Sat., October 12 | 10:30 am – 4 pm | Included with General Admission

International African Penguin Awareness Day is a celebration of all things African Penguin! Wear your best black-and-white outfit as we roll out the metaphorical black-and-white carpet for our flightless friends!

Meet an adorable member of our Penguin Point colony after practicing your best penguin waddle, attend special feedings and expect talks, explore our fascinating Penguin Discovery Zone, and snap pictures along our penguin species wall as you learn about the 18 different penguin species worldwide! 

Plus, learn more about the National Aviary’s work to protect this Endangered species in the wild and how you can help them at home!

International African Penguin Awareness Day Schedule of Activities: 

• 10:30 am: African Penguin Feeding | Penguin Point
• 11 am – 3 pm: Penguin and Friends Scavenger Hunt | Full Facility 
• 11 am – 3 pm: Penguin Discovery Zone | Learning Center
  Fun activities for kids (and caregivers) of all ages!
  • Explore penguin biofacts 
  • Test your knowledge with Penguin Trivia!
  • Learn all about sustainable seafood using our kid-friendly “fishing” activity 
  • Complete a unique African Penguin nest activity (hint: their nests look VERY different from the bird’s nests you might be used to!)
  • Play a penguin adaptation game (hint: penguins are built for swimming!)
  • Create your very own penguin-themed craft
  • Read some of our favorite penguin stories in our Book Nook
• 11 am – 3 pm: Penguin Species Wall | Penguin Point
• 1:30 pm: African Penguin Expert Talk featuring Biofacts | Penguin Point
• 2:30 pm: Penguin Awareness Waddle* and meet an African Penguin Animal Ambassador at the Finish Line! | Helen M. Schmidt FliteZone™ Theater
• 4 pm: African Penguin Feeding | Penguin Point

*By taking part in the Penguin Waddle, you’ll be joining a global movement: the Not On Our Watch (#NOOW) campaign.

 About #NOOW (and how you can help!)
The purpose of #NOOW is to create a (literal) movement on International African Penguin Awareness Day: raising awareness of their rapid decline in the wild. It’s estimated that in less than 10 years, these adorable tuxedoed birds could becoming extinct in the wild. Zoos, and penguin lovers all over the world will be teaming up on October 12 to Waddle together as a community with one major goal in mind: saving the African Penguin. By visiting the National Aviary on this day and participating in the Waddle, you’ll be able to show your support for the species, learn more about conservation efforts at home and abroad, and other ways you can help these beloved birds. Learn more about the campaign: https://www.africanpenguinnotonourwatch.org/.