Kids Win Behind-the-Scenes Opportunity at Arctic Ring of Life

ROYAL OAK, Mich., June 3, 2008 – Kyra Milka, 9, of Clarkston and Grace Likins, 8, of St. Clair Shores have been chosen to receive an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience with a keeper at the Detroit Zoo in the Detroit Zoological Society and Fox 2’s ZOOKEEPERS Sweepstakes.

On Saturday, June 7, the winners will work at the Arctic Ring of Life with the polar bears and seals.  The “honorary” ZOOKEEPERS will provide enrichment for the polar bears, including hiding treats and placing toys throughout the habitat for the bears to discover. 

The kids will also help prepare fish to feed the seals and get an up-close view of the keepers performing routine health examinations.  In addition, the ZOOKEEPERS will have the opportunity to coach a seal onto a scale to be weighed with the help of a target pole.

Parents can click on the ZOOKEEPERS icon at www.MyFOXDetroit.com through July 8 and register kids ages 6-12 for their chance to become an honorary zookeeper.  Ten more winners will be selected at random to receive an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience with a keeper at the Detroit Zoo. 

In addition, kids ages 2-12 can download an official certificate, redeemable for a ZOOKEEPERS lanyard at the Zoo.  The lanyard contains coupons for a free child’s ZOOKEEPERS tee-shirt (while supplies last), small soft drink and one-way ride on the Tauber Family Railroad. 

The Detroit Zoological Society is a non-profit organization that operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo.  Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic exhibits, the Detroit Zoo is located at the intersection of Ten Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, just off I-696, in Royal Oak.  The Detroit Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October (open at 9:30 a.m. Memorial Day through Labor Day) – with extended hours until 8 p.m. Wednesdays during July and August – and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March.  Admission is $11 for adults 13 to 61, $9 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $7 for children ages 2 to 12; children under 2 are free.  For more information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit www.detroitzoo.org.  The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round and provides educational programming with interpretive staff support from the Huron-Clinton Metroparks.  For more information, call (313) 852-4056. 
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