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Road Trip Idea: Brookfield Zoo Offers Kids’ Free Days August 7-9

July 26, 2017

Brookfield Zoo is offering Kids’ Free Days, presented by AMITA Health and Groupon, on August 7, 8, and 9. So before the start of the new school year, bring the family to the zoo for a “staycation” adventure to see some amazing animals and to receive free admission for children ages 11 and under. (Admission for adults and parking fees still apply.)

During Kids’ Free Days, AMITA Health will be sponsoring a variety of family-friendly activities from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the zoo’s Pavilions and throughout the park. Youngsters can explore the inside of an ambulance, and parents will be able to search for a doctor in their area and schedule appointments with assistance from representatives of the AMITA Health Medical Group. Fun health-related games will engage and educate guests of all ages. In addition, kids can enjoy a performance by Emerald City Theatre, participate in engaging activities led by GoNoodle, and meet a few of Brookfield Zoo’s animal ambassadors. A healthy snack and a take-home memento to commemorate the day’s events will also be available. 

There is still time to visit the zoo’s Butterflies! habitat to see beautiful winged wonders in a landscape of colorful annuals and perennials. Additionally, the zoo’s temporary summer exhibit, Dinos & Dragons, presented by Meijer, goes extinct on September 17. Before it does, guests can venture along a pathway to see 17 animatronic creatures while discovering interesting facts about dinosaur history and learning about dragon legends through culture and literature. The exhibit also features an amazing collection of large and small modern “dragons,” including Komodo, frilled, and bearded dragons; a European legless lizard; a spiny-tailed lizard; iguanas; a plumed basilisk; and several species of monitor lizards, such as the crocodile lizard (one of the longest lizards in the world).

On Kids’ Free Days, Brookfield Zoo is open from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Admission for adults is $19.85 and $14.50 for seniors 65 and over. Parking is $12. For further information, visit CZS.org

About the Chicago Zoological Society

The mission of the Chicago Zoological Society is to inspire conservation leadership by connecting people with wildlife and nature. The Chicago Zoological Society is a private nonprofit organization that operates Brookfield Zoo on land owned by the Forest Preserves of Cook County. The Society is known throughout the world for its international role in animal population management and wildlife conservation. Its Center for the Science of Animal Care and Welfare is at the forefront of animal care that strives to discover and implement innovative approaches to zoo animal management. Brookfield Zoo is the first zoo in the world to be awarded the Humane Certified™ certification mark for the care and welfare of its animals, meeting American Humane Association’s rigorous certification standards. Open every day of the year, the zoo is located off First Avenue between the Stevenson (I-55) and Eisenhower (I-290) expressways and is also accessible via the Tri-State Tollway (I-294), Metra commuter line, CTA, and PACE bus service. For further information, visit CZS.org.​