AZA announces 2026 Party for the Planet Grant recipients

Silver Spring, Md. (March 5, 2026) - The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is pleased to award $65,000 in Party for the Planet® grant funding to 13 projects led by AZA-accredited facilities.

With support from the Disney Conservation Fund, Party for the Planet leverages the reach and resources of AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums to provide family-friendly volunteer and conservation action opportunities that benefit the planet. The 2026 Party for the Planet campaign runs from Earth Day on April 22 to World Ocean Day on June 8.

This year's Party for the Planet grantees will be hosting engaging community conservation initiatives aligned with SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction®, AZA's flagship conservation program. These projects promote hands-on action for the environment, including river cleanups, pollinator workshops, native plantings and family-friendly events that foster community involvement in protecting the planet.

"Party for the Planet grantees truly set the example for conservation action at the local level," said Dan Ashe, president and CEO of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. "These zoos and aquariums are transforming everyday conservation activities into a collective community effort that conserves species, enhances ecosystems and brings people closer to nature and each other."

More information about AZA's Party For The Planet efforts can be found at www.aza.org/party-for-the-planet.

Congratulations to the 2026 Party for the Planet® grant recipients:

Akron Zoo
Akron, Ohio

The Akron Zoo will lead a hands-on river cleanup along the Towpath Trail Canal in the upper Cuyahoga River to restore habitat for American Turtles and North American Freshwater Mussels. Volunteers will remove debris and invasive plants while participating in educational activities on plant and animal identification, local species conservation and responsible waste sorting.

Brevard Zoo
Melbourne, Fla.

Brevard Zoo will celebrate Party for the Planet throughout April with Zoo and community events, focusing on the critically endangered Perdido Key beach mouse. Activities include a Sensory-Friendly Earth Day on April 12, a Zoo-wide celebration on April 15 and conservation action opportunities such as beach and shoreline cleanups, invasive plant removal and native replanting.

Central Florida Zoo
Sanford, Fla.

The Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens will host a series of Party for the Planet activities, including a river cleanup on April 22, a backyard-habitat festival on May 16, a beach cleanup on June 6 and native plant conservation work during Spring Break Camp. The Zoo will also continue its Purple Martin Songbird Conservation Project and participate in a March Turtle Count with Turtle Survival Alliance to support local waterway research.

Henry Vilas Zoo
Madison, Wis.

Henry Vilas Zoo will collaborate with the Bayview Foundation Community Center and local conservation partners to restore native habitat across Bayview's gardens and green spaces. Community members will help enhance pollinator- and bird-friendly areas, improve soil health and expand garden spaces supporting SAFE Monarchs and North American Songbirds.

Hutchinson Zoo
Hutchinson, Kan.

Hutchinson Zoo will host its Party for the Planet celebration on May 2 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., featuring resource stations, educational talks, a prairie restoration project and giveaways of native pollinator plants and bird-safe glass decals. Working with local partners, the Zoo will empower residents to build habitat for pollinators and birds in their own backyards.

Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium
Kansas City, Mo.

The Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium is partnering with AZA's SAFE North American Songbird program to encourage community action for regional songbirds and native habitat creation. Guests can decorate birdhouses, add to a Party for the Planet community map and make native seed bombs, with seed donations from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center. Additional partners-including the Little Blue River Society and the Missouri Conservation Alliance-will host activity stations to further engage visitors.

Loveland Living Planet Aquarium
Draper, Utah

Loveland Living Planet Aquarium's Party for the Planet 2026 will span Earth Day, World Ocean Week and Shark Week, inspiring families to support land and marine habitats through hands-on learning and clear calls to conservation action. Highlighting SAFE species, the program focuses on habitat creation, waste reduction and sustainable consumption while partnering with community organizations. Using its Know-Feel-Do model, the Aquarium aims to foster long-term behavior change.

Zoological Society of Milwaukee (Milwaukee County Zoo)
Milwaukee, Wis.

The Zoological Society of Milwaukee will conduct two river cleanups, including a multi-generational event with La Causa Charter School focused on SAFE North American Songbirds and bird-friendly habitat care. Participants will receive reusable items promoting waste reduction, while a second cleanup with Milwaukee Riverkeepers will remove hundreds of pounds of trash and plastic from local waterways.

Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium
Pittsburgh, Pa.

The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium will launch a season of conservation-driven events highlighting local habitats and the North American Songbird SAFE program. Festivities begin with an April Party for the Planet celebration and continue with Migratory Bird Day activities, a community planting event and programming for Endangered Species Day and World Oceans Day.

Potter Park Zoo
Lansing, Mich.

Potter Park Zoo, in partnership with John Ball Zoo, AZA Monarch SAFE and local nurseries, will debut Habitat Heroes, a community conservation program promoting native plants and healthy urban habitats. The initiative kicks off on Earth Day with native plant giveaways and extends through the summer with outreach events, a river cleanup, World Snake Day activities, farmers market visits and a Monarch Day Celebration.

Roosevelt Park Zoo
Minot, N.D.

Roosevelt Park Zoo and Minot Park District's Pollinators at Play initiative will restore native pollinator habitat within one of North Dakota's last long-grass prairies. Hosted at the Minot Family Outdoor Recreation Area, the project will engage families, volunteers, school groups and experts in trail improvements, prairie cleanup and native plant restoration across 14 acres.

Rosamond Gifford Zoo
Syracuse, N.Y.

The Rosamond Gifford Zoo will lead community conservation events centered on SAFE songbirds and monarch butterflies. Activities include an April 22 cleanup of Zoo grounds and surrounding parks, additional school-based cleanup days and a Zoo-wide Party for the Planet on April 25 featuring eco-friendly vendors, keeper talks and hands-on habitat-creation activities like building songbird boxes.

Tennessee Aquarium
Chattanooga, Tenn.

The Tennessee Aquarium will host a Spring 2026 Party for the Planet Pollinator Festival to raise awareness about pollinators and equip underserved South Chattanooga families with tools for habitat restoration. In partnership with Outdoor Chattanooga and two local elementary schools, the festival will include a pollinator workshop, supply giveaways and a cleanup of East Lake Park, supporting conservation of the North American Monarch Butterfly.

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About AZA
Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, animal welfare, education, science and recreation. AZA is setting the global gold standard, accrediting 253 of the top zoos, aquariums and related facilities in 12 countries. Look for the AZA accreditation logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you and a better future for all living things. The AZA is a leader in saving species and your link to helping animals all over the world. To learn more, visit www.aza.org.