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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

Orange, CA 

Name of Zoo: OC Zoo at Irvine Regional Park

Coordinator: 22qties

Email: info@22qties.org

Time: 11:00AM – 2:00PM

Visit 22qties for more information


Sacramento, CA 

Name of Zoo: Sacramento Zoo

Coordinator: Gloria Zavala Perez

 Email: hs-22q@ucdavis.edu


San Diego, CA

Name of Zoo: Grass area in front of the Balboa Park Miniature Train (Next to San Diego Zoo)

Time: 11:00AM – 2:00PM

Coordinator: Chelsea

Email: 22qmomsd@gmail.com

Visit here for more information.


San Francisco Bay Area, CA

Name of Park: Cordonices Park in Berkeley

Coordinator: Allison

Email: allison@allisonprine.com

Date: June 21, 2025

Time: 10AM – 2:00PM

Hosted by 22q Joy Collective


Connecticut – New England 22q at the Zoo

Name of Zoo: Roger Williams Park Zoo

Coordinator: Ashleigh& Tanya 

Email: NE22qatthezoo@gmail.com 

Visit here for more information.


Boca Raton, FL 

Location: Sugar Sand Park 

Coordinator: Florida Conquers 22q

Email: FLconquers22q@gmail.com

Visit here for more information.


Melbourne, FL

Nemours Children’s Hospital 22q Center 

Name of Zoo: Brevard Zoo

When: Saturday May 17, 2025

Coordinator Name: Yeraldi

Email: yeraldi.geronimo@nemours.org

Visit here for more information.


Tampa, FL 

Name of Farm: Florida Farm School 

Coordinator: Maria & Tarra

Email: 22qtampa@gmail.com

Time: 10:00AM – 2:00pm

Visit here for more information.


Atlanta, GA 

Name of Zoo: Zoo Atlanta 

Coordinator: Sid Imes

Email: 22q11study@emory.edu


Chicago, IL 

Name of Zoo: Brookfield Zoo

Coordinator: Jalen Clemmons 

Email: jclemmons@luriechildrens.org

Time: 10:00AM – 2:00PM

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago 


Baton Rouge, LA 

Name of Zoo: Baton Rouge Zoo

Coordinator: Ginger

Email: Vmoses099@gmail.com

Visit here for more information.


Maine – New England 22q at the Zoo

Name of Zoo: Roger Williams Park Zoo

Coordinator: Ashleigh& Tanya 

Email: NE22qatthezoo@gmail.com 

Visit here for more information.


Massachusetts – New England 22q at the Zoo

Name of Zoo: Roger Williams Park Zoo

Coordinator: Ashleigh& Tanya 

Email: NE22qatthezoo@gmail.com 

Visit here for more information.


Saginaw, MI 

Name of Zoo: Saginaw Children’s Zoo

Coordinator: Kimberly 

Email: kimberlywendinger@gmail.com


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: KC Zoo & Aquarium

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


New Hampshire – New England 22q at the Zoo

Name of Zoo: Roger Williams Park Zoo

Coordinator: Ashleigh& Tanya 

Email: NE22qatthezoo@gmail.com 

Visit here for more information.


Asheboro, NC 

Name of Zoo: North Carolina Zoo

Coordinator Names: Season Mabry & Bethany Osborn 

Email: 22qcarolinas@gmail.com

Visit here for more information.


New York, NY 

Name of Zoo: Bronx Zoo

Coordinator: Daniella

Email: daniella.miller@einsteinmed.edu

Visit here for more information.


Buffalo,  New York 

Name of Location: Mallwitz Island Lanes (Bowling for 22q Awareness) 

Coordinator Name: Nadine Miceli

Email: vcfsbuffalo@yahoo.com

Visit here for more information.


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: Nationwide Children’s Hospital 22q Center

Email: 22q@nationwidechildrens.org


Philadelphia, PA 

Name of Zoo: Philadelphia Zoo

Coordinator Name: Carol 

Email: info@22q.org


Pittsburgh (WV Area), PA 

Name of Zoo: Pittsburgh Zoo

Coordinator: Jamie 

Email: jamiebernardi117@gmail.com

Date: May 24, 2025

Time: 10:30AM

Visit here for more information.


Providence, RI – New England 22q at the Zoo

Name of Zoo: Roger Williams Park Zoo

Coordinator: Ashleigh& Tanya 

Email: NE22qatthezoo@gmail.com 

Visit here for more information.


Sioux Falls, SD

Name of Zoo: Great Plains Zoo

Coordinator Name: Katie

Email: Kaitlyn.Burns@sanfordhealth.org


Abilene, TX 

Name of Zoo: Abilene Zoo

Date: Saturday May 17, 2025

Time: 11:00AM

Coordinator Name: Shannon 

Email Shannon here for more information. 


Austin, TX 

Name of Zoo: Austin Zoo

Date: Saturday May 17, 2025

Time: 10:00AM – 2:00PM (Group photo 10:30 at picnic tables)

Coordinator Name: Deb 

Email Deb here for more information.


Beaumont, TX 

Name of Zoo: Gator Country

Coordinator Name: T’Wana

Time: 12:00PM – 3:00PM

Email: twana@22qtexas.org


Brownsville, TX (Rio Grand Valley) 

Name of Zoo: Creasey’s Bowl 

Date: May 4, 2025

Time: 2:30pm

Coordinator Name: Mary 

Email Mary here for more information.


Dallas/ Fort Worth, TX 

Name of Zoo: Dallas Zoo

Time: 11:00PM – 2:00PM

Meet at “the Grove” in Zoo North (group photo between noon and 1:00 pm)

Coordinator Name: Suzi 

Email: suzi@22qtexas.org


El Paso, TX  

Name of Zoo: El Paso Zoo

Coordinator Name: Nicole & Michelle

Time: 10:00AM – 1:00PM

Email: nmrobinson05@gmail.com


Houston, TX 

Name of Zoo:  Old McDonald’s Farm 

Time: 11:30AM – 2:30PM

Coordinator Name: Krystal

Email: krystal@22qtexas.org


San Antonio, TX  

Name of Location: Morgan’s Wonderland 

Time: 12:00PM – 4:00PM

Coordinator Name:  Sue 

Email: wemet4@aol.com


Waco, TX 

Name of Location:  Cameron Park Zoo

Date: May 17, 2025

Time: 10:00AM

Coordinator Name:  Jessica & Mary

Email here for more information.


Seattle, WA 

Name of Zoo: Woodland Park Zoo

Coordinator Name: Joyce

Email: Joyce.Doll@seattleschildrens.org 

Visit here for more information.


Milwaukee, WI 

Name of Zoo: Milwaukee County Zoo

Coordinator: George

Email: george.hohenwalter@gmail.com


Vermont – New England 22q at the Zoo

Name of Zoo: Roger Williams Park Zoo

Coordinator: Ashleigh& Tanya 

Email: NE22qatthezoo@gmail.com 

Visit here for more information.


Buenos Aires – TBD

Name of Zoo:

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 

Brisbane, Queensland

Name of Location: Riverside Green Playground, Southbank

Coordinator Name: Tamara

Email: harrison08@y7mail.com

Visit here for more information. 


Melbourne, Victoria 

Name of Zoo: Healesville Sanctuary

Coordinator Name: 

Email: president@22q.org.au

For more information visit here.


Sydney, New South Wales

Name of Zoo: Sydney Zoo

Coordinator Name: Maria

Email: president@22q.org.au

Visit here for more information.

Mechelen

Name of Zoo: Zoo Planckendael

Coordinator Name: 

Email: info@22q11.be

Visit here for more information. 

Rio De Janeiro – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name:

Email: 

Toronto  – TBD

Name of Zoo: Toronto Zoo

Coordinator Name: Rozmin

When: June 7th, 2025 (Saturday)

Santiago – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name:

Email: 

TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 

TBD

Name of Zoo:

Coordinator Name:

Email: 

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

Leicestershire

Name of Zoo: – Twycross Zoo

Coordinator Name: Max Appeal 

Email: 

For more information visit here.


Paignton – TBD

Name of Zoo:

Coordinator Name: 

Email:

For more information visit here.


Winchester, Hampshire – TBD

Name of Zoo:

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 

For more information visit here.


Gavieside, West Calder – TBD

Name of Zoo:

Coordinator Name:

Email:

For more information visit here. 

Heisinki

Name of Zoo: Korkeasaari Zoo

Coordinator Name: Hikka

Email: hilihappo@gmail.com


Ranua 

Name of Zoo: Ranua’s Artic Wildlife Park 

Coordinator Name: Outi

Email: outi.annala@22q11finland.fi

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. 

Pisa, Italy

Name of Zoo: San Rossore 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

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email:

Kaunas – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 

Arnhem

Name of Zoo: Burgers’ Zoo

Coordinator Name: Hanna

Email: info@steun22Q11.nl

Visit here for more information.

Christchurch, New Zealand

Name of Location: Willowbank Wildlife Reserve

Coordinator Name: Rebecca

Email: smithrebe@gmail.com

​Visit here for more information.


Hamilton, New Zealand 

Name of Zoo: Magical Bridge Playground, Gate 2, 800 Heaphy Terrace, Hamilton

Coordinator Name: Maria 

Email: president@22q.org.au

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:

Coordinator Name:

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. 

Madrid, Spain

Name of Zoo: Albergue Los Abedules

Coordinator Name: Aldha Pozo 

Email: info@22q.es

Seoul – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 

Ockero – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name:

Email: 

TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 


Taipei – TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 

TBD

Name of Zoo: 

Coordinator Name: 

Email: 

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At the International 22q11.2 Foundation we help families that need important resources and information to meet the needs of loved ones with 22q.