Bridgeport, CT –  City of Bridgeport advises Bridgeport Residents of FREE Admission to Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo on Saturdays.

Program Funded by The American Rescue Plan through the City of Bridgeport Includes “Cool Blue Bridgeport” to Educate and Inspire Climate Change Action.

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is joined by City officials to invite Bridgeport residents to “Cool Blue Bridgeport,” a virtual and on-grounds educational program about climate change in combination with free admission to the Zoo every Saturday.

Awarded as a grant from the City of Bridgeport through the American Rescue Plan, the Zoo will provide free admission every Saturday to Bridgeport residents through June 25, 2022, limited by ticket availability.   Bridgeport residents must register for free tickets online at beardsleyzoo.org, using the code “COOLBLUE.”  A photo ID with proof of residence will be required at the gate, either a driver’s license or a Park City ID.

Cool Blue Bridgeport (CBB) will provide programming throughout the school year, with a focus on climate change, climate action, and learning from the traits and adaptations of animals. Activities to promote youth and family learning will take place at the Zoo on Saturdays, as well as online to make learning accessible whenever it is convenient to Bridgeport families. CBB will engage families and young people through learning programs, hands-on activities, online videos, and design challenges.

The program includes:

• A Cool Blue Bridgeport Action (CBBA) Passport for Bridgeport families. Families will be offered conservation-themed activities both on site during their visit as well as online.
• The CBBA Passport will take residents on an exciting journey focusing on animals at the Zoo, their adaptations and climate dependencies.
• Bridgeport’s rich history as a port city and shoreline community will be incorporated by educators linking climate change to local geography and landmarks.
• The CBBA Passport will introduce students and families to new animals, new events, and new programming to assist them in exploring the Zoo in ways never before possible.
• Upcoming activities for the year will include various lectures, 10 Virtual Wild Assemblies with Bridgeport Public middle and high schools, Teacher Nights at the Zoo, and STEM/STREAM Design Challenges.

“This is just one more way that Bridgeport’s ARP grant funds are supporting educational and recreational programs to benefit Bridgeport families and young people.   We appreciate all that the Zoo has to offer – it’s a science and nature experience, it’s a day out on beautiful grounds, and now the visit includes teachings on climate change,” stated Mayor Ganim.  “We’ll all be doing more to address climate change and awareness of the issues - so we appreciate CBZ doing this in a fun way and making it a free day for residents at the zoo.”

“Climate change is happening all around us,” said Zoo Director Gregg Dancho.  “Bridgeport is subject to the same challenges facing urban populations globally when it comes to climate change. We see it in the form of more frequent extreme storms, damaging winds and flooding, rising sea levels, and altered migration patterns in many animal species. The good news is that there are things that we can all do to help and we look forward to sharing these solutions.”