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CONTACT:    

Barbara Russo - 718-265-3428; 917-494-5493; brusso@wcs.org

Max Pulsinelli - 718-220-5182; 571-218-7601; mpulsinelli@wcs.org

Steve Fairchild – 718-220-5189; sfairchild@wcs.org

WCS’s Prospect Park Zoo and Queens Zoo Launch New Educational Quests Program for Youth and Families

 WCS Quests give visitors a hands-on, interactive learning experience in Brooklyn and Queens

New York – July 21, 2016 – WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) scientists work in New York City and around the world to save wildlife. Now, children who visit WCS’s Prospect Park Zoo and Queens Zoo will delve into a conservation scientist’s work through the newly expanded WCS Quests experiential program.

WCS Quests are geared toward children, but adults can also participate. The program allows visitors to learn about animals at the zoos and in the wild in a scavenger hunt format. The goal is to connect people to nature in an exciting way, as educators guide each guest interaction with live interpretation.

Participants will receive a Quests map brochure at the start of the adventure at each zoo. They will then visit several stations spread around each park to complete science and conservation challenges. WCS Quest-goers can share their experiences on social media with #wcsquests.

Prospect Park Zoo Quests takes place 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesdays through Sundays plus holidays through Labor Day, then on weekends through Columbus Day. The program is jointly sponsored by NewYork-Presbyterian and Canon U.S.A. For more information, visit: ProspectParkZoo.com/Quests.

Queens Zoo Quests takes place 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays plus holidays through Labor Day only. The program is sponsored by NewYork-Presbyterian. For more information, visit: QueensZoo.com/Quests.

Similar education programming is also available at WCS’s Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, and New York Aquarium. Visit the individual park websites for more information.

Prospect Park Zoo Quests:

Visitors will embark on a nature adventure to identify local birds, discover ways to reduce pollution, learn about ocean and other aquatic habitats, and more. The five Quest stations are:

Nature Playscape – Participants will get creative along the Discovery Trail, with activities and explorations using natural objects inspired by the animals that live here, including prairie dogs, dingoes, red pandas, river otters, and tufted deer.

 Wetland Wonders – Inside the Animal Lifestyles building, visitors will learn about the wetland habitats of New York City and what they can do to keep these ecosystems healthy. 

 Conservation Station – At the Hall of Animals exhibit, visitors will conduct experiments inspired by the activities of WCS scientists  saving wildlife and wild places around the world.

Citizen Science – New York City is home to a variety of birds, including rock doves and grackles. Visitors will be shown photos of these and other birds and report back which species they were able to identify.

Ocean Connections – At the Sea Lion Court, visitors will learn about protecting marine life by taking part in quizzes that test their knowledge of oceans and the animals that live there.

 Queens Zoo Quests:

 The Queens Zoo is dedicated to animals of North and South America. The four Quest stations are:

Outdoor Exploration – Children will get their hands dirty as they play, explore, and experience nature at the zoo.

Bird Station – Visitors will identify the amazing birds at the zoo, using binoculars provided by zoo staff.  They will also discover how WCS scientists protect birds and what they can do to help.   

Sea Lion Station – Visitors will learn about the amazing aquatic animals that live in New York City’s waterways while discovering simple ways they can help keep the New York seascape clean for wildlife and people. 

Farm Fun – The zoo is home to a wide range of domestic animals, including sheep, goats, chickens, and horses.  Participants will play farm-themed games and learn about the fuzzy domestic friends who live on the zoo’s farm. 

The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Prospect Park Zoo – Open every day of the year. $8 for adults, $6 for seniors 65 and older, $5 for kids 3-12, free for children under 3. Zoo hours are 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. weekdays, and to 5:30 P.M. on weekends and holidays, April through October. 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. November through March. The Prospect Park Zoo is located at 450 Flatbush Avenue in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. For further information, call 718-399-7339 or visit www.prospectparkzoo.com.

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.

WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society)

MISSION: WCS saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. To achieve our mission, WCS, based at the Bronx Zoo, harnesses the power of its Global Conservation Program in nearly 60 nations and in all the world’s oceans and its five wildlife parks in New York City, visited by 4 million people annually. WCS combines its expertise in the field, zoos, and aquarium to achieve its conservation mission. Visit: newsroom.wcs.org Follow: @WCSNewsroom. For more information: 347-840-1242.

 

 

 

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