Sponsored by Alaska Airlines

Celebrate Earth Day with falcon flight demos and eco-friendly activities

SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA – April 12, 2019 – Visit CuriOdyssey at Coyote Point on Saturday, April 20th to celebrate Earth Day sponsored by Alaska Airlines and discover new ways to appreciate and take care of our environment. Earth Day is the first of three celebrations CuriOdyssey is planning in cooperation with the AZA’s Party for the Planet nationwide programs.

During CuriOdyssey’s annual Earth Day celebration the entire family can meet live animals, investigate science, and celebrate our incredible Earth. Families can: discover the importance of raptors to our ecosystem during a falconry flight demonstration, help clean up the Coyote Point beaches and marsh, learn how to become an Otter Spotter with River Otter Ecology, make gift wrap from recyclables and learn about local conservation during Animal in Action presentations from our keepers.

“Alaska Airlines is delighted to partner and celebrate Earth Day with CuriOdyssey’s Party for the Planet. Our employees are excited to pitch in and help with the coastal clean-up alongside our neighbors,” said, Annabel Chang, Vice President of the Bay Area, Alaska Airlines.

Earth Day Schedule

Beach clean-up: Visitors who want a head start on their environmental efforts can join CuriOdyssey and the San Mateo County Parks from 9:00 am to 11:00 am to help clean up the beach.  Please bring gloves and bucket.  All participants in the beach clean-up receive free admission to CuriOdyssey. Register here.

Full Circle Falconry: Falconry flight demonstrations by Kenny Elvin will be at 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on the knoll. Each presentation is approximately 30 minutes, time varies due to length of bird flight and recall. Enter via CuriOdyssey.

River Otter Ecology Project: This research-based organization will present insightful videos and bio facts at 1:30 pm. The presentation will show video footage of otters in the wild and encourage adults to become otter spotters in support of the newly expanded Otter Spotter South Bay outreach program. Citizen scientists are needed to help determine the southern extent of river otter range in the South Bay. The group is making a concerted effort to get the word out.

Sustainable Party Decorations: Learn how to create sustainable party decorations including leaf confetti and paper bows from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm. with the CuriOdyssey education team.

STEM Odyssey Exhibit: A visit on Earth Day will not be complete without a visit to CuriOdyssey’s newest pop up exhibit STEM Odyssey, an amazing math art experience for kids.

About CuriOdyssey

CuriOdyssey is a serious science playground where more than 100,000 kids each year observe wild animals and experiment with real scientific phenomena. As a science and wildlife center, CuriOdyssey helps children acquire the tools to deeply understand the changing world. CuriOdyssey is dedicated to giving more kids the superpower of science. CuriOdyssey is located at Coyote Point Recreation Area in San Mateo. For more information, visit www.CuriOdyssey.org.

About Party for the Planet

For 20 years, members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) have celebrated our planet with annual Party For The Planet® events. This year, with the support from the Disney Conservation Fund, members will help their communities “spring into action” with opportunities for families to volunteer to improve our planet from Earth Day (April 22) to World Oceans Day (June 8) including trash clean-up, bio blitzes, habitat restoration, and native planting activities.  In addition to events happening in the Bay Area, signature events will also happen in five other cities across the country: Brevard, Fla., Chicago, Ill., Los Angeles, Calif., New York City, N.Y., and Philadelphia, Pa. In total, over 120 AZA members will be hosting Spring Into Action events during the 48 days.

About AZA

Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, animal welfare, education, science, and recreation. AZA is the accrediting body for the top zoos and aquariums in the United States and eight other countries. Look for the AZA accreditation logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. The AZA is a leader in saving species and your link to helping animals all over the world. To learn more, visit www.aza.org.

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