What:
Crawl through a mountain cave. Stalk through a grassland. Follow a set of animal tracks…it’s a space designed exclusively for kids in mind. A space where children are encouraged to climb, slide, play and have FUN while discovering the natural world. Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels will join Woodland Park Zoo and Seattle’s West Woodland Elementary Cub Choir in a groundbreaking ceremony for the zoo’s new all-season facility, Zoomazium! The state-of-the-art learning center opens its doors spring 2006.

Zoomazium will focus on nature-based opportunities for families and children ages 8 and under and on the special connection that children share with nature. Kids will enjoy a fun, whole-bodied playful space where climbing, crawling, exploring, discovering and learning happen in a nature-focused environment.

When:
Thursday, May 5, 1:00-1:30 p.m. A light reception immediately follows.

Where:
Enter through the ARC near the West Entrance at N. 55th St. & Phinney Ave. N. The groundbreaking will take place at the construction site near the West Entrance. If late, enter through the West Entrance and proceed to the site.

Who:
Ceremony participants: Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels; West Woodland Elementary Cub Choir; Founding Director of Talaris Research Institute on Childhood Learning John Medina; Woodland Park Zoo President and CEO Deborah Jensen; Zoomazium design and construction team; Mad Frogs African marimba band; zoo donors, staff and volunteers; zoo Board of Directors.

Visuals:
West Woodland Elementary Cub Choir performance for the mayor; approximately 50 Cub Choir members equipped with construction hats, mini-shovels and buckets digging in dirt with the mayor; prototype ZooKid – future Zoomazium ambassador – in Zoomazium uniform; eight-piece African marimba band.

Other Info:
Zoomazium is a part of the zoo’s updated Long-Range Physical Development Plan approved last fall by Seattle City Council. The plan provides overall guidance for the physical development of the zoo over the next 20 years. Its key objectives include improving animal care and conservation facilities; providing new exhibits; enhancing visitors’ experience, particularly families with young children; and building a new parking garage to help reduce the neighborhood traffic impact. See attached fact sheet for more information about Zoomazium.

Accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, award-winning Woodland Park Zoo is famed for pioneering naturalistic exhibits and setting a standard for zoos all over the world. With conservation, education and excellent animal care at the core of the zoo’s mission, the zoo is helping to save endangered species in Washington state and around the world including tree kangaroos, snow leopards, red-crowned cranes, African wild dogs, western pond turtles and Oregon silverspot butterflies. By inspiring visitors and others to care and act, Woodland Park Zoo is making a difference in our planet’s future.