KMAN received a news release from Sunset Zoo’s Marketing/Development Officer, Ella Casey on Tuesday afternoon:
Last week marked spring break for many in the region and residents celebrated the warming temperatures – plus a week off from school – with a visit to Manhattan’s Sunset Zoo. The 26-acre park welcomed 8,345 guests throughout the week including a record-breaking attendance during the Zoo’s annual Community Appreciation Day, held this past Saturday, where all 4,706 visitors received free Zoo admission.
“This community has provided us with unbelievable support over the past 81 years. We’re honored to host an annual free day as one of the ways we show our appreciation,” said Scott Shoemaker, Zoo Director.
During spring break week, the Zoo’s Education Department also provided nature-based programming to 144 K-2 grade youth. The popular Adventure Camp program runs throughout the school year, in partnership with the Flint Hills Discovery Center, and allows youth to engage in a variety of science, history and cultural topics at both institutions when USD 383 elementary schools are not in session. Two grade-specific camps, K-2 and 3-6, regularly rotate between the two facilities. Attendees during the Zoo’s spring break camps learned about a variety of topics including peccaries, butterflies, honey bees, ferrets, tadpoles, and even became Junior Researchers.
The warming weather also marks a change in hours for Sunset Zoo. Beginning April 1, the Zoo will be open daily from 9:30am to 5pm. The Zoo’s seasonal concession stand also opened over spring break and will be open weekends only until this summer when it begins daily operations. The Zoo will also kick off the start to the 2015 special event season with Earth Day on April 18 from Noon to 4:30pm. Richard Renner, and his Recycle Cycle, will entertain guests with energy-filled performances throughout the afternoon among a whole Zoo full of family-friendly activities. For more information, visit the Zoo’s online calendar at SunsetZoo.com.
