Online photo contest gives visitors a chance to win a family membership to WCS
Click here to download b-roll of event
Flushing, N.Y. – July 19, 2012 – The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Queens Zoo, New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, and AT&T* today launched free AT&T Wi-Fi service at the Queens Zoo. The zoo is the 24th NYC parks location to receive free AT&T Wi-Fi through the Wi-Fi in the Parks initiative.
Anyone with a Wi-Fi enabled smartphone or device will be able to connect to the service for free and learn about activities at the zoo or more about the animals as they observe them . By connecting to Wi-Fi at the zoo, users can also interact with other animal fact finding applications, upload photos and share with their social networks to enhance their zoo experience.
The Wi-Fi service will be available at specific locations within the zoo, including areas by the pronghorn, bison and sea lion exhibits. To kick-off the new Wi-Fi offering, the Wildlife Conservation Society and Queens Zoo are hosting a month-long photo contest.** Visitors can take photos of their favorite animals at the Queens Zoo and submit them for a chance to win a family membership to WCS wildlife parks. The winning photo will be featured online at www.queenszoo.com. Photos should be sent to QZPhoto@wcs.org for consideration. The deadline for submissions is Tuesday, July 31.
“So often, our visitors are amazed by the animals they see here at the Queens Zoo and want to learn more about them,” said Dr. Scott Silver, Director and Curator of Animals at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Queens Zoo. “Our mission is to connect people to wildlife. Free Wi-Fi allows us to enhance that connection.”
Said John Calvelli, Executive Director of Public Affairs at the Wildlife Conservation Society, “We are very happy to partner with the New York City Parks Department and AT&T on this initiative, which will enhance the experience of our guests by allowing them to learn more about the animals in our collections and WCS’s conservation efforts in real time.”
“AT&T is always looking for new ways to connect people around New York and help them enjoy all that the city has to offer,” said Marissa Shorenstein, President, AT&T New York. “Through this collaboration, we are able to offer zoo visitors a truly interactive and shared experience – from learning about the animals to connecting with their friends and family.”
"The five-year agreement with the City of New York and AT&T is helping park-goers across the city make the most of their experience and we're excited to add the Queens Zoo to the growing list of locations where free Wi-Fi is now available,” said Bob Garafola, Deputy Commissioner, New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. “This service helps create a virtual visitors center where guests can learn more about the zoo and its inhabitants while sharing their memories as they happen."
This initiative is part of a five-year joint effort between AT&T and the City of New York to provide free Wi-Fi service at 26 locations in 20 New York City parks across all five boroughs. Since the initiative launched last June, parks visitors have made more than 2.7 million total connections, averaging 10,000 connections a day across the five boroughs.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
** Visit official contest rules
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The Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. We do so through science, global conservation, education and the management of the world’s largest system of urban wildlife parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo. Together these activities change attitudes towards nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in harmony. WCS is committed to this mission because it is essential to the integrity of life on Earth.
The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Queens Zoo – Open every day of the year. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors 65 and older, $5 for kids 3-12, free for children under 3. Zoo hours are 10am to 5pm weekdays, and 10am – 5:30pm weekends, April through October, and 10am – 4:30pm daily, November through April. The Queens Zoo is located at 53-51 111th Street in Flushing Meadow’s Corona Park in Queens. For further information, call 718-271-1500 or visit www.queenszoo.com.
Note to the Media: If you would like to guide your readers or viewers to a Web link where they can make donations in support of helping save wildlife and wild places, please direct them to wcs.org
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