The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
BOO JUST FOR YOU
Elmwood Zoo: Hosts Halloween fun for children with special needs
NORRISTOWN >> Parents with children on the autism spectrum are accustomed to approaching family excursions to popular attractions with caution.
The opportunities for sensory overload are always there: Will the place be too loud? Will the crowd be a little too unruly?
Last spring, Elmwood Park Zoo, 1661 Harding Blvd., Norristown, became the first zoo in the country to earn certification as a Certified Autism Center (CAC). The designation, given by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), is awarded to organizations who have completed a training and review process with the goal to better serve individuals with autism and other sensory needs, noted the zoo’s executive director Al Zone.
“We are extremely excited to be the first zoo to offer its guests on the spectrum services that are tailored to their needs,” Zone said. “We know that the interactions our guests have with our animals can be so rewarding; we thank the IBCCES for helping us to extend these same experiences to an under-served community, and there’s no doubt that they will truly benefit from this inclusion.”
In keeping with that mission of consistently offering inclusive events
“We are excited to be hosting our first ever ‘Boo Just For You’ for our guests with special needs." — Laura Houston, Director of Education at Elmwood Park Zoo
for its guests with special sensory needs, Elmwood Park Zoo will host its first ever Halloween event geared specifically for guests with special needs on Friday, Oct. 12, from 4 to 6 p.m. “Boo Just For You” is a sneak preview of the zoo’s “Boo at the Zoo” Halloween-themed weekend events, and will feature treat stations, a costume parade, and special animal meet-and-greets.
“We are excited to be hosting our first ever ‘Boo Just For You’ for our guests with special needs,” said Laura Houston, Director of Education at Elmwood Park Zoo. “We understand that Halloween can be a challenging time for children with special needs, so we wanted to provide a unique opportunity for them to celebrate the fun of the holiday in a relaxed and welcoming environment.”
Thanks to Crazy Aaron’s Puttyworld, a Norristown business known for manufacturing and supplying its unique “Thinking Putty” to stores all over the country, the first 100 guests to register online for “Boo Just For You” can do so free of charge, a press release noted. Crazy Aaron’s Puttyworld has also donated items to be included in the zoo’s “Sensory Backpacks,” which will be filled with useful items tailored for individuals and groups with special needs and will be available at the zoo later this year.
Tickets for “Boo Just For You” are available to purchase online at eventsatepz.com. Personal care attendants and/or one-on-one aids may enter the event free of charge.
Following the early Halloween festivities, Elmwood Park Zoo will host the 13th Annual Run Wild 5K & 1 Mile Animal Safari Walk on Sunday, Oct. 14, from 9 to 11 a.m.
The 5K and 1 Mile Walk Registration fees are $30, adults; $15, ages 7 to 19; free for age 6 and under.
Registration for the rain or shine event begins at 8 a.m.
To pre-register, visit http://www. runtheday.com/register/detail/runwild-1
The 5K certified course winds through the surrounding neighborhoods and ends at the zoo. Chip Timing by Run the Day. Free admission to the family-friendly zoo with registration, with free T-shirts to all who register. Proceeds benefit RSVP children’s programs and Zoo Conservation
RSVP, a nonprofit organization, provides volunteer opportunities to adults in Montgomery, Delaware and Chester counties and throughout the region. These activities focus on important community needs, such as helping veterans, the elderly, disadvantaged preschool children and at-risk youth. RSVP volunteers also assist museums, historic sites and other nonprofits throughout the Delaware Valley.
For more information visit www. rsvpmc.org.