ASHEBORO, N.C.--The North Carolina Zoo will hold the first of four June weekend celebrations of bears-and bees--Saturday, June 6, in the park, when guests can explore life as a bear and later catch the buzz on bees.

This weekend's bear event, "Polar Paws & Claws," will feature polar bears and will be highlighted with keeper talks, educational displays and crafts at the polar bear exhibit and the adjacent "kidZone." Events each week will run from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Additionally, visitors Saturday can be the first to offer browse to the park's five giraffes at the newly opened Acacia Station feeding deck.

On Saturday, June 13, during "Grizzly Walks & Talks," visitors can again talk to keepers and see educational displays and crafts at the grizzly exhibit and at "kidZone."

On Saturday, June 20, "Black Bears & Bees" will feature keeper talks, educational displays and crafts at the black bear exhibit and at "kidZone." Also that day, the zoo will celebrate the grand opening of the Honey Bee Garden exhibit in the North America region.

Sunday, June 21, the zoo celebrates dads on Father's Day by offering all papa bears discounted admission with online coupons found on the zoo's Web site.

Bear month will wrap up with the Teddy Bear Fair on Saturday, June 27, when visitors can bring their teddy bears for a check-up with zoo veterinarians. Radio Disney will also be in North America Plaza that day with games and give-aways, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Bee-a-Bear events are being made possible through signature sponsor Pepsi and by ClearChannel Radio.

Visitors can get more information on all the June weekend activities at the zoo Web site: http://www.nczoo.org/.

The zoo is an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Dee Freeman, Secretary; Beverly E. Perdue, Governor.

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