Social Events
Pre-Conference Tour - The Wilds
Saturday, September 9, 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Additional $75 per person; not included with registration
After a scenic 90-mile bus ride, experience The Wilds! Open to the public since 1994 and sitting on nearly 10,000 acres of reclaimed, surface-mined land that has been transformed into one of the world's largest and most innovative conservation centers. Guests will experience vast pastures of rhinos, giraffes, cheetahs, and many other rare and endangered animals. You will experience first-hand our living laboratory of international and local conservation scientists, which has a strong emphasis on Restoration and Wildlife Ecology. You will be sure to agree that The Wilds is the best-kept secret in Ohio for adventure seekers and for those who yearn for a connection to the natural world.
Fee includes lunch and transportation.
The Wilds is also hosting a Post-Conference Tour on Friday, September 15.
Pre-Conference Tour - Cincinnati Zoo and Boonshoft Museum OR Newport Aquarium
Saturday, September 9, 7:30 am - 6:00 pm
Additional $75 per person; not included with registration
Choose your morning adventure! Visit either Boonshoft Museum or Newport Aquarium. Then all attendees will spend the afternoon at the Cincinnati Zoo.
During your morning visit to the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, you will have an opportunity to see a children’s museum, a natural history museum, a science and technology center, a planetarium, and an accredited zoo! Come experience public programs taking place throughout the museum, including in our Caryl D. Philips Space Theater, and behind-the-scenes looks at our Discovery Zoo and Collections department. Come prepared for a fun and fast-paced time at arguably the smallest AZA-accredited facility!
Or start off your morning at Newport Aquarium! SEA thousands of the world’s most exotic aquatic creatures as you waddle with playful penguins, meet rare white alligators, and surround yourself with sharks and smiling stingrays at the Newport Aquarium! Encounter thrilling adventures like the first-in-the-world Shark Bridge, where you can cross inches above a tank full of sharks on a rope bridge. Plus, experience the NEW exhibit Shipwreck: Realm of the Eels and explore a long ago-sunken ship and the creatures that call this accidental reef home. Come discover the wonder of an underwater world!
After your exciting morning adventure, you’ll spend your afternoon with the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden! Upon arrival, eat like a Cincinnatian during a special “Zinzinnati” buffet before venturing out to grab a selfie with Fiona, the world-famous Hippo. While exploring the greenest zoo in the nation, you’ll have the opportunity to see 3,000 unique plant species and over 400 different species of invertebrates, reptiles, birds, mammals, fish, and amphibians. Experience one-of-a-kind animal encounters while learning about how our groundbreaking research is securing a positive future for endangered species. Come see why the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is nationally recognized as one of the top zoos in the country!
Icebreaker at Nationwide Arena
Monday, September 11, 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm
One ticket is included in a full registration. Daily registration DOES NOT include a ticket. Additional tickets are available for $95 each.
It’s time to chill out and mingle! For a true “Icebreaker,” we invite you to meet up with your AZA pals at the home of the National Hockey League’s Columbus Blue Jackets. We will be “on the ice” with several bars and appetizer buffets featuring everyone’s favorite arena foods. Entertainment will include the cool blend of soul and pop from the band, Honey and Blue, and all the fun the arena has to offer! This $150 million venue sits in the center of the Arena District surrounded by trendy entertainment, restaurants, and bars. So, even after the Icebreaker is over, conference attendees will be able to eat, drink, and dance throughout the night. Please join us as we officially kick off the 2023 AZA Annual Conference!
Nationwide Arena is walking distance from the hotels, but transportation will be available for anyone needing assistance.
Zoo Day at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Thursday, September 14, 12:00 pm - 9:00 pm
One ticket is included in a full registration. Daily registration DOES NOT include a ticket. Additional tickets are available for $95 each. Children ages 3-9 are $50 additional. No ticket needed for children under 3.
Cap off a great conference by visiting the home of more than 10,000 animals representing over 600 species from around the world. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is proud to welcome you to Zoo Day, a day full of animals, food, and fun. Complimentary transportation will be available to and from the Zoo from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. loading at the south end of the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Upon arrival at the Columbus Zoo, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a delicious boxed lunch. Then, it’s off to explore the Zoo, where we are just 3 years shy of our centennial celebration. That’s right—over the last 97 years, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has evolved to be a cornerstone of the community and a destination inspiring the appreciation and conservation of many of the earth's most amazing animals.
During your visit, we invite you to take a closer look at some of our signature programs by experiencing select behind-the-scenes tours and presentations that we are proud to share with you. Following a day at the Zoo, we will host a happy hour, a scrumptious meal at our beautiful Water’s Edge Events Park, and live entertainment as together we bid farewell to an impactful AZA Annual Conference here in Columbus!
Post-Conference Tour - The Wilds
Friday, September 15, 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Additional $75 per person; not included with registration
After a scenic 90-mile bus ride, experience The Wilds! Open to the public since 1994 and sitting on nearly 10,000 acres of reclaimed, surface-mined land that has been transformed into one of the world's largest and most innovative conservation centers. Guests will experience vast pastures of rhinos, giraffes, cheetahs, and many other rare and endangered animals. You will experience first-hand our living laboratory of international and local conservation scientists, which has a strong emphasis on Restoration and Wildlife Ecology. You will be sure to agree that The Wilds is the best-kept secret in Ohio for adventure seekers and for those who yearn for a connection to the natural world.
Fee includes lunch and transportation.
The Wilds is also hosting a Pre-Conference Tour on Saturday, September 9.
Post-Conference Tour - Akron Zoo
Friday, September 15, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Additional $50 per person; not included with registration
Explore the Akron Zoo, while coming nose-to-nose with more than 1,000 exotic and endangered animals in amazing habitats. We invite you to experience behind-the-scene tours of our animal habitats and education center. You’ll also have access to our compost facility and learn about our sustainability and conservation programs.
Fee includes lunch, snacks and transportation.