This summer, the Bronx Zoo is strapping on their super hero capes, saluting Zoo Keepers and rocking out with Dan Zanes and other fabulous family performers. Now that school’s out, kids have plenty of free time to check out all that the Bronx Zoo has to offer. Don’t miss the newly renovated Children’s Zoo and say hi to the new animals in the petting zoo area.

Keep reading for information on some of the exciting and big events taking place at the zoo and be sure to check bronxzoo.com/events  for more information.

July 18-26 National Zoo Keeper’s Week  

As the need to protect and preserve wildlife and their vanishing habitats continues to increase, the animal care professional’s role as educators and conservation ambassadors has become essential. Zoo and aquarium professionals care for hundreds of species, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. A keeper’s day includes an array of tasks like cleaning, food preparation and feed out, medical treatment, training, enrichment, landscaping, exhibit design, animal introductions, public outreach and education, and much MUCH more. Don’t miss the variety of keeper chats and special animal enrichment taking place during this special week.   To celebrate National Zoo Keeper’s Week, join us at a Twitter Party, hosted by popular mom bloggers Vera Sweeney of Lady and the Blog and Audrey McClelland of Mom Generations. 

When: Tuesday, July 21 from 12PM – 1PM

Where: Twitter

Follow: @verasweeney, @audreymcclellan for the fun and prizes!

FEATURED SUMMER PERFORMERS:

July 25, 2015 DAN ZANES AND FRIENDS Concert 

Join Grammy Award winner Dan Zanes and Friends at the Bronx Zoo for an outdoor, fun-filled dance-party, hootenanny for the 21st century! Called the “crown prince of contemporary kid’s music,” by People Magazine,  don’t miss his uncompromising vocal and instrumental artistry and muscular pop beat.  Zane’s globe-trotting music ranges from elements of Tunisian Sufi, the Louisiana bayou, Appalachia, the Caribbean and South Africa to making a CD completely in Spanish. He likes to call what he does “21st-century, all-ages, handmade social music,” Since his debut album, “Rocket Ship Beach,” in 2000, Zanes has recorded with top musicians, including Debbie Harry, Sheryl Crow, Natalie Merchant, Lou Reed, Ziggy Marley and Philip Glass.  Times: 11:30am and 2:00pm. Location: Astor Court.

August 22- 23 DANNY WEINKAUF AND HIS RED PANTS BAND

Grammy-winning artist and longtime bassist for They Might Be Giants, Danny Weinkauf is the man behind the wildly successful TMBG mega-hit “I am a Paleontologist.”  He’s just released his first solo album for kids, No School Today on TMBG’s own label, Idlywild Recordings.  The “shimmery, shiny pop” tunes include catchy gems about marsupials, archaeology, voting rights, and even a song about Ben Folds!  New hit “Champion of the Spelling Bee” reached #1 on Sirius XM’s Kids Place Live and was featured in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Times: 12:30pm, 2:00pm & 3:30pm.

Here’s a look at what else is going in this July and August at the Bronx Zoo:

July 11-12 Super Sprowtz Show: Super Hero Training Camp

Children of all ages will love watching Roger and the Super Sprowtz lead the audience through a high-energy super hero training camp featuring 4 levels of songs, dancing and games. Children will be led through an action-packed curriculum of health and wellness broken down into four easy-to-remember stages: Mind, Heart, Body, and Tummy! Their catchy music will have kids yelling “I want more broccoli!”, and their built-in games will teach the super-heroes in training which super powers come from which veggies! It’s all about learning to stay healthy and making smart choices. Times: 12:30pm, 2:00pm & 3:30pm. Location: The Tent at Grizzly Corners.

July 19 PLAY DATE Concert

Husband and wife duo Greg Attonito (The Bouncing Souls) and singer/songwriter Shanti Wintergate are the heart of the kindie music group Play Date. The goal of their music is to inspire children to use their imaginations — and their dance moves — to explore the world around them. Play Date’s aptly-named album Imagination won Creative Child’s 2014 Seal of Excellence Award. Called a “breath of fresh air” (swingwhistlezing.com), they’ll be bringing their guitars and infectious energy with popular songs “Dance Like a Monster,” “Anyone Can Sing,” and more! Play Date’s song “XYZ” was recently featured in a Nordstrom’s Back to School video called “The A to Z Life.” Date: July 19^th, 2015. Times: 12:30pm, 2:00pm &3:30pm

August 2- 3 NATIONAL PARKS WEEKEND 

Explore nature and the sights and sounds of New York City’s Great Outdoors and the fun recreational activities visitors can participate in. Join Park Rangers and become a bird detective and even do some bird-watching. Learn how to pitch a tent, make a campfire and paddle on a real kayak. Then, experience what it was like to immigrant to our New York shores coming across the sea to Ellis Island. Times: 11-4:00. Location: Dancing Crane Pavilion.

August 2- 3 JUNGLE GYM Concert: A Live Rock-n-Roll Experience for the Whole Family! 

A Go “off the grid” with family rock act Jason Didner and the Jungle Gym Jam as we celebrate the joy and energy of being outdoors among nature and give electronic gadgets a little break. With a Jersey rock vibe like Bruce Springsteen, they’ll sing about wonders in nature like ladybugs, sea lions, the beach and the moon. They’ll also take a very funny look at the wildest exhibit at the zoo– the people who visit! Times: 12:30pm, 2:00pm & 3:30pm.

August 29-30 HOT PEAS ‘N BUTTER 

Winners of the 2006, 2008, 2009 AND the 2012,”Parent’s Choice Awards”, Hot Peas ‘N Butter is a unique children’s musical group that incorporates elements of traditional Latin music, Afro-Caribbean rhythms, jazz, folk, and rock. By combining an interactive, invigorating approach to performance with mature, multicultural music, Hot Peas ‘N Butter has developed a distinct way of inspiring care and creativity in kids and adults alike. These Bronx Zoo performances will be part of Hot Peas ’N Butter’s newest album video release party for “Amistad”! Times: 12:30pm, 2:00pm & 3:30pm.

Craft: Make Nature Inspired Hanging Mobiles: This July, inspired by nature, the artist Alexander Calder and animals throughout the newly renovated Children’s Zoo, young artists will create their own unique  hanging mobile using a variety of materials like paper, popsicle sticks, beads, as well as natural materials like sticks, pinecones, and leaves. Participants will be encouraged to include representations of their favorite animals from the newly opened children’s zoo in their nature-inspired mobile!

Don’t miss Re-Usable the Musical, a one-of-a-kind puppet show, where a young girl named Kazumi takes a musical journey to learn about protecting our animals in the wild with actions we take at home. This show teaches kids how to protect the planet using the five Rs: Refuse, Reuse, Reduce, Recycle, and a very special and important R: Remember.  This show occurs in the Asia Theater at 12:30, 1:15, 2:00, 2:45, & 3:30pm.

How To Make Your Garden Grow

Come to our recycled garden and experience a pollinator garden, digging garden and vegetable garden. Every day there are games, activities and crafts to help your kids learn more about the importance of sustainable gardening and healthy eating for humans and wildlife. Open all summer, Daily 1pm–4pm.

There will never be a dull weekend this summer with everything going on at the Bronx Zoo, so remember to embrace the luxury of living in (or close to!) a city with so much to offer all while encouraging outdoor exploration, connection to wildlife and nature and learning! What are you looking forward to checking out at the zoo? Share your thoughts with me in the comments section!