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
Irvine, CA
Name of Zoo: OC Zoo at Irvine Regional Park
Coordinator Name: Nancy
Email: info@22qties.org
Visit here for more information.
Sacramento, CA
Name of Zoo: Sacramento Zoo
Coordinator Name: Kathy
Email: 22q@health.ucdavis.edu
Visit here for more information.
Boca Raton, FL
Name of Zoo: Sugar Sand Park
Coordinator Name: Nicole
Email: FLconquers22q@gmail.com
Visit here for more information.
Melbourne, FL
Nemours Children’s Hospital 22q Center
Name of Zoo: Brevard Zoo
Coordinator Name: Yeraldi
Email: yeraldi.geronimo@nemours.org
Tampa, FL
Name of Zoo: Zoo Tampa
Coordinator Name: Jordan Halsey
22q Clinic Director,
Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital
Email: jhalsey2@jhmi.edu
Time: 11:00AM – 1:00PM
Visit here for more information.
Atlanta, GA
Name of Zoo: Atlanta Zoo
Coordinator Name: David Parker
Email: David.a.parker@emory.edu
Brookfield, IL
Name of Zoo: Brookfield Zoo
Coordinator Name: Kapil Kumar
Email: 22qclinic@luriechildrens.org
Visit here for more information.
Indianapolis, IN
Name of Zoo: Indianapolis Zoo
Coordinator Name: Abby
Email: 22qIndiana@gmail.com
St. Paul, MN
Name of Zoo: Como Park Zoo
Coordinator Name: Amy
Email: akebriaei@gmail.com
Time: 11:00AM – 1:00PM – Group photo@12:00PM
St. Louis, MO
Name of Zoo: St. Louis Zoo
Coordinator Name: Deb
Email: daylaw1@gmail.com
Time: 9:00AM – Noon
Welcome, Spotlight, Heroes Ceremony, Raffle Baskets, cupcakes and team photo!
Massachusetts – New England 22q at the Zoo
Name of Zoo: Southwick’s Zoo
Location: Mendon, Massachusetts
Coordinator: Tanya
Email: NE22qatthezoo@gmail.com
Asheboro, NC
Name of Zoo: North Carolina Zoo
Coordinator Name: Bethany
Email: 22qcarolinas@gmail.com
Visit here for more information.
Colts Neck, NJ
Name of Zoo: Carm’s Farm
Coordinator Name: Kristen
Email: Kristen22q@gmail.com
Visit here for more information.
Buffalo, NY
Name of Zoo: Mallwitz Island Lanes
Coordinator Name: Nadine
Email: vcfsbuffalo@yahoo.com
Columbus, OH
Nationwide Children’s
Name of Zoo: Columbus Zoo
Coordinator Name: Ashley
Email:
Visit here for more information.
Oklahoma City, OK
Name of Zoo: Oklahoma City Zoo
Coordinator Name: Harley
Email: Oklahoma22qatthezoo@gmail.com
Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026
Time: 10:00AM
Visit here for more information.
Philadelphia, PA
Name of Zoo: Philadelphia Zoo
Coordinator Name: Carol
Email: info@22q.org
Visit here for more information.
Pittsburgh, PA
Name of Zoo: Pittsburgh Zoo
Coordinator Name: Jamie
Email: jamiebernardi117@gmail.com
Sioux Falls, SD
Name of Zoo: Great Plains Zoo
Coordinator Name: Kaitlyn
Email: kgfrier21@gmail.com
Dallas, TX
Name of Zoo: Dallas Zoo
Coordinator Name: Suzi & Amanda
Suzi – suzi@22qtexas.org
Amanda – amanda@22qtexas.org
CANCELED
El Paso, TX – CANCELED
Name of Zoo: CANCELED
Coordinator Name: Nicole
Email: Nmrobinson05@gmail.com
San Antonio, TX
Name of Zoo: Classen-Steubing Ranch Park
Coordinator Name: Sue & Susan
Email: Wemet4@aol.com
Visit 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.
Buenos Aires
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name: Verona Tovagliari
Email: 22q.argentina@gmail.com
Wapp +54 9 1134180395
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.
Toronto
Name of Zoo: Toronto Zoo
Coordinators: Cheryl and Joanne
Santiago – TBD
Name of Zoo:
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Email:
TBD
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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
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
Email:
For more information visit here.
Winchester, Hampshire – TBD
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
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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: info@22q11ireland.org
For more information visit here.
Cork
Name of Zoo: Fota Wildlife Park
Coordinator Name: Anne
Email: info@22q11ireland.org
For more information visit here.
Valeggio sul Mincio
Name of Zoo: Parco Giardino Sigurta
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
Name of Zoo: Zoom
Date & Time: Sunday, May 17, 10:00 AM – 11:50 AM
Coordinator Names: Chiaki Kitamura, Toko Hayakawa
Email: hayakawa@dpc.agu.ac.jp
Click here to register: https://forms.gle/ukxXDGGMrJ6aAjkn7
Kaunas – TBD
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
Email:
Rotterdam Zoo
Name of Zoo: Diergaarde,Blijdorp/ Rotterdam 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:
Registration through Eventbrite
For more information visit here.
Warsaw
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
Email:
Subotica
Name of Zoo: Palić Zoo
Coordinator Name: Vesna
Email: 22qexyu@gmail.com
For more information visit here.
Ockero – TBD
Name of Zoo:
Coordinator Name:
Email:
