In the attractions category with attendance between one and two million visitors, the Zoo received Brass Ring Awards for integrated marketing campaign of the year as well as online advertising.

See samples of our ads

The Brass Ring Awards highlight originality, creativity and excellence in marketing among professionals in the attractions industry.

“It’s a great honor to be recognized by your peers,” noted Bill Von Bank, Minnesota Zoo director of sales and marketing.  “These awards complement the positive feedback from our guests.”

Creative elements for the Zoo’s Africa! marketing campaign were developed by Minneapolis-based ad agency Preston Kelly.

Since 2007, the Minnesota Zoo has received 10 Brass Ring Awards.

IAAPA is the premier trade association for the attractions industry worldwide, representing zoos, aquariums, museums, family entertainment centers and amusement parks.

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Bears “Haines” and “Kenai” took an extra special interest in the pumpkin, clawing and ripping it apart while “Sadie” – content to let the boys do the hard work – showed up at the messy grand finale.

“Pumpkins are just one example of ‘enrichment’ used at the Minnesota Zoo to stimulate animals’ senses while encouraging a wide range of natural behaviors,” said the Zoo’s Northern Trail Supervisor Diana Weinhardt.

In the past, pumpkins presented to the bears were substantially smaller – allowing them to claw and smash them as their own unique way of “carving.”

The large pumpkin, grown at the Zoo’s Wells Fargo Family Farm exhibit by Zoo Volunteer Bob Erickson for the past 5 months, was transported ahead of time via a bobcat to the bears’ exhibit inside Russia’s Grizzly Coast. A pumpkin’s weight is estimated by its measurements.

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“Russia’s Grizzly Coast and the Central Plaza have transformed the Minnesota Zoo,” said Zoo Director/CEO Lee Ehmke. “Not only is it the first major exhibit ever developed with a specific focus on the Russian Far East, but it has set a new bar for our Zoo in terms of drama, beauty, educational impact and conservation relevance. We are pleased that our professional peers have recognized this project’s excellence.”

Russia’s Grizzly Coast has led to record-setting attendance and positive ‘buzz’ surrounding the Minnesota Zoo since it opened last year. It is the Zoo’s largest exhibit initiative since it opened in 1978. The $24 million exhibit features state-of-the-art technology that creates an authentically immersive experience, one reflective of the Russian Far East region with grizzly bears, sea otters, Amur leopards and wild boars.

Additionally, the Zoo’s marketing campaign for Russia’s Grizzly Coast also received top honors.

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Who Pooped? Game
“Who Pooped?” enables game players to explore what the animals of the Africa savanna eat, help them digest their meal, and determine whose poop is whose.  The website is not only fun but educational:  each stage of the game provides players with interesting facts on key species within the Zoo’s Africa! exhibit.  

Why is Poop Important?
You’d be surprised how much you can learn from poop, also known as scat or feces.  Inside this waste product is a wealth of information that can be used to understand and help wild animals. The great thing about studying poop is that it is noninvasive. This means scientists do not have to trap or touch the animal to obtain important information which minimizes stress to animals. 

Studying animal poop allows scientists to gain a variety of knowledge:

• Poop shows what an animal’s diet consists of.
• Animal’s DNA can be found in their poop. This allows scientists to not only differentiate one animal from the other, but it also can be used to determine the relationships between animals that all live in a habitat.
• Poop allows scientists to track individual animals and it enables them to gain an understanding of the number of animals living in an area. 
• Poop can disclose information regarding the health of an animal population. This can be gauged by searching for evidence of parasites in poop. By doing this, scientists can determine which types of parasites an animal harbors and estimate the extent of the infection caused by them. 
• Poop can be collected even when an animal will not tolerate close human observation.  This allows scientists to gain a better understanding of some of the most elusive wild animals on Earth.  The more information we gather about these animals, the better positioned we are to save them from extinction.

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Apple Valley, MN – May 16, 2009: The Minnesota Zoo’s three grizzly bears demonstrated the importance of bear-proofing campsites this morning as part of “Bear Awareness Week.” Zookeepers setup a mock campsite inside their exhibit – and it didn’t stay neat for long!

After bears “Sadie,” “Kenai,” and “Haines,” were let into the exhibit, they took a brief pause and then headed straight for the tent and a food-filled backpack that was hanging from a tree. The threeyear- old bears ripped the tent apart, ate the food inside – and later ripped the bottom of the backpack so all the food items dropped to the ground.

Tips for Safe-Camping in Bear Country (source: MN DNR)

• Use dehydrated and freeze-dried foods sealed in plastic (to reduce odors).
• Avoid burning unused food.
• Leave a clean camp, with no litter or food scraps around.

• Do not keep food or cooking equipment in the tent.
• Clean all dishes and utensils after each meal. Dispose of dishwater away from the site.
• Do not put food or food containers in latrines.
• Clean fish away from the campsite. Bury fish entrails or leave on a visibly exposed rock near the shoreline for scavenging birds to clean-up.
• Store food out of bears reach. (Note: Some bears have learned how to pull food packs out of trees).

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The Zoo has become a permanent vehicle drop-off site for Courage Center’s Cars for Courage program. Cars can be dropped off from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily. To schedule a drop off, contact Cars for Courage at (763) 520-0540 or toll-free at 1-888-440-CARS, or e-mail at janinet@courage.org.

Donating to Cars for Courage is easy, and eliminates the hassle and cost of trading or selling a used vehicle. Plus, donors can get a tax deduction for the fair market value of their vehicle. Cars for Courage is an essential source of income for Courage Center, a 75 year-old nationally-known rehabilitation and resource center for people with disabilities. Each year Courage services helps more than16,000 people with disabilities receive the tools, training, and services they need to become more independent.

MORE INFORMATION : 763-520-0540, 1-888-440-CARS (2277), www.courage.org

About Cars for Courage:
When you donate your vehicle to Cars for Courage, you are allowed a tax deduction for the fair market value, just as you would with a cash gift. Courage Center provides donation receipts and available book value information. Vehicles must be in good, sellable condition and are sold for the highest possible return. Proceeds support Courage Center’s services for people with disabilities to live more independently.

About Courage Center:
Courage Center is a nationally-known, not-for-profit rehabilitation and resource center for people with physical disabilities, brain injuries, speech or vision impairments, or hearing loss. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Courage Center offers comprehensive, life-long services to people of all ages. Courage Center’s wide-ranging services are designed to empower people with disabilities to reach their full potential in every aspect of life.

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