Woodland Park Zoo Blog

Posted by Lauren Carroll-Bolger, Communications Photos: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo Calling non-profits and human service organizations! Woodland Park Zoo provides over 100,000 free tickets each year to community partner organizations to support access to the zoo through its Community Access Program (CAP). Applications are now open for CAP and the zoo invites non-profit and human service organizations across the Puget Sound to apply to become a CAP partner for 2026. Applications for 2026 are now open through Nov. 25, 2025, and can be completed at zoo.org/community . Applications are only accepted during the designated time periods. A longstanding Woodland Park Zoo program, CAP works with over 400 non-profit and human service partners each year so that the organizations can distribute tickets to the individuals and communities they serve, particularly to those who may have traditionally faced economic, ability or cultural barriers to visiting the zoo. To ensure equitable dis...

Posted by Terra Vleeshouwer-Neumann, Intern, Public Affairs Photos by John Loughlin, Woodland Park Zoo A volunteer leads a guided tour at hippos. Woodland Park Zoo is dedicated to providing experiences that connect everyone to wildlife and conservation. Blind and low vision guests can request a trained sighted guide for their visit.  Here at the Woodland Park Zoo, we want everybody to feel welcome. One way we are working to include more of our community is through a series of Zoo For All events. Our most recent event on July 2, Celebrating All Abilities, was a huge hit. Despite the drizzly weather, the zoo was buzzing with excitement! Service animals are welcome. Woodland Park Zoo is responsible for the health and well-being of all of its animals, including many sensitive species. Therefore, there are additional steps to bringing fully-trained service animals on grounds. Here are all the details for service animals. Visitors learn about the special shoes our giraf...

Posted by Kirsten Pisto, communications  with Gypsy Darrow, educator at Kent Public Schools Connecting people with their love for animals occupies the core of who we are. Woodland Park Zoo serves the diverse communities of Seattle and King County through an inclusive approach to lifelong learning. We are dedicated to making our programs accessible and relevant for all community members. Our wide range of initiatives and outreach programs provide opportunities to learn about and connect with animals. While many of our visitors come from all over the country (and even the world) to adventure through our 92 acres—it is our honor and privilege to also serve our local schools and learning programs. The zoo’s Learning and Innovation department works with educators from around Puget Sound to introduce their classrooms to endangered species, dive into conservation actions, wander our pathways and explore our biomes. For many kids, a field trip to Woodland Park Zoo...

By: Alejandro Grajal, President and CEO Imagine what it would be like if you never came to the zoo. You may have memories of your children enjoying the open space, learning about animals, or just being happy to share time with you. But in a wildly booming city like ours, we are also seeing increasing economic inequality. Too many of our neighbors, community groups, and families never have the chance to come and enjoy the zoo. As the President and CEO of Woodland Park Zoo, I am proud of our efforts to more than double the opportunities to keep our zoo accessible to everyone in our community– whether it’s through complimentary passes to local nonprofit partners or through new programs we launched to make the zoo more affordable and accessible to all. A quiet moment on the Northern Trail. Through the $5 DiscoverTicket and a $35 Explorer Pass membership , current recipients of Washington Quest/EBT and/or WIC assistance will have more opportunities to visit the zoo. The $5 Disc...

Posted by Kirsten Pisto, Communications Photos by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren/Woodland Park Zoo Standing in the sun-soaked tent at Molbak’s Butterfly Garden, we are surrounded by fluttering pollinators, gorgeous blooms and the giggles of some very special visitors. They wait, holding very still, anticipating a lucky butterfly landing.  Gabriana and her little sister Asuzana, 3 years old, soak up the magic of a butterfly overhead. “I really think they will land on me,” an optimistic 4-year-old Emilio explains to his mom. The butterflies seem to flit and dart just above the laughter of this group of toddlers. These kiddos and their parents are here with a group called YoungLives, which offers support and provides resources for teen moms and their young children in the greater Seattle area. YoungLives is part mentorship and part community resource for young mothers (primarily middle school through high school-aged) at a time when they may feel isolated from family, friend...

Posted by Kirsten Pisto, communications Photos by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, Woodland Park Zoo “I’m really not a seafood person.” quips Giovanni, “Ooohwee, that’s a strong smell! Humboldt penguins feast on anchovies, trout, smelt and herring at Woodland Park Zoo to mimic their natural diet in the Humboldt Current off the coast of Chile and Peru. Sometimes the aroma can be potent! Giovanni, ‘G’ for short, is visiting the Humboldt Penguin exhibit with his Big Brother Luke. The pair is a match with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound and they are here to get a special close up look at penguins with keeper Celine. The pair has experienced many outings since being matched by Big Brothers Big Sisters about 8 months ago, from trips to the arcade to grabbing burgers to just hanging out after school — but this experience is by far the most pungent. Community Access Program tickets provide a special opportunity for the children in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, a...

Posted by Kirsten Pisto, Communications Video by Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren After chatting a bit at the entrance, the Early Stage Memory Loss walking group decides on a destination. “We’re headed to Northern Trail today,” they declare, but it’s much more about the journey. The zoo has been partnering with the Washington chapter of Alzheimer’s Association (AA WA) for more than twenty years. As part of the zoo’s Community Access Program, AA WA receives complimentary zoo tickets to provide an opportunity for families and caregivers to enjoy healthy and healing activities with their loved ones who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.  We also welcome two Early Stage Memory Loss walking groups to the zoo twice a week. Year-round on Mondays and Wednesdays the walkers gather for an hour or two as the zoo opens to check out the grounds, soak up some nature and catch up with each other. A delightfully funny, sharp and welcoming crew, they allowed us to tag along on a few of their walks...