22q at the Zoo will kick off in Sydney, Australia on Sunday, May 18, 2025 and continue westward at zoos around the world giving families, friends and professionals a chance to socialize, network and raise public awareness of 22q11.2 differences.
Developed by the International 22q11.2 Foundation, volunteers spread awareness at their local or regional zoo, park, playground or aquarium by handing out 22q fact sheets and educating guests and zoo visitors. Participants are recognizable by wearing official “22q at the Zoo” red t-shirts and “Ask Me About 22q” buttons.
Check out pictures from past events and stay up-to-date on the latest news by following our Facebook page!
For ticket information click on your local city or region below.
If there is no coordinator for your location, show up at the entrance to your local zoo, park or playground with a brown bag lunch wearing the official t-shirts (or plain red shirt) and plan to meet others at 11:00 AM. We will add your name and location to the foundation website for other families to reach out to you…
History of 22q at the Zoo – Worldwide Awareness Day
22q at the Zoo – Worldwide Awareness Day launched for the first time on May 22, 2011. Learn more about the History of this event HERE.
Participating Zoos
Buenos Aires – TBD
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
Email:
Gold Coast
Name of Zoo: TBD
Coordinator Name: Maria
Email: president@22q.org.au
For more information visit here.
Melbourne
Name of Zoo: TBD
Coordinator Name: Maria
Email: president@22q.org.au
For more information visit here.
Perth
Name of Zoo: Kings Park
Coordinator Name: Maria
Email: president@22q.org.au
For more information visit here.
Mechelen
Name of Zoo: Zoo Planckendael
Coordinator Name:
Email: info@22q11.be
For more information visit here.
Rio De Janeiro – TBD
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
Email:
Toronto
Name of Zoo: Toronto Zoo
Coordinator Name: Rozmin
Santiago – TBD
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
Email:
TBD
Name of Zoo:
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Email:
TBD
Name of Zoo:
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Girardot – TBD
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
Email:
Copenhagen
Name of Zoo: Københavns Zoo
Coordinator Name: Anne
Email: anne@fampoulsen.com
For more information visit here.
Givskud
Name of Zoo: Givskud Zoo
Coordinator Name: Rikke
Email: rikkeottobroeker@gmail.com
Chester
Name of Zoo: Chester Zoo
Coordinator Name: Paul
Email:
For more information visit here.
Paignton
Name of Zoo: Paignton Zoo
Coordinator Name: Tracey
Email:
For more information visit here.
Winchester, Hampshire
Name of Zoo: Marwell Zoo
Coordinator Name: Penny
Email:
For more information visit here.
Gavieside, West Calder
Name of Zoo: Five Sisters Zoo
Coordinator Name: Natasha
Email:
For more information visit here.
Heisinki
Name of Zoo: Korkeasaari Zoo
Coordinator Name:
Email:
Meri-Karvia – TBD
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
Email:
Ranua – TBD
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
Email:
TBD
Dublin
Name of Zoo: Dublin Zoo
Coordinator Name: Anne
Email:
For more information visit here.
Cork
Name of Zoo: Fota Wildlife Park
Coordinator Name: Anne
Email:
For more information visit here.
Riccione
Name of Zoo: Oltremare Theme Park
Coordinator Name: Maria
Email: international@aidel22.it
For more information visit here.
Tokyo – TBD
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
Email:
For more information visit here.
Nagano – TBD
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Kaunas – TBD
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
Email:
Harderwijk
Name of Zoo: Dolphinarium Harderwijk
Coordinator Name: Hanna
Email:
When: Sunday May 26, 2024
Visit here for more information.
Newtownards
Name of Zoo: Ark Open Farm
Coordinator Name: Gillian
Email:
For more information visit here.
Warsaw – TBD
Name of Zoo:
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Email:
Livingston – TBD
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
Email:
Subotica
Name of Zoo: Palić Zoo
Coordinator Name: Vesna
Email: 22qexyu@gmail.com
For more information visit here.
Barcelona – TBD
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Johannesburg – TBD
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Port Elizabeth – TBD
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Seoul – TBD
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Ockero – TBD
Name of Zoo:
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TBD
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Taipei – TBD
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TBD
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Montgomery, AL – TBD
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Tuscaloosa, AL – TBD
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Little Rock, AR – TBD
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Phoenix, AZ – TBD
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Fresno, CA – TBD
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
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Oakland, CA
Name of Zoo: Oakland Zoo
Coordinator Name: Allison
Email: hello@allisonprine.com
Date of Event: Sunday, June 9th from 10:00AM – 2:00PM
Visit 22q Joy Collective for more information
Orange, CA
Name of Zoo: Orange County Zoo
Coordinator Name: Nancy
Email: info@22qties.com
Visit 22qties for more information
Sacramento, CA
Name of Zoo: Sacramento Zoo
Coordinator Names & Emails:
Silvia Molina – scmolina@ucdavis.edu
Kathleen Angkustsiri – kangkustsiri@ucdavis.edu
San Diego, CA – TBD
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
Email:
Denver, CO
Name of Zoo: Denver Zoo
Coordinator Name: 22q Family Foundation
Email:
Visit here for more information.
Bridgeport, CT
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
Email:
Wilmington, DE -TBD
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
Email:
Boca Raton, FL
Name of Location: Sugar Sand Park
Coordinator Name: Nicole
Email: betteryou101@gmail.com
When: May 5, 2024
Melbourne, FL
Nemours Children’s Hospital 22q Center
Name of Zoo: Brevard Zoo
Coordinator Name: Yeraldi Geronimo, M.S., CCC-SLP, BE
Email: yeraldi.geronimo@nemours.org
Tampa, FL
Name of Zoo: Hearts and Dream Ranch and Retreat
Address: 16736 Powerline Road Dade City, FL
Coordinator Names: Maria, Tarra & Taylor
Email: 22qtampa@gmail.com
Atlanta, GA
Name of Zoo: Zoo Atlanta
Coordinator: Sid & Gabrielle
Email: 22q11study@emory.edu
Visit here for more information.
Oahu, HI – TBD
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
Email:
Boise, Idaho – TBD
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
Email:
Des Moines, IA – TBD
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
Email:
Chicago, IL
Name of Zoo: Brookville Zoo
Coordinator Name: Jalen Clemmons
Email: jclemmons@luriechildrens.org
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
South Bend, IN – TBD
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
Email:
Evansville, IN – TBD
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
Email:
Wichita, KS – TBD
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Coordinator Name:
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Louisville, KY – TBD
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Baton Rouge, LA
Name of Zoo: Baton Rouge Zoo
Coordinator Name: Ginger
Email: Ginger.moses@la.gov
Visit here for more information.
Shreveport, LA – TBD
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
Email:
Ann Arbor, MI – TBD
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
Email:
Detroit, MI – TBD
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Grand Rapids, MI – TBD
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Wallace, MI – TBD
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
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St. Paul, MN
Name of Zoo: Como Park Zoo
Coordinator Name: Amy
Email: akebriaei@gmail.com
22q Team at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota
Kansas City, MO
Name of Zoo: Swope Park in front of Kansas Zoo
Coordinator Name: Heather
Email: heather@amp22q.org
Visit Angels with Missing Pieces for more information
St. Louis, MO
Name of Zoo: St. Louis Zoo
Coordinator Name: Deb
Email: daylaw1@aol.com
Tupelo, MS – TBD
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
Email:
Billings, MT – TBD
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Email:
Asheboro, NC
Name of Zoo: North Carolina Zoo
Coordinator Names & Emails:
Bethany: Osbornbethany@gmail.com
Season: seasonmichelle@hotmail.com
Lincoln, NE – TBD
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
Email:
West Orange, NJ
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
Email:
New York, NY
Name of Zoo: Bronx Zoo
Coordinator Name: Daniella
Email: daniella.miller@einsteinmed.edu
West New York
Name of Zoo: Rainbow Roller Rink
Address: 101 Oliver Street N Tonawanda
Time: 12:00PM – 4:30PM
Coordinator Name: Nadine
Email: vcfsbuffalo@yahoo.com
Cincinnati, OH
Name of Zoo: Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Coordinator Name: Jessica
Email: Jdiscepoli@gmail.com
Cleveland, OH
Name of Zoo: Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Coordinator Names & Emails:
Christine – msChristineCJones@gmail.com
Francis – Franny4181@yahoo.com
Columbus, OH
Name of Zoo: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Coordinator Name: Brittony
Email: brittony.howard@nationwidechildrens.org
Oklahoma City, OK – TBD
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
Email:
Tulsa, OK – TBD
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Coordinator Name:
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Portland, OR – TBD
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Philadelphia, PA
Name of Zoo: Philadelphia Zoo
Coordinator Name: Carol
Email: info@22q.org
Pittsburgh, PA
Name of Zoo: Pittsburgh Zoo
Coordinator Name: Jamie
Email: jamiebernardi117@gmail.com
Greenville, SC – TBD
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
Email:
Columbia, SC – TBD
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
Email:
Sioux Falls, SD
Name of Zoo: Great Plains Zoo
Coordinator Name: Katie
Email: Kaitlyn.Burns@sanfordhealth.org
Chattanooga, TN
Name of Zoo: Chattanooga Zoo at Warner Park
Coordinator Name: Anna
Email: annacooper685@gmail.com
Knoxville, TN – TBD
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
Email:
Nashville, TN – TBD
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
Email:
Abilene, TX
Name of Zoo: May Farm
Coordinator Name: Sarah
Email: sarah@22qtexas.org
Email: contact@22qtexas.org
When: Saturday, May 18th
Austin, TX
Name of Zoo: Austin Zoo
Coordinator Name: Emily & Deb
Email: deborah.trejo@kempsmith.com
Email: emily.lewispinnell@gmail.com
Email: contact@22qtexas.org
Beaumont, TX
Name of Zoo: Gator Country
Coordinator Name: T’Wana
Email: twana@22qtexas.org
Email: contact@22qtexas.org
When: Saturday, May 18th
Brownsville, TX (Rio Grand Valley)
Name of Zoo: Gladys Porter Zoo
Coordinator Name: Mary
Email: mizmoreno@sbcglobal.net
Email: contact@22qtexas.org
Dallas/ Fort Worth Metroplex, TX
Name of Zoo: Dallas Zoo
Coordinator Name: Suzi & Cheryl
Email: suzi@22qtexas.org
Email: contact@22qtexas.org
El Paso, TX
Name of Zoo: El Paso Zoo
Coordinator Name: Michelle
Email: s24196455s@gmail.com
Email: contact@22qtexas.org
When: Saturday, May 18th
Houston, TX
Name of Zoo: Old MacDonald’s Farm (Humble)
Coordinator Name: Krystal & Rotceh
Email: krystal@22qtexas.org
Email: contact@22qtexas.org
San Antonio, TX
Name of Location: Morgan Wonderland
Coordinator Name: Sue & Susan
Email: wemet4@aol.com
Email: susan@22qtexas.org
Email: contact@22qtexas.org
Waco, TX
Name of Location: Cameron Park Zoo
Coordinator Name: Mary & Jessica
Email: contact@22qtexas.org
Salt Lake City, UT – TBD
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
Email:
Northern WV/Pittsburgh, PA
Name of Zoo: Pittsburgh Zoo
Coordinator Name: Jamie
Email: jamiebernardi117@gmail.com
Richmond, VA – TBD
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
Email:
Visit here for more information.
Washington, DC – TBD
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
Email:
Seattle, WA
Name of Zoo: Woodland Park Zoo
Coordinator Name: Joyce
Email: Joyce.Doll@seattleschildrens.org
Milwaukee, WI
Name of Zoo: Milwaukee County Zoo
Coordinator Name: Elise
Email: audrey.hohenwatler.fund@gmail.com