ZooAmerica to Host Party For the Planet on April 20, 2024

Earth Day is right around the corner, and ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park is gearing up for a sweet celebration! The 11-acre Zoo in Hershey will host a Party For The Planet on Saturday, April 20, 2024, along with other AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums across North America, making it the largest combined Earth Day, Endangered Species Day and World Ocean Day celebration.

ZooAmerica is open on April 20 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with Party For The Planet activities running from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It's a unique opportunity for guests of all ages to visit an AZA-accredited zoo, experience animal encounters, celebrate the Earth's biodiversity and learn how to take action to protect the planet we share together. 

Check out more details on the event below.

10 A.M. - 2 P.M.

Over a dozen booths and activities will be set up throughout the Zoo, as detailed below. Guests can also grab a bite to eat at the award-winning 717 tacos food truck in the Trinidad open field near the elk habitat. Food will be available for purchase from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Activities:

• Rock painting to create a snake
• Nature play area
• Sustainability scavenger hunt
• Animal encounters will be held at various locations throughout the day

Vendors:

• Milton Hershey School (MHS) 
  • MHS Project Market will sell early-season produce, as well as some student-made products like beeswax wraps, dryer balls, fragrance rollers, flower arrangements, goat milk soap and beeswax balm
• PA Game Commission 
• WIN: Wildlife in Need PA
• West Shore Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
• Honey Bees & Pollinators 
• Jabebo Earrings
• Just Juice

Booths:

• ZooAmerica Conservation
• ZooAmerica Horticulture
• Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE)
• Reduce, Reuse & Recycle

11 A.M.

Earth Day-themed enrichment activity for the black bears

1 P.M.

Earth Day-themed enrichment activity for the gray wolves

TerraCycle

All guests and employees are encouraged to bring along TerraCycle donations*, including:

• All brands of used or empty toothpaste tubes and caps
• Toothbrushes
• Toothpaste cartons and outer packaging
• Floss containers
• *No electric toothbrushes, battery-operated toothbrushes, and/or their parts are not accepted for recycling through the program. 

Guests who drop off items will receive a special incentive treat during the event. 

We hope that your visit to ZooAmerica during Party for the Planet will help you learn more about healthy habitats and the threats that many SAFE species are encountering! This celebration is included with a ZooAmerica admission ticket. Guests enjoying Hersheypark amusement park can visit the Zoo with their Hersheypark ticket by entering through the bridge inside the Park during posted Park hours.