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As many animals start to bed down for winter, let’s try building our own burrows and exploring the “cooler” parts of nature!
Held on select Wednesdays and Sundays, Running Wild is a new nature play program at the Virginia Zoo. With the goal of exploring the outdoors and getting a little dirty, unstructured play in natural spaces has been shown to improve physical health, support mental and emotional wellbeing, and promote life-long conservation values.

Each month of Running Wild will have a new theme and different activities, which may include free exploration time, crafts, touch tables, and more! The program has no age limit but is recommended for children under the age of 12 and their families.

This month, our take-home activity will be natural bird feeders! Using pine cones and other found natural supplies, guests will use vegetable-based (canola) fats to attach sunflower seeds, a favorite for many bird species! We will not be using any peanut-based ingredients, but please be aware that many seeds are processed in facilities that also process peanuts or other allergens. Please contact the Education Department with any questions!

Individual Program Prices and Time:

Program Length: 30 minutes
Time: 10:30AM-11:30AM
Price per Program: FREE (included with admission or membership)

How to Register:

Reservations are NOT required! Please meet us in the Run Wild nature play space at 10:30AM on the select days. For more information on any of these programs call VA Zoo Education at (757) 441-2374 x 229. You can learn more about VA Zoo family programs by visiting our website at https://virginiazoo.org/family-programs.

Cancellation Policy:

Running Wild is held rain or shine. The Virginia Zoo reserves the right to cancel or change any program. In the event that we cancel a program due to severe weather or other unforeseen circumstances, we will update our website and Facebook page. If you have any questions, please call VA Zoo Education at (757) 441-2374 x 229.