• The Minnesota Zoo is the state's largest environmental learning center, serving more than one million people every year
• The Minnesota Zoo is a conservation leader within its 500 acre site and around the world
• The Minnesota Zoo is a statewide attraction with award winning exhibits, animal demonstrations and public events
• The Minnesota Zoo participates In 24 AZA species survival programs and directs the Tiger Survival Plan.
• More than 145,000 students and teachers visit the Zoo each year on field trips.
• The Zoo has nearly 2,500 animals in its collections representing 380 species.

Peek in on the Prairie Dogs  Level: Voyagers+
Saturday, August 21, 2010, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Ages 3+
Black-tailed prairie dogs are adorable … and they are fascinating animals with interesting adaptations to help them survive predators.  Come learn more with one of the Zoo's keepers!

You Otter See the Sea Otters Level: Explorers+
Tuesday, September 14, 2010, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
All Ages.
We will be going behind-the-scenes, so please use your best judgment when bringing children. Come meet the sea otters of Russia's Grizzly Coast and learn more about these playful and inquisitive animals.

Amur Tigers & Amur Leopards Level: Naturalists+
Monday, October 4, 2010, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Ages 12+
The Amur tiger is the largest of all cats, and the Amur leopard is the rarest big cat in the world. We will go behind-the-scenes to learn about the cats' diet, behavior, enrichment, conservation status, and more!

Zoomobile: Up Close and Personal Level: Voyagers+
Thursday, November 4, 2010, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Age Requirement: None
Using live animals, biological artifacts, theater techniques, storytelling and audience participation, Zoomobile naturalists create a dynamic, personal and fun program for people of all ages. Join us for a special Zoomobile program, just for Friends! 

Dive Into Discovery Bay  Level: Voyagers+
Wednesday, January 19, 2011, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
All Ages.
We will be going behind-the-scenes, so please use your best judgment when bringing children.
Why don't the sharks eat all the fish? How do we keep all that water clean? Just how many fish are in that tank anyway? Find the answers to these questions and more as we explore Discovery Bay with the aquatics keepers.

Make a Splash with the Dolphins  Level: Explorers+
Tuesday, February 8, 2011, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
All Ages.
We will be going behind-the-scenes, so please use your best judgment when bringing children. Join the marine mammal staff poolside for a closer look at the Zoo's bottlenose dolphins and learn more about these sleek and intelligent animals.

Answer the Call of the Colobus  Level: Voyagers+
Wednesday, March 2, 2011, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Ages 12+
Dr. Tara Harris, one of the Zoo's conservation biologists, spent four years in Uganda studying black and white colobus monkeys, making her one of the world's foremost experts on the species.  Join us as she shares some of her insights about their behavior, ecology, and biology.  (Please note we will not be going behind-the-scenes).

Friends-Only Farm Babies Level: Voyagers+
Wednesday, April 6, 2011, 4:15 – 7:00 p.m.
All Ages
Visit the farm as it gets ready for spring! Join us for this special Friends-Only Farm Babies at the Wells Fargo Family Farm, without the crowds of a regular Zoo day. You and your family will enjoy close interactions with chicks, piglets, lambs, calves, goat kids, and rabbits. End the evening around the bonfire, complete with s'mores!

Gather with the Grizzlies  Level: Naturalists+
Tuesday, May 17, 2011, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Ages 12+
Come meet the Zoo's three grizzly bears! See their behind-the-scenes accommodations, watch animal enrichment in action, and learn how we care for these magnificent and intelligent animals.

A Day in the Life of a Zoo Vet Level: Explorers+
Thursday, June 16, 2011
All Ages.
We will be going behind-the-scenes, so please use your best judgment when bringing children. Veterinarians and veterinary technicians work with all the animals at the Zoo, from tarantulas to tigers. Meet with the Zoo's veterinary staff to learn about routine physical exams, diagnostic techniques, animal nutrition, treating illnesses, and quarantine procedures for new arrivals.

For more information regarding benefits, please call the Minnesota Zoo Foundation Office at 952.431.9237.