ASHEBORO, N.C. – It’s a celebration of conservation on April 22, 2017, at the North Carolina Zoo, as the world’s largest natural habitat zoo invites guests to celebrate Earth Day with a variety of special events and activities across the 500-acre park.

Here are some of the highlights: 

  • GETTING INVOLVED: Area organizations and businesses will be on hand to discuss their green initiatives. Keep Randolph County Beautiful, a local non-profit group, and Dart Container Corporation, a global leader in foam recycling, will be at the Zoo to discuss recycling and conservation practices and how guests can be more green at home and in their communities. 
  • YIPPEE! FREE TREE FOR ME!: The Zoo will host a tree giveaway, distributing free dogwood saplings (from 1-5 p.m., while supplies last) to guests. Once planted, these native trees not only will beautify the landscape but also help reduce the overall carbon footprint. 
  • FUTURE ARBORISTS: Expert arborists will be on hand at the Zoo to help young guests understand the importance of maintaining a tree’s health. From 10 a.m.-2 p.m., arborists will assist children into safety harnesses and supervise a short tree climb as they tell them about their day-to-day work in maintaining our wooded friends in the forest. 
  • “RHINO WHAT’S FUN TO DO…BOWLING!” “Bowling for Rhinos,” a national fundraiser by the American Association of Zoo Keepers’ (AAZK), will have a mini-bowling game set up (10 a.m.-2 p.m.) at the Watani Loop in the Africa section of the Zoo. For a donation, guests can take a turn at mini-bowling, with 100 percent benefitting rhino habitats in Africa and Asia. 

In addition to the events listed above, there will be live entertainment, food, character greetings and more.  For a complete schedule and listing of events, guests may go to NCZoo.org/Events.  

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