WNC Nature Center invites community to celebrate environmentally-friendly living with virtual Party for the Planet

For more than 20 years, Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited institutions across North America have thrown a Party for the Planet to celebrate Earth Day (April 22), Endangered Species Day (May 15), and World’s Ocean Day (June 8) through various events, activities, and celebrations that encourage families to take action to improve the planet and inspire the next generation of conservationists.

The WNC Nature Center reopened to the public in October after a six-month closure due to the pandemic. Although the usual season for the Party for the Planet has passed, the WNC Nature Center will be wrapping up the year with a virtual Party for the Planet.

During the month of December, the WNC Nature Center is asking families to share ways they have helped improve the planet in 2020 and pledge to help it in 2021. Activities like picking up litter, planting native plants, recycling, creating a monarch butterfly garden, riding a bike, reducing plastic use, and taking shorter showers are all ways to contribute toward a cleaner, healthier planet.

To participate in the WNC Nature Center’s virtual Party for the Planet, upload a picture and a blurb on your favorite social media platform to highlight something you are already doing and something you’d like to pledge to incorporate into your life in 2021. Be sure to tag #wildwnc, #keepashevillewild, #wncnaturecenter, and #partyfortheplanet, then visit the WNC Nature Center Gift Shop to pick up a free reusable straw while supplies last.

Eli Strull, Curator of Education and Guest Experience at the WNC Nature Center, has been working with his Education Team to highlight conservation as an integral part of the Nature Center’s mission: “We are thrilled to partner with AZA and engage with our community in simple, effective conservation efforts to benefit people and wildlife. It is a joy to participate in unique education efforts during this unconventional year and we are so excited to celebrate Party for the Planet with all of our participants.”

The Nature Center connects people of all ages with the plants and animals of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Asheville’s wildlife park is located on 42 acres and is home to more than 60 species of animals, including red pandas, river otters, black bears, red and gray wolves, and cougar. The Friends is a nonprofit organization committed to supporting the animals, programs, and facilities of the WNC Nature Center. For more information, please visit www.wildwnc.org.