Take a ride to and from the Zoo!

Warm weather has arrived and that means more visitors. Families seem drawn to the Zoo to spend time outdoors with their loved ones and our fascinating animals. We recognize that increased attendance and the distance between the Front Gate and the remote overflow lot create a need for a visitor-friendly way to transport families to the Zoo. Here’s something new that you may not know about…

Monroe County purchased an old-fashioned, San Francisco-style trolley. This bright-blue motor vehicle with a traditional wood interior was acquired used from Bradelton, Florida. It was part of that community’s tourist-friendly downtown transportation system. The trolley is available for various Monroe County Parks department needs, but on summer weekends, holidays and for special events, it is made available to transport Zoo visitors. We’re so pleased that this distinctive vehicle has found a new home in our community!

The trolley runs back and forth between the remote overflow lot on St. Paul Street and the RTS Bus loop outside the Zoo’s Exit Gate. There is seating for 25 people and, although we discourage standing, there are rails for another 10 people to stand. In addition, it can accommodate strollers and wheelchairs. Trolley hours vary based on the attendance that day and runs until there are no vehicles left at the overflow lot. We make sure that no car or family is left behind!

The next time one of our dedicated parking lot volunteers directs you to park in the overflow lot, please consider it an opportunity to enjoy a ride on our new trolley. This free service — designed for convenience, efficiency and safety — provides an added fun experience for the whole family!

- LaDonna Court, Membership Coordinator

Happy Father’s Day!

Are you looking for something for Dad or Grandpa who has everything? Please consider Zoo membership. Are you looking for a fun-filled day with Dad? Please consider a visit to the Zoo. Are you looking for a unique gift item for Pops or Papa? Please consider a gift from our ZooShop.

Visit the Zoo this weekend and create memories with that special man in your life. The Seneca Park Zoo is The Natural Place for Families, so make it part of your family outing and enjoy all that this special local attraction has to offer!

Photos by Kelli O’Brien

If you are looking for a gift that will make memories all year long, consider buying a membership gift certificate. We are offering certificates for 13 months for the price of 12 months. You may also qualify for $5 or $10 discount off based on where you are employed (or retired from). If wondering what to do with the whole family, a visit here will allow everyone to see our Zoo babies and celebrate with the animals’ fathers on this holiday weekend. Our newborn orangutan, sea lion pup, tiny golden lion tamarin and young goats are on exhibit. Our lion cubs will be on exhibit at 3:30 p.m. each day through the month of June. Your children or grandchildren will remember these experiences all year long.

Don’t forget that we offer unique gifts in our ZooShop. Ideal for last-minute shoppers, we have key chains, boxer shorts, coffee mugs, T-shirts and much, much more!

If you can’t visit this weekend, don’t worry. You can take advantage of the special on membership gift certificates through June 30 online or by calling (585) 336-7212. But don’t miss out on spending time at the Zoo with your family or shopping for a father or grandfather. You won’t regret it and they won’t forget it!

- Cassey Dickey, Data Coordinator

Get 13 for the price of 12!

Photo by Kate Leipold

We are excited about our current “baker’s dozen” special for Zoo membership! Your family can get 13 months of Zoo membership for the price of 12 months. In addition, you may be eligible for $5 or $10 off as an employee or retiree of one of our Corporate Members.

If you join or rejoin, your family can take advantage of these specials in June.  We consider “join” as a brand new member and “rejoin” as being lapsed for 6 months or more. Instead of just a year of membership, we will give you an extra month. For our $85 Household Basic level, that extra month can be as much as a $7.08 value. For those who are employees or retirees of our Corporate Members, there are opportunities for an additional $5 or $10 off. These workers can be from companies that are generous sponsors of the Zoo, important Zoo Society partners like Monroe County, honored service providers like active military or fellow educators like area teachers. Check out the list of available discounts online or ask staff by phone or at the Zoo’s Front Gate to check the list for you. Membership is always a great value with wonderful benefits. We want to ensure that if you are eligible, you get all the savings you are eligible for at the time of purchase.

New this year, if you renew your current membership in the month before it is due to expire, the same 13 month offer is available for your family, too. We are pleased to offer this “renew early” option for our loyal returning member families. It can be combined with our traditional corporate employee and retiree. In addition, if you plan to purchase a gift for a friend or loved one, these specials will also apply. Don’t delay. All of these offers are currently valid only through June 30, 2013.

That thirteenth bagel or donut is a thrill for a thrifty shopper, like me. But your entire family will enjoy the terrific benefits with more than a year of Zoo membership. The ability to visit for free and watch all our baby animals frolic and grow will once again make membership the best choice for area families this year. So join, rejoin or renew online, charge by phone at (585) 336-7212 or stop by the Zoo’s Front Gate during Zoo hours in June to take advantage of these “sweet” discounts!

- Karen Panosian, Visitor Services Director

Zoo CLOSED Saturday, June 1st for Zoobilation!

The Seneca Park Zoo is gearing up for its major sold-out evening fundraiser, Zoobilation. This annual 21-and-older only gala is our largest event of the year. Preparations require that the Zoo be closed during the day on Saturday, June 1.

It is important to note that Zoobilation takes place on the first Saturday in June and raises more than $100,000 for Zoo projects and programs each year. We close the Zoo for the safety of our visitors (since there are trucks within the Zoo) and to allow for clean-up and set-up time (especially after a busy attendance and school group day on the Friday before). We plan the event on the same day each year for consistency for both event guests and our members or Zoo visitors. The Zoo’s Web site, newspaper listings, phone messages and all our printed materials note the days that we are closed to keep everyone informed. The Zoo is also closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Thank you for your understanding concerning the closing of the Zoo again on Saturday, June 1. The Zoo will reopen for regular hours (9:30 a.m. for our Zoo members, 10 a.m. for the general public) on Sunday, June 2. Once on Zoo grounds, you may stay until 5 p.m.

On that Saturday if you want to join, rejoin or renew a membership or have questions about membership, you may continue to do so by calling (585) 336-7212 or visiting our Web site.

Again, we are grateful for the understanding of our members and visitors and we apologize for any inconvenience.

- Lisa Buda, Membership Coordinator

Time is running out!

Don’t miss out. Our special offers to join or rejoin the Zoo end Friday, May 31. When purchasing a new Zoo membership, you can choose to take $10 off or get two free one-time-use guest passes. Whatever works best for you!

If you have been thinking about becoming a Zoo member, now is time to take advantage of these special offers. If you are a Zoo member, thank you! But you may have an upcoming celebration and are wondering what to get your friend or loved one. Please consider a Zoo membership gift certificate. It’s a great gift for a birthday, baby shower or Father’s Day. Members enjoy tremendous benefits for one full year — the greatest of which is free Zoo admission! We have levels for Grandma and Grandpa, too. They can bring all their grandchildren age 21 years and younger on any Zoo visit. This Zoo is truly The Natural Place for Families!

Photo by Brian Sheets

You may have heard there’s a baby boom at the Seneca Park Zoo. Today you can see our baby orangutan, tiny golden lion tamarin and adorable young goats. And we think everyone will want to be a Zoo member to visit for free and often once the lion cubs are also on exhibit for viewing later this summer.

Whether purchasing a membership for your family or as a unique gift, please hurry. These offers end very soon.  You can choose the option special that suits your family and a purchase option that is most convenient for you, as well. We offer sales online, by phone, by mail and at the Zoo’s Front Gate during Zoo hours. Hurry. Tick-tock. Tick-tock. Time is running out. Do it today!

- Karen Panosian, Visitor Services Director

Special offer for Mother’s Day!

The first 200 people both Saturday and Sunday (May 11 & 12) to join, rejoin or renew a membership at the Zoo’s Front Gate will receive a free orangutan-themed nail file to pamper your mother or grandmother with!

Happy Mother’s Day!

- Karen Panosian, Visitor Services Director

The Zoo welcomes lion cubs!

Photo by Kelli O’Brien

Lion cubs, one male and one female, were born on March 7 to first-time parents Asha and Chester. Read more about them here.

The exact timing of when the cubs will be on exhibit is not yet known. Stay tuned to the Zoo’s Facebook page for weekly updates.

Join, rejoin or renew a Zoo membership today. Offers for new members end May 31, 2013 and the offer to renew early is valid all year long. As an active member family, you’ll be prepared to visit for free and as often as you like once these youngsters are ready for the entire community to see!

- Karen Panosian, Visitor Services Director