“Zoo in Your Neighborhood” is an award winning program designed to reach out to more members of our community – funded by a generous grant from The Community Foundation, The Gannett Foundation and The Lansing Rotary Club. We visit over 30 community partner locations (libraries, community centers and more) every year in an effort to bring the zoo to you! These events are free to participants of all ages.
Each event features a live animal presentation or a “Reading with the Animals” program. Live animal presentations are an up close and personal presentation with our ambassador animals and is a great opportunity to learn about our animals and their natural behaviors.
At our “Reading with the Animals” program, the audience will hear animal stories and have a close up encounter with our animal ambassadors.
In 2019, “Zoo in Your Neighborhood” was nationally recognized by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) by winning top honors for the Angela Peterson Excellence in Diversity Award. Learn more about winning this prestigious award by reading our blog: https://potterparkzoo.org/potter-park-zoo-wins-national-diversity-award/
If you have any questions about Zoo in Your Neighborhood please contact the Community Engagement Coordinator Mariah Martinez, at 517-342-2751.
Scheduled Events
Below are the scheduled presentations near you. Check back often as we will continue to add to the list! There is no sign up or pre-registration to attend. We hope to see you there!
Times and dates may change (unknown circumstances) – check the website the day before each program to make sure nothing has changed!
- February 8, 2020 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
- Briggs District Library
- Reading with the Animals
- 108 E Railroad St St. Johns, MI 48879
- February 15, 2020 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Capital Area District Libraries – Dansville
- Reading with the Animals
- Please note this event is offsite at Dansville Village Hall
- 1360 Mason Street Dansville, MI 48819
- February 19, 2020 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
- Capital Area District Libraries – Holt/Delhi
- Live Animal Presentation
- 2078 Aurelius Rd Holt, MI 48842
- February 27, 2020 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
- Capital Area District Libraries – Leslie
- Reading with the Animals
- 201 Pennsylvania St Leslie, MI 49251
- March 2, 2020 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Dorothy Hull Library
- Reading with the Animals
- 405 W Jefferson Dimondale, MI 48821
- This partner will not have zoo passes until 2020
- March 13, 2020 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
- Capital Area District Libraries – South Lansing
- Live Animal Presentation
- 3500 S Cedar St Lansing, MI 48910
- March 14, 2020 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Eaton Rapids Area District Library
- Reading with the Animals
- 220 S Main St Eaton Rapids, MI 48827
- March 20, 2020 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Capital Area District Libraries – Stockbridge
- Reading with the Animals
- 200 Wood St, Stockbridge, MI 49285
- March 23, 2020 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
- Capital Area District Libraries – Leslie
- Live Animal Presentation
- 201 Pennsylvania St Leslie, MI 49251
- March 25, 2020 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
- Capital Area District Libraries – Mason
- Reading with the Animals
- 145 W Ash St, Mason, MI 48854
- March 28, 2020 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
- Capital Area District Libraries – Downtown Lansing
- Live Animal Presentation
- 401 S Capitol Ave Lansing, MI 48933
- April 1, 2020 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
- Capital Area District Libraries – Williamston
- Reading with the Animals
- 3845 Vanneter Rd #1, Williamston, MI 48895
- April 2, 2020 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Charlotte Community Library
- Reading with the Animals
- 226 Bostwick St Charlotte, MI 48813
- This partner will not have zoo passes until 2020
- April 14, 2020 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
- Bath Township Public Library
- Reading with the animals
- 14033 Webster Rd, Bath Twp, MI 48808
- This partner will not have zoo passes until 2020
- April 15, 2020 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
- Capital Area District Libraries – Haslett
- Live animal presentation
- 1590 Franklin St, Haslett, MI 48840
- April 16, 2020 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
- Capital Area District Libraries – Webberville
- Live animal presentation
- 115 S Main St, Webberville, MI 48892
- April 21, 2020 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
- Briggs District Library
- Live Animal Presentation
- 108 E Railroad St St. Johns, MI 48879
- April 23, 2020 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Capital Area District Libraries – Stockbridge
- Live animal presentation
- 200 Wood St, Stockbridge, MI 49285
- April 25, 2019 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
- East Lansing Public Library
- Reading with the Animals
- 950 Abbot Rd East Lansing, MI 48823
- April 28, 2020 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Capital Area District Libraries – Foster
- Reading with the animals
- 200 N Foster Ave, Lansing, MI 48912
- April 29, 2020 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
- Capital Area District Libraries – Mason
- Live animal presentation
- 145 W Ash St, Mason, MI 48854
- May 2, 2020 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
- Capital Area District Libraries – Foster
- Live animal presentation
- 200 N Foster Ave, Lansing, MI 48912
- May 6, 2020 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Delta Township District Library
- Live Animal Presentation
- 5130 Davenport Dr Lansing, MI 48917
- May 9, 2020 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
- Capital Area District Libraries – Okemos
- Live animal presentation
- 4321 Okemos Rd, Okemos, MI 48864
- May 13, 2020 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
- Capital Area District Libraries – Williamston
- Live animal presentation
- 3845 Vanneter Rd #1, Williamston, MI 48895
- May 20, 2020 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
- Capital Area District Libraries – Webberville
- Reading with the animals
- 115 S Main St, Webberville, MI 48892
- June 13, 2020 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Capital Area District Libraries – Holt/Delhi
- Reading with the Animals
- 2078 Aurelius Rd Holt, MI 48842
- June 15, 2020 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
- Capital Area District Libraries – Aurelius
- Live Animal Presentation
- 1939 S Aurelius Rd Mason, MI 48854
- June 17, 2020 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
- Capital Area District Libraries – Dansville
- Live Animal Presentation
- Please note this event is offsite at Dansville Village Hall
- 1360 Mason Street Dansville, MI 48819
- June 18, 2020 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
- Dorothy Hull Library
- Live Animal Presentation
- 405 W Jefferson Dimondale, MI 48821
- This partner will not have zoo passes until 2020
- June 19, 2020 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
- Capital Area District Libraries – Downtown Lansing
- Live Animal Presentation
- 401 S Capitol Ave Lansing, MI 48933
- June 22, 2020 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
- Capital Area District Libraries – Aurelius
- Live Animal Presentation
- 1939 S Aurelius Rd Mason, MI 48854
- June 26, 2020 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Capital Area District Libraries – South Lansing
- Live Animal Presentation
- 3500 S Cedar St Lansing, MI 48910