ZooAmerica to Host Party for the Planet on April 26, 2025
Earth Day Celebration Featured Animal Encounters and Educational Booths
In recognition of Earth Day 2025, ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park will host a Party for the Planet this weekend on Saturday, April 26. The 11-acre Zoo in Hershey, Pa., joins other accredited facilities through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) in providing family-friendly programming and conservation action opportunities that benefit our planet.
ZooAmerica will be open on April 26 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with Party for the Planet activities running from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is 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 help protect the planet we share together.
Party for the Planet Activities
Throughout the event, visitors can enjoy free activities focused on three action areas: conserving, creating and connecting to nature.
- Rock painting activity
- Nature play area
- Conservation scavenger hunt
- Native plant table
- Animal encounters at various locations throughout the day
- Mountain lion enrichment at 11 a.m.
- Black-footed ferret guest speaker* at 11:30 a.m.
- Black bear enrichment at 1 p.m.
*Paul Marinari, Former Wildlife Biologist at National Black-footed Ferret Conservation Center and Former Senior Curator at Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, will host a presentation in the Woodlands Education Room.
Party for the Planet Vendors
Various vendors and ZooAmerica booths will be set up throughout the Zoo during Party for the Planet. Guests can also grab a bite to eat at the award-winning 717tacos 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.
The following vendors are confirmed:
- PA Game Commission
- West Shore Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
- PA Bat Rescue
- Just Juice
The ZooAmerica team will also staff booths focused on the following:
- Conservation Station
- AZA Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) Species
- Pollinators/Bees
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Party for the Planet is included with a ZooAmerica admission ticket. Guests enjoying Hersheypark amusement park for Spring Weekends on April 26 can visit the Zoo with their Hersheypark ticket by entering through the bridge inside the Park during posted Park hours.