The Gladys Porter Zoo will celebrate National Kids Day by hosting the 18th Annual Kids Appreciation Day, presented by H-E-B, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in Brownsville.
Parents of children ages 2-13 can pick up an “admit one child free with paid adult admission” pass for Kids Appreciation Day at the Main Branch and Southmost Branch of the Brownsville Public Library and the KVEO studios in Harlingen.
Children may also use any summer passes for zoo entrance they received earlier this year.
About 3,000 children attended the last in-person event and zoo officials anticipate the same numbers this year.
“Kids Appreciation Day is an annual event that we able to put together for the community with the support of our sponsors H-E-B, Brownsville Public Utilities Board, KVEO 23 and Digital 101.5,” said Alejandra Rodriguez, of the zoo. “This event is a community event to help get children ready for back to school. We want to help them kick off the school year with plenty of activities and opportunities to get backpacks and school supplies as well as the opportunity to win several prizes.”
Gladys Porter Zoo said that children will receive a passport that will take them on an adventure throughout the Zoo where they can visit various activity stations centered around health and wellness, safety, animal conservation, and more.
The first 1,000 children to receive their passport will also receive a goodie bag filled with school supplies to help them kick start the upcoming school year. After their passport is full, children will be able to enter a raffle to win bicycles, gift cards, and backpacks filled with even more school supplies.
“We’re so excited to once again be able to host Kids Appreciation Day. We are huge supporters of education and being able to distribute 1,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to our Valley students is something we look forward to every year, and we are especially grateful to H-E-B for their continued support of the Zoo and for helping us to achieve this event every year,” said Cynthia Garza-Galvan, marketing director.
As a special treat this year, author, Suzanne Shepard, will be reading her newly released book, Rocket the Space Giraffe, which is based on the Zoo’s very own Rocket, a reticulated giraffe. Visitors will also have an opportunity to have their books signed by her. Rocket the Space Giraffe is currently the #1 New Release on Amazon in the Children’s Zoo Books category.
For more information, visit www.gpz.org or call the zoo at (956) 546-7187.
