Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo Joins the State’s “Connecticut Summer at the Museum”

 

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is pleased to announce that the Zoo will participate in the state’s “Connecticut Summer at the Museum,” offering free admission to Connecticut children from July 1 through September 4. Under the program, Connecticut children aged 18 and under plus one Connecticut adult can visit the Zoo for free. 

Mexican Grey Wolves  Photo Jack Bradley

Tickets will be available on the Zoo’s website beginning at midnight on June 30. Residents must register for tickets at www.beardsleyzoo.org, and show an ID with an address at the front gate. The Zoo is open every day from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Guests are encouraged to visit anytime during the day, with the most crowded hours often occurring between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The last entry to the Zoo is at 3:00 p.m. The program is intended for individuals and families only; groups should register at https://www.beardsleyzoo.org/field-trips.html. 

“A visit to Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is a beloved summer tradition for the state’s children and families,” said Zoo Director Gregg Dancho. “We’re proud to join the list of participating facilities throughout the state in offering free admission to children. Spending the day at the Zoo is a wonderful way to connect with nature, learn about wild animals and wild places, and spend time together as a family.” 

The program was established in 2021 to provide children with engaging summer enrichment and learning experiences. Funded through a $15 million investment in Covid-19 recovery funding Connecticut received from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the Zoo joins more than 130 museums across the state in offering the “Connecticut Summer at the Museum” program. This is the third year the Zoo has participated. 

 About Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo 

Get your ticket to adventure! Connecticut’s only zoo, celebrating its 101st year, features 350 animals representing primarily North and South American and Northern Asian species. Guests won’t want to miss our Amur tiger and leopards, maned wolves, Mexican gray wolves, and red wolves. Other highlights include our new Andean Bear Habitat, Spider Monkey Habitat, the prairie dog exhibit, and the Pampas Plain with giant anteaters and Chacoan peccaries. Guests can grab a bite from the Peacock Café and eat in the Picnic Grove. As an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and participant in its Species Survival Plan (SSP) programs, the non-profit Zoo is committed to the preservation of endangered animals and wild habitats. Tickets must be purchased on the Zoo’s website at beardsleyzoo.org.