North Carolina Zoological Park

The North Carolina Zoo will create permanent natural environment activity centers in an existing KidZone area to promote physical activity, social and cognitive development in a natural setting, and encourage families to spend time together outside. KidZone is an area that contains a variety of physical challenges and natural play opportunities. The new structures will retain the functions of the pilot KidZone play spaces and be safer, more durable, and more long-lasting. These experiences in nature are designed to help children develop a sense of place that includes wildlife and wild places. Nature experience is an important first step to developing caring attitudes toward nature and promoting the development of the next generation of conservationists and environmentally knowledgeable decision makers in North Carolina.