Music Unites Youth Choir of Women's Academy of Excellence on Saturday, June 2.

Actor LeVar Burton, host of the Peabody award-winning series Reading Rainbow will make an appearance on Saturday and Sunday, June 16 and 17 for a special storybook reading. LeVar will share his favorite tips and techniques to encourage young readers and host a special preview of the new Reading Rainbow iPad book discovery and reading application.

A full listing of Animal Tales Extravaganza dates and times is available at

www.bronxzoo.com.

The Wildlife Conservation Society would like to thank the following companies for their help in making Animal Tales Extravaganza at the Bronx Zoo possible – Babies“R”Us; Bright Horizons Early Education & Preschools; Candlewick Press; Hyperion; Nickelodeon; Plum Organics; Simon & Schuster; Sprout; Toys“R”Us.

AVENUE Q – now in its 10th year in New York – is the winner of three Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and has been produced in countries around the world. For performance and ticket information to AVENUE Q call Tele-charge at 212-239-6200 or visit www.avenueq.com.

The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays, 5:30 p.m. weekends from April to October; 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m November to March. Adult admission is $16, children (3-12 years old) $12, children under 3 are free, seniors (65+) are $14. Parking is $13 for cars and $16 for buses. The Bronx Zoo is conveniently located off the Bronx River Parkway at Exit 6; by train via the #2 or #5 or by bus via the #9, #12, #19, #22, MetroNorth, or BxM11 Express Bus service (from Manhattan that stops just outside the gate.) To plan your trip, visitbronxzoo.com or call 718-367-1010 .

The Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. We do so through science, global conservation, education and the management of the world’s largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. Together these activities change attitudes towards nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in harmony. WCS is committed to this mission because it is essential to the integrity of life on Earth

Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo To Receive National Award For Teen Education Program

Here is positive news about our borough that often gets missed by the main stream media. We truly have one of the best zoos in the world. I hope everyone remembers to make time to take advantage of the Bronx Zoo this spring or summer.

Gregory

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American Association of Museums

honors WCS’s Wildlife Career Ladder program

with 2012 EdCom Award for Excellence in Programming

Bronx, NY – April 3, 2012 – The Education Department at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo has been named winner of the 2012 EdCom Award for Excellence in Programming by the American Association of Museums (AAM) for its Wildlife Career Ladder program for teens.

The EdCom Award for Excellence in Programming recognizes exemplary creativity and innovation in museum educational programming. The award marks the second prestigious institutional honor conferred on WCS’s Wildlife Career Ladder. The same program received the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Diversity Award in September 2011.

The AAM will honor the WCS Education Department for its latest achievement on April 29 in Minneapolis. Established in 2008-09 with support from the Bronx Institute of Lehman College through funding from a U.S. Department of Education GEAR UP grant, the Wildlife Career Ladder is a multi-year program that engages underserved students at the beginning of their sophomore year in high school and takes them through the beginning of their junior year. There are currently 50 young people enrolled in the program – almost all of whom are minorities and many come from some of the lowest income communities in the country.

“We are proud of our partnership with the Bronx Institute of Lehman College and the success of the Wildlife Career Ladder program,” said Don Lisowy, WCS Director of Education. “For a young program to be recognized for its value and potential on this high level is certainly rewarding. We are continuing to refine this program and expand it to serve as a model for development of future programs.”

The Wildlife Career Ladder consists of three main components: an afterschool and weekend wildlife science course where students receive an intensive introduction to wildlife and conservation science topics; an explainers program where students engage in further study enabling them to work as exhibit interpreters or “explainers” at WCS’s Bronx Zoo; and a career ladder internship where students are placed in part-time positions throughout WCS in order to gain first-hand experience with different career opportunities available in wildlife conservation.

Since 1983, the Education Committee of AAM has recognized outstanding contributions to museum education by individual practitioners, by museums offering distinguished programs and publications, and by those individuals demonstrating leadership within the entire museum community and beyond. The 2012 EdCom Excellence Awards continue to recognize the people who exemplify best practices with exceptional people and the resources they provide.

The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Education Department serves more than 100,000 students and 2,400 teachers annually. It works across New York City to provide science, technology, engineering, and math education to under served students. WCS is a partner with the innovative Urban Assembly School for Wildlife Conservation in the Bronx and offers subsidized and free programs to thousands of students from all five New York City boroughs each year.

The Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. We do so through science, global conservation, education and the management of the world’s largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. Together these activities change attitudes towards nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in harmony. WCS is committed to this mission because it is essential to the integrity of life on Earth.

The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; 5:30 p.m. on weekends and holidays. Adult general admission is $16, children (3-12 years old) $12, children under 3 are free. Parking is $13 for cars and $16 for buses. The Bronx Zoo is conveniently located off the Bronx River Parkway at Exit 6; by train via the #2 or #5 or by bus via the #9, #12, #19, #22, MetroNorth, or BxM11 Express Bus service (from Manhattan that stops just outside the gate.) To plan your trip, visit www.bronxzoo.com or call 718-367-1010 .

"Almost Naked" Polar Bear Cruise to Raise Funds for the Bronx Zoo and other NYC Wildlife Institutions

Here is something different. If you are a Polar Bear and want to help raise funds for a good cause here is your chance.

Gregory

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Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises

And Coney Island Polar Bear Club Team Up

To Benefit the Wildlife Conservation Society

Participants of the “Naked” Polar Bear Cruise

will raise funds for every minute spent outside in the cold

Giveaways and prizes for the longest in the cold

Saturday, February 25

10:30 a.m.

New York, NY- Jan. 12, 2012 - Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises and Coney Island Polar Bear Club are teaming up on Saturday, February 25th to host the fourth annual “Naked” Polar Bear Cruise (bathing suit required) to benefit the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Participating passengers are encouraged to strip down to their bathing suits and enjoy a frosty ride while they raise money to help WCS save wildlife and wild places around the globe.

When: Saturday, February 25, 2012. 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Boarding begins at 10:30 a.m.

Cruise from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Where: Pier 83

(West 42^nd St. on the Hudson River)

What: “Naked” Polar Bear Cruise

Participants will brave the cold in their bathing suits for the cruise

Who: Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises

Coney Island Polar Bear Club

Wildlife Conservation Society

Those brave enough to withstand the chilly cruise of the New York Harbor are encouraged to seek individual sponsors who will donate for each minute spent on deck.

The man and the woman who spend the longest time shivering on deck will have the change to win four Total Experience Tickets to WCS’s Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium. Soft shell fleeces from Weatherproof will also be awarded.

There will be an inside area where participants can bundle up and enjoy complimentary hot chocolate.

Participating passengers ride for free. Spectator tickets can be purchased for $20 at the Pier 83 box office (42^nd Street and the Hudson River) by calling 212-563-3200 or online at www.CircleLine42.com. Sponsorship forms are also available online.

The Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. We do so through science, global conservation, education and the management of the world’s largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. Together these activities change attitudes towards nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in harmony. WCS is committed to this mission because it is essential to the integrity of life on earth.