Attractions & Recreation

Edmonton Valley Zoo Family Day Fun - Polar Bears International Awareness Day

Date: February 20, 2012
Time: noon-4pm

Bundle up your family, beat the winter blues and take a trip to the Edmonton Valley Zoo for some Family Day Fun – Polar Bears International Awareness Day! Polar Bears International is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the worldwide conservation of the polar bear and its habitat through research, stewardship, and education. They provide scientific resources and information on polar bears and their habitat to institutions and the general public worldwide.

Stay warm while visiting the animals in the indoor petting zoo or relax and get your face painted with your favourite arctic animal design! Learn all about global warming with an Arctic Ice Flow Game or “Get Closer” with a number of the different animals throughout the afternoon! Take your family on a scavenger hunt to learn all about Arctic Animal Families or visit the Polar Bears International Fun Facts Touch Table and see what the Edmonton Valley Zoo is doing to support this initiative!

Dr. Ian Stirling from the University of Alberta will be here to talk about his research in the Arctic! After his presentation he will be on hand to sign copies of his book Polar Bears: A Natural History of a Threatened Species – PBI Edition.

One more reason to spend family day at the Edmonton Valley Zoo!

For more information on Polar Bears International please visit: www.polarbearsinternational.org

For more information on Dr. Ian Stirling please visit http://www.polarbearsinternational.org/research/scientists/meet-the-scientists#stirling

Activities from noon–4pm inclusive:

Polar Bears International Fun Facts Touch Table (Zoo School Classroom) - Learn what the Edmonton Valley Zoo is doing to help support this great initiative!

Arctic Mini Talks and Animal Encounters (Saito Centre/Suncor Zoo School Classroom) - Watch for Roving Interpreters!

Meet a Polar Bears International Educator! (Zoo School Classroom) - Krista Wright, PBI’s Executive Vice President and Chief of Operations will be on hand to answer any questions you may have! Krista is a passionate conservationalist who is deeply concerned about the effects of global warming on polar bears, the Arctic, and the planet!

Polar Bear Giving Tree (Zoo School Classroom) - Make a pledge to help Polar Bears – it can be as easy as reducing your carbon footprint! Write on a Polar Bar Paw for the tree and write the same message on a e-post card – we will send it to you as a reminder of your commitment for International Polar Bear Day on February 27!

Family Day Polar Bear Crafts (Saito Centre) - Make your very own Polar Bear Craft to take home and enjoy!

Indoor Animal Petting Zoo (Centre Hall Program Space) - Stay warm while visiting the animals in the indoor petting zoo.

Amazing Arctic Face Painting (Saito Centre) - Fantastic face painting-and it’s free!

All About Arctic Animals Scavenger Hunt (Inner Zoo/Saito) - Brave the cold and learn all about arctic animal families with this scavenger hunt – complete it as a family and receive a prize! The Scavenger Hunt Card is on the back of your event handout.

Family Day Caricatures (Saito) - Watch as you and your family are transformed onto paper.

“The Evolution of the Edmonton Valley Zoo” Displays and Information Session (Saito) - Drop by and discuss the exciting changes happening at the Edmonton Valley Zoo.

Time-specific activities:

11am Elephant Talk & 500^th Painting (Elephant Building) - Learn fascinating information about the life of the Elephant. Lucy began painting in the early 1990’s and she is now among dozens of elephants around the world who paint! Come watch as Lucy paints her 500th painting on a canvas that is larger than life – way to go Lucy, you are a true artist!

2pm Arctic Wolf Talk (Learning Lair – Weather Permitting) - All about Arctic Wolves! Get closer to Shilah and Kayok, two female Arctic wolves, as they go on a walk around the zoo. Watch the zookeepers work closely with the wolves and learn why behavioural training is important for animal health.

3pm Polar Bears International presents Dr. Ian Stirling (Zoo School Classroom) Dr. Stirling from the University of Alberta will be here to talk about his research in the Arctic! After his presentation he will be on hand to sign copies of his book Polar Bears: A Natural History of a Threatened Species – PBI Edition.

Please note: The Edmonton Valley Zoo does not have Polar Bears on site. We are an Arctic Ambassador Centre in partnership with Polar Bears International to promote and educate people on Arctic Conservation and Biodiversity!

For more information:

Edmonton Valley Zoo

13315 Buena Vista Road (87th Avenue)
PO Box 2359
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2R7

Telephone	In Edmonton: 311 Outside Edmonton: 780-442-5311
Email	attractions@edmonton.ca