Bergen County Zoo's 'Party For The Planet' Is April 22-24, 2022

PARAMUS, NJ — The Bergen County Zoo's annual Party for the Planet is coming up, with events scheduled over three days to promote conservation and civic involvement.

The 14th annual Party for the Planet is Sunday, April 24 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Workshops are available on the 22nd and 23rd, to celebrate Earth Day. Admission is free, the zoo said.

Dozens of organizations will be at the zoo with prizes, activities, and more to get the public involved in conservation efforts. These organizations include the Hackensack Riverkeeper, the Rutgers Master Gardeners, Wild Birds Unlimited, and local nature centers.

Workshops on local pollinators and cities science are available Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. In January, the zoo received a $10,000 grant from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

This allows the zoo to extend the event into a three-day conservation program that ties in with the zoo's Change for the Climate initiative.

The Bergen County zoo is located in Van Saun County Park, 216 Forest Avenue.

Two Bergen officials and the zoo's executive director provided statements for a county press release:

“Party for the Planet is your one-stop shop for conservation programming, providing residents with the opportunity and resources to support local efforts here in Bergen County,” said Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco. “Don’t miss out on this special Earth Day Celebration at the Bergen County Zoo!”

“I am excited to see the most popular program of the year at the zoo, Party for the Planet go from a one day event to a full weekend family outing,” said Commissioner Steve Tanelli. “Our parks system is the crown jewel of our county and this is just another way to provides outdoor recreation for our Bergen County residents.”

“Party for the Planet is our favorite event of the year,” said Marianne Vella, the director of the Bergen County Zoo. “Like other AZA affiliations, the Bergen County Zoo is dedicated to supporting conservation efforts around the world. Party for the Planet, led by Carol Fusco and our Education Staff, gives us a special opportunity to increase awareness as well as showcase efforts being made by local groups. Our visitors can observe and experience real ways to help the environment. Building connections within our community is key to our mission of understanding and preserving our planet.”