Cakes Anchorage Alaska

40th Anniversary Celebration at Alaska Zoo, Anchorage   by Judith O'Connor

The Alaska Zoo in Anchorage celebrates a very special year in 2009. The Zoo's 40th Anniversary will be commemorated with a three day long party August 7th, 8th and 9th. The extravaganza includes live music in various areas around the zoo. The entire 25 acre facility will be utilized for the festivities. Food vendors will prepare hot dogs, hamburgers, French fries, nachos, cotton candy and funnel cakes. Docents will give special talks regarding zoo animals and their care. Animal enrichment experiences will provide entertainment and enjoyment for children and adults alike. For information on the Zoo's hours and event schedule see their website http://www.alaskazoo.org/. (Checking the web site is wise before any visit to the Zoo since the hours change seasonally). The 40th Anniversary Celebration includes games, give aways, prizes, celebrity guests and a special slide show of the Zoo's history and growth.

The Zoo's multi-acre wooded area houses a varied collection of Alaskan wildlife species. Eighty-five varieties of animal like call Alaska Zoo their home. Arctic glacier bears, brown/grizzly and black bears roam in some of the larger "houses". Moose, caribou, wolves, sheep, musk oxen, reindeer and bears are all favorites of local and tourist visitors. The small collection of exotic animals includes a Siberian tiger, elephants and Bactrian camels.

The Alaska Zoo is located at 4731 O'Malley Road in Anchorage. Besides the web site listed above, you can reach them by phone for the latest updated information at +1 (907) 326-3242. Take part in one of the daily Discovery Tours from noon until 2 pm (through September 20th). A trained zoo guide assists you to understand close encounters with polar bears and tigers. They explain the stories of the animals housed here and provide enjoyable natural history learning experiences, interspaced with facts about each species. Tour prices (which include zoo admission) are $25.00 for adults and $15.00 for ages 3-17. Payment may be made at the entrance before noon the day of your tour, and no reservations are necessary. Contact information is available by phone at (907) 346-2858 or on the web at klarson@alaskazoo.org. Shuttle transport may be requested for those who need transportation. Do you need transportation to the zoo? View our shuttle information flyer (PDF).

Guided Encounters for students, camp groups and other youth organizations provide special opportunities to better understand the history and needs of native Alaskan wildlife. Alaska Zoo Tours give groups of friends or a family the ability to schedule their own tour of the zoo. Private Tours are the most extensive experience offered by the Zoo. (Limited to a maximum of 10 people, they must be paid for in advance and cost $250.00). Guided by senior zoo staff, they offer multiple encounters with a wide variety of animals. These tours may be scheduled during regular hours or as an after-hours experience.

The Alaska Zoo accepts interested volunteers from the fortunate local residents. These volunteers make most of the programs and events at the zoo possible and they receive a personally rewarding experience. Training is mandatory, allowing volunteers to expand their own horizons and knowledge and training them to educate the visitor about all aspects of zoo life. Volunteers' opportunities vary according to their interests and skills. They may work with either visitors or animals, or both. They must begin by completing an application and submitting it online to hdoncaster@alaskazoo.org. If the application is accepted the Zoo will contact them scheduling an interview and new volunteer tour of the zoo. Among the opportunities available for those interested are: Adventure Camp assistant, program storyteller, Discovery Tour Guide, Critter Table Leader for events, Petting Zoo Attendant, Special Event booth operator, cotton candy maker, or helping to clean the exhibits (husbandry projects). To volunteer one must be at least 15 years old, spend five hours' time in three of four sections (15 hours total) prior to admission to the volunteer program. (The four sections are: education, animal husbandry, facilities/office and events/services). Once they have completed these basic requirements each one receives a volunteer shirt and name tag and may begin representing one of the finest U. S. zoos: Alaska Zoo, Anchorage!

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