SAN DIEGO ZOO AND SAFARI PARK OFFER "KIDS FREE" ADMISSION IN OCTOBER TO CELEBRATE ORGANIZATION'S FOUNDING

During the month of October, children 3 to 11 years old receive free admission to the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Throughout the month the Zoo and the Park are offering extra on-grounds presentations on the weekends, a coloring contest and all new online activities on the San Diego Zoo Kids Free site. There's even the chance to "race" against a cheetah at the Safari Park!

     The San Diego Zoo was founded in October 1916 and "Kids Free" honors this historic event. The Zoo has celebrated "Kids Free" in October for 26 years; this is the fourth year the program is offered at the Park.

     Earlier this year, the Safari Park opened Shiley's Cheetah Run, which gives guests the chance to see a cheetah run off-leash on a 330-foot track at speeds up to 70 miles per hour. During Kids Free month, each day one child in the crowd will be given the chance to see how their running speed compares to the fastest land mammal. The young volunteer will run before the cheetah takes the track and will be timed by the animal trainers. Participants will wear a special racing bib they can keep as a memento of their experience.

     Guests at the Zoo can also get in on the fun, too, by volunteering in the Zoo's new animal show, Camp Critters, at Wegeforth Bowl. The twice-daily show features 15 species of animals, original music and an all-new stage. Each show calls for two volunteers to help with the contest to earn their "camper's badge" sticker to take home with them.

     Both the Zoo and the Park offer the chance to observe amazing creatures, experience a fun day with family and learn what needs to be done to save animals from extinction. Both locations are offering visitors the chance to complete the "101 Things to Do" at the Zoo and the Park; the booklet is available for download at www.sandiegozoo.org/kidsfree or can be picked up during a Zoo or Park visit on the weekends. Zoo Corps volunteers will be distributing them at locations throughout the Zoo and Conservation Corp volunteers at the Park will make them available at Discovery Station. Guests are encouraged to bring a camera to capture the action as they tackle the 101 Things to Do and submit their photos to the Kids Free website, where a winner will be selected from the Zoo and the Park each week. Winners will receive four tickets for a specialty tour. At the end of the month there will be two grand-prize winners.

     Weekend visitors to the Zoo and the Park will experience even more kid-friendly activities with additional animal meet-and-greets, keeper talks and costumed character walk-arounds. At the Zoo in Balboa Park, Dr. Zoolittle will host Natures' Tricks, a show about how animals survive and adapt to their surroundings in the wild. At the Safari Park in Escondido, guests can take a seat at Discovery Station for "Tiger Tales" storytelling - ideal for ages two to five.

     When kids are away from the Zoo and the Park, there are still plenty of activities for them on the Kids Free website - sandiegozoo.org/kidsfree. Download coloring pages from the site that can be colored in and then submitted for prizes at the Zoo and the Park. There is also an animal quiz and features on creatures that are native to Southern California. Log on to the San Diego Zoo Kids Free site for all the fun.

     Kids Free is offered during the entire month of October. The Zoo and the Park are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but for opening weekend only, the Zoo will be open until 6 p.m. on October 1 and 2. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a paid adult during their visit to the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.