Asheboro, N.C. – (April 19, 2021) – Earth Day, first celebrated on April 22, 1970, has been observed by the North Carolina Zoo each year since 1996. Rather than allowing the occasion to pass in 2021, we will work around COVID-19 challenges so you may celebrate Earth Day with proper distancing.
Earth Day, April 22 onsite events: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. inside the Zoo.
On Earth Day at Kidzone, the Zoo will safely give away Pollinator Pods, which are seed balls that can be planted at home to start a small butterfly garden.
At the North America Entrance, pick up a specially prepared "Clean Up Your Neighborhood Kit." The kit includes a set of litter grabbers, litter bags, latex gloves to protect your hands, a reusable shopping bag, and seeds to plant your own butterfly garden. There is no charge, and you do not need to purchase admission to the Zoo to receive your kit (guests can receive one kit per household, as supplies last).
Help save gorillas! Gorillas on the Line is an electronics recycling program instituted several years ago by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to promote awareness of how our consumer habits can negatively impact gorillas living in the wild. Our everyday electronics contain coltan, a mineral from Central Africa and its mining causes loss of gorilla habitats, and you can help make a difference. Those that bring small electronics for recycling such as an old cell phone, iPad, MP3 player, or tablet will receive a free Gorillas on the Line t-shirt on Earth Day.
Throughout the week of April 18-24
A series of virtual events allow you to join the Zoo's "Party for the Planet." Our focus this year will be cleaning up your neighborhood, creating butterfly gardens at home, and interactive online trivia events with the Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh and SAS Institute. We will be highlighting the Zoo's green practices on our social media platforms throughout the week. Please visit www.nczoo.org/partyfortheplanet for a complete list of online events.
Help us take action that supports healthy local environments and protects native animals and their habitats.