My family and I are already plotting out things we want to see and do this spring and summer. Since we can’t afford to go away on vacation we just plan “day trips.” Some fun things we are thinking about doing are going to the beach for the day (New Jersey Shore), exploring some area parks that we haven’t visited before and going to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
Another idea we have is visiting the Bronx Zoo. We try and go at least once a year (sometimes more than that). We enjoy going there because it’s a beautiful walk (especially when the weather is nice), we love the animals and its something our family can enjoy together (teens are not easy to impress – ha ha).
Some of our favorite spots to visit at the Bronx Zoo include the Tigers, Butterfly exhibit and the Wild Asia Monorail.
This year we were thinking about visiting the Central Park Zoo too. We to New York City several times throughout the year, but we’ve never been the to Central Park Zoo. In fact my husband and I both lived in New York all our lives and we’ve never been to the Central Park Zoo. So that is on our list of places to go this year.
This year marks the 120th Anniversary of the Wildlife Conservation Society. It’s the organization behind the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo and the other area zoos – Prospect Park Zoo and Queens Zoo. They are also behind the New York Aquarium which is another place we’d like to visit one day.
The Wildlife Conservation Society has a fun way to celebrate this momentous occasion, as well as offer consumers a fun way to win awesome prizes.
This summer, the Bronx Zoo will turn New York City into a city-wide social “photo safari” by showing consumer “120 Ways #NYisWild.”
They chose the number “120” to celebrate the 120 years of conservation since the founding of this organization. One hundred of the 120 photo ops take place at Wildlife Conservation Society locations – Bronx Zoo, the New York Aquarium, Central Park Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo & Queens Zoo.
New Yorkers and visitors can participate in this fun promotion by choosing from the 120 “wild” attractions around the city and capturing a photo of each for a chance to win great prizes.
There are several prize levels available. Entry to win these prizes increases for hitting certain milestones (examples – Escape for 2 to Belize for completing 10/120 or Whale Watching Tour for 4 With WCS Scientists for completing 50/120).
The prizes you could win are AWESOME! Here are just a few examples.
Whale Watching for Four with WCS Scientists (50 photo captures)
Get Up Close with a Sea Lion at the New York Aquarium – play zookeeper for the day and learn all about these magificent creatures (100 photo captures)
Weekend Getaway in the Adirondacks with WCS Scientists (120 photo captures)
Plus all photo entries enters you in to win the grand prize – an Escape for 2 to Belize!
If you would like to learn more about #NYisWild visit the official website, NYisWild.com.
If you would like to have a list of the 120 photo ops in and around New York City you can find it here –#NYisWild 120 Photo Ops List.
You can upload the photos on your Instagram or Twitter accounts. Be sure to use the hashtag #NYisWild AND the hashtag for the photo op you are submitting. For example, if you take a photo in the Butterfly Garden at the Bronx Zoo that is op #80, so you would include that hashtag with your photo. If you take a photo of the lions in front of the New York Public Library that number is #6. The entire list of ops is linked above.
The photo ops are not only at the Wildlife Conservation Zoos and the New York Aquarium, they also have a few around New York City. One of them is the Blue Whale at the American Museum of Natural History. That is one of the places we are planning on visiting this summer so I fully intend to take that photo as one of my entries into the #NYisWild contest.
This contest kicked off in April and will run through August. It’s a fun thing that New Yorkers can do, as well as those who visit our great city this summer for work or play.
You can also save 20% on all tickets purchased through the NYisWild.com website. Its a great activity the family can do together. Spring time is an especially nice time to visit because the animals are active and enjoying the fresh air and sunshine after a long winter. Sometimes in the summer it’s too hot and the animals are less active and like to hang out in the shade (who would blame them).
For more information about the Wildlife Conservation Society please visit WCS.org. All of the WCS parks and the aquarium have their own websites and social media pages.
Do you enjoy going to the zoo and/or aquarium? Are you going to participate in the #NYisWild photo safari?
Kimberly
*I will received free zoo passes for my family in exchange for my participation. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.