Quiet Mornings

Join us for a tranquil morning at the Zoo! The last Thursday* of every month the zoo will open an hour early for Quiet Mornings. This is a great opportunity for our guests with special needs and their families to enjoy a more relaxing visit to the zoo. Quiet Mornings offer a less-crowded setting before the zoo opens to the general public. SENSORY BACKPACKS Thanks to Geiger and Crazy Aaron’s, Elmwood Park Zoo guests have access to complimentary daily-use Sensory Packs. The backpack includes noise cancelling headphones, fidget toys, a stress ball, thinking putty and laminated copies of EPZ’s Social Story, sensory map, and sensory guide. Guests may request a sensory backpack upon their arrival at the Admissions window. Guests must provide the zoo with a valid ID. The zoo will hold this ID until the backpack is returned. QUIET SPACE A dedicated quiet space is located at the south facing side of the bison exhibit. This quiet space has gate access and available seating. Click here to visit our Accessibility Page, which includes a sensory guide, accessibility map, social narrative and helpful tips for your visit. In May of 2018, Elmwood Park Zoo became the first zoo in the world to earn certification as a Certified Autism Center. The designation, given by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), is awarded to organizations who have completed a training and review process with the goal to better serve individuals with autism and other sensory needs.