22q at the Zoo will kick off in Sydney, Australia on Sunday, May 17, 2026 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
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
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.
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
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
Time: 9:00AM – 11:00AM
Email: daylaw1@aol.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: Nationwide Children’s Hospital 22q Center
Email: 22q@nationwidechildrens.org
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Name of Zoo: Oklahoma City Zoo
Coordinator Name: Harley
Email: oklahoma22qatthezoo@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.
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
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
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
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
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Toronto – TBD
Name of Zoo: Toronto Zoo
Coordinator Name: Rozmin
Santiago – TBD
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TBD
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TBD
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Girardot – TBD
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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
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For more information visit here.
Winchester, Hampshire – TBD
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For more information visit here.
Gavieside, West Calder – TBD
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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
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For more information visit here.
Nagano – TBD
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Kaunas – TBD
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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
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Livingston – TBD
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Subotica
Name of Zoo: Palić Zoo
Coordinator Name: Vesna
Email: 22qexyu@gmail.com
For more information visit here.
Seoul – TBD
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Ockero – TBD
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TBD
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Taipei – TBD
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TBD
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