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Social Events & Tours
Icebreaker at the Arizona Science Center
 Monday, September 10
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
One ticket is included in a full registration. Daily registration DOES NOT include a ticket.
$60 for all others
Looking to Cool Off in Phoenix?
The 2012 Icebreaker at the Arizona Science Center, within walking distance of the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown, will have you standing in the eye of a hurricane, riding a sky-cycle suspended 15 feet in the air and comparing different types of animal brains in the Brain Museum. The 140,000 square foot state-of-the-art Science Center creates an intriguing space of investigation, exploration and discovery. Break the ice with friends, old and new, as you enjoy colorful and exciting entertainment, experiment with a specialty drink and savor in amazing Southwestern cuisine and delectable desserts. Some may like it hot, but this party will be totally cool.
Zoo Day at the Phoenix Zoo
Thursday, September 13
 1:00 pm - 9:00 pm
One ticket is included in a full registration. Daily registration DOES NOT include a ticket.
$60 for all others
From Sun to Stars: The Wild-Life of Arizona
Grab your sunblock and hat for a hot and wild time at the Phoenix Zoo for a day full of fun and good times! Zoo Day kicks off with a delicious lunch, surrounded by the sights and sounds of more than 1,100 animals who call the Phoenix Zoo home. During your tour of the 125 acres grounds, enjoy amazing behind-the-scenes experiences, hop aboard the Safari Train, come face-to-face with our family of Bornean orangutans at Orang-Hutan: “People of the Forest,” walk amongst the squirrel monkeys in Monkey Village and gaze at the vast landscape and multitude of species on our African Savanna. Don’t forget to ride a camel, take a spin on the Endangered Species Carousel and come hand-to-fin with our school of Cownose stingrays at Stingray Bay. Then, as the sun sets, get ready for a WILD party complete with wagon rides, tantalizing libations, regional cuisine and eclectic entertainment. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water, ‘cuz it’s gonna be a hot one!
Plan ahead! Check out the Zoo Day schedule to see what the Phoenix Zoo has in store!
Post-Conference Tour of the Reid Park Zoo and Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
 Tuscon, AZ
Friday, September 14
8:30 am - 9:00 pm
Tour is not included with registration
$55/person - with transportation
$30/person - without transportation
End the Conference in Phoenix with a tour of two wonderful AZA-accredited facilities in nearby Tucson. Only an hour and a half away, attendees will begin their visit at the Reid Park Zoo and participate in behind-the-scenes tours featuring Expedition Tanzania, the newly completed 7-acre elephant exhibit, and the LEED platinum Brown Family Conservation Learning Center. Guests will be invited to tour the Zoo grounds, ending the morning with lunch, provided by SSA.
Then attendees will board the buses and take a short trip to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Attendees will be invited to tour the Museum grounds, see live animal presentations (Live and sort of on the Loose, and Running Wild), partake in behind-the scene-tours of several departments, including Raptor Free Flight, Botany, and Mammalogy and Ornithology holding areas, as well as the state-of-the-art Olsen building (Conservation and Holding area for lower vertebrates and invertebrates). You'll also get an advance preview of Fiesta Sonora, a gallery art show by the Southern Arizona Water Color Guild. We will finish with a fabulous dinner in the Ironwood Terraces restaurant before heading back to Phoenix. Buses will leave from the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown at 8:30 am and will return to the hotel by 9:00 pm.
Another exciting option!
Consider staying overnight at the new 4-star resort at nearby Casino del Sol, which is offering discounted rooms for attendees who would like to spend a bit more time in Tucson. September is a great time of year for birdwatching and herping...or maybe just relaxing after a busy week at the Conference. To make reservations at the special $99 rate, contact Casino del Sol Resorts at 855-SOL-STAY. Discount code is AZACONF.
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