Utah's Hogle Zoo
Jordan River Events
Our Jordan River Conservation and Restoration Events are intended to be accessible and welcoming to community members of all ages and abilities. If you have a question or concern about participating in one of these events, contact Conservation Action Coordinator, Tori Bird at [email protected].
*All event activities subject to change. If changes are made volunteers will be notified as soon as possible.
**Registration for events opens on a quarterly basis.
Saturday February 22nd 10AM-12PM Wildlife Identification – Join us at the Zoo and help us identify wildlife from our 20 trail cameras along 25 miles of River. We will provide some laptops, you are also welcome to bring your own, and use the Wildlife Insights platform to identify the wildlife. You will receive background on the project and training on how to use the software. This event will be held indoors. Admission to the Zoo is not required nor included in this event.
Saturday March 22nd 10AM-12PM Planting and Invasive Species Removal – Did you know that the cold months are the best time of year to plant trees? Cold weather and lack of leaves allow the trees to send all of their energy into their roots to get established. We plant tall pot trees because they have a root system of 32 inches to get into the ground water. Spring is also when invasive Scotch thistle starts to grow. Removing them at this “rosette” stage prevents them from putting up stocks and spreading their seeds. This event will involve digging deep holes with posthole diggers and planting native trees to improve bank stabilization and create habitat as well as manual removal of thistle rosettes with shovels. Not up for digging? Fear not! You can help with getting trees to the diggers, back filling holes, or spreading native seed. Location is TBD based on need and will be communicated out the week of the event.
Wednesday April 9th 6-8PM Makers Event– Celebrate Earth Day early at the Zoo making items to support restoration and wildlife habitat at the Jordan River. Activities may include the creation of “seed dumplings” full of native seeds to support reseeding and restoration, native bee nesting bundles for our non-hive making native pollinators, bird feeders for our diverse avian species that utilize the River as an important flyway, or other wildlife and habitat supporting activities. This event will be held indoors and all supplies will be provided. Admission to the Zoo is not required nor included in this event.
Saturday April 26th 10AM-12PM City Nature Festival Bio Blitz– City Nature Challenge is a worldwide event to document wild plants and animals in and around our cities. Bring a phone or tablet and join Team Utah’s Wasatch, learn to use iNaturalist, meet other nature enthusiasts and document the wonderful biodiversity that the Jordan River supports.
Wednesday May 7th 6-8PM Monarchs and Milkweed– Monarchs are one of the most iconic insects in the nation but their populations have seen steep declines in recent years. Come and learn about monarch butterflies, their lifecycle, their migration, and what you can do to help. Each participant will be given milkweed seeds and the information to be able to grown them to help support the monarchs. Location TBD and will be communicated out the week of the event.
Saturday May 31st 10AM-12PM Monarch Waystation Maintenance– As part of The Association of Zoos and Aquariums Monarch SAFE (Saving Animals from Extinction) program we will be supporting monarch habitat at the River through the maintenance of a Monarch Waystation in Draper. This may involve some digging to prep the site, spreading of much, planting of native pollinator plants and milkweeds, spreading of woodchips, and watering in the plants.
*All event activities subject to change. If changes are made volunteers will be notified as soon as possible.
**Registration for events opens on a quarterly basis.
Wednesday June 4th 6-9PM Nature Float– Come and celebrate of World Ocean Day in our own landlocked way. We will learn about the history of the river, the animals that rely on it, and what we can do to support a healthy river for all. This will not be a working float. Attendance is limited by the number of canoes that we can provide. It is very important to do one registration per group member for this event. If you do not do a registration for each individual in your group, we cannot guarantee a spot on a boat. If you have your own boat that you would like to bring, please contact Conservation Action Coordinator, Tori Bird at [email protected]. Previous paddling experience is strongly recommended. Location is TBD and will be communicated out the week of the event.
Saturday June 21st 10AM-2PM Floating Cleanup– Join us for our final celebration of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Party for the Planet: Spring into Action season on floating cleanup of the Jordan River. We will float a short portion of the river in canoes using trash grabbers and nets to clean up as we go. This is a fun and often times quite messy way to enjoy the river and help the wildlife that rely on it. Attendance is limited by the number of canoes that we can provide. It is very important to do one registration per group member for this event. If you do not do a registration for each individual in your group, we cannot guarantee a spot on a boat. If you have your own boat that you would like to bring, please contact Conservation Action Coordinator, Tori Bird at [email protected]. Previous paddling experience is strongly recommended. Location is TBD based on need and will be communicated out the week of the event.
Saturday July 12th 10AM-12PM 2nd Saturday Cleanup– Join us and the Jordan River Commission for their Second Saturday #LoveYourWatershed event. We will be collecting trash and organic matter to keep it out of our waterways. Trash grabbers will be provided to aide in picking things us and wagons will be available for those that are unable to carry a trash bag. Location is TBD based on need and will be communicated out the week of the event.
Wednesday July 16th 6-8PM Scotch Thistle Removal– Invasive species are a persistent challenge along the Jordan River corridor. One such species is Scotch Thistle. This event will involve the removal of the thistle flowers with clippers, preventing them from spreading their seeds. Work gloves, clippers, and bags will be provided and digging will not be necessary for this event. Location is TBD based on need and will be communicated out the week of the event.
Saturday August 2nd 10AM-12PM Puncturevine Weeding– Help us tackle that pesky puncturevine, also known as goats head, on a portion of the Jordan River Trail. Removing this invasive species helps other natives grow as well as keeps the trail safe and clear for people and animals. Removal will be done with weeding tools and will require stooping and bending. Tools and bags will be provided. Location is TBD based on need and will be communicated out the week of the event.
Wednesday August 13th 6-8PM Puncturevine Weeding– Help us tackle that pesky puncturevine, also known as goats head, on a portion of the Jordan River Trail. Removing this invasive species helps other natives grow as well as keeps the trail safe and clear for people and animals. Removal will be done with weeding tools and will require stooping and bending. Tools and bags will be provided. Location is TBD based on need and will be communicated out the week of the event.
*All event activities subject to change. If changes are made volunteers will be notified as soon as possible.
**Registration for events opens on a quarterly basis.
Saturday September 6th 10AM-2PM Floating Cleanup Come out for our final floating cleanup of the year. We will float a short portion of the river in canoes using trash grabbers and nets to clean up as we go. This is a fun and often times quite messy way to enjoy the river and help the wildlife that rely on it. Attendance is limited by the number of canoes that we can provide. It is very important to do one registration per group member for this event. If you do not do a registration for each individual in your group, we cannot guarantee a spot on a boat. If you have your own boat that you would like to bring, please contact Conservation Action Coordinator, Tori Bird at [email protected]. Previous paddling experience is strongly recommended. Location is TBD based on need and will be communicated out the week of the event.
Wednesday September 17th 6-8PM Bike Tour –Celebrate Get to the River Festival month with us enjoying one of the post popular Jordan River Parkway activities, biking. We will bike a short portion of the 45-mile trail as a group. We will learn about the history of the river, the animals that rely on it, and what we can do to support a healthy river for all. Location is TBD based on need and will be communicated out the week of the event.
Saturday October 18th 10AM-12PM Planting – With the return of cold weather comes the return of planting season. During these cold months, plants are able to focus all of their energy on developing a robust root system to sustain them through the following spring and summer. Based on need and plant availability this event will either focus on the planting on tall-pot trees, with a 32-inch long root system, or understory plants to diversify and stratify the habitat to best serve the diverse wildlife that rely on it. If you are not up for digging you can help deliver plants or water, spread native seed, or do trash removal in the area. Location is TBD based on need and will be communicated out the week of the event.
Wednesday October 29th 6-8PM Bats and Birds – Celebrate Bat Week with us at the Zoo. You will learn about the bats that live in Utah as well as the birds that overwinter here. Activities may include construction of bat houses, bird houses, bird feeders, and window decals to prevent bird strikes. This event will be held indoors and all supplies provided. Admission to the Zoo is not required nor included in this event.
Wednesday November 12th 6-8PM Clean and Feed – Join us for an evening of crafting and socializing in support of the Jordan River. We will be creating cleanup kits to be distributed to community members who want to do independent cleanups along the Jordan River Parkway as well as bird feeders to support our overwintering bird populations. You can choose to take your feeders home with you or leave them with us to install along the River. This event will be held indoors and all supplies provided. Admission to the Zoo is not required nor included in this event.
Saturday November 22nd 10AM-12PM Planting – Come out for our final planting event of the year. . During these cold months, plants are able to focus all of their energy on developing a robust root system to sustain them through the following spring and summer. Based on need and plant availability this event will either focus on the planting on tall-pot trees, with a 32-inch long root system, or understory plants to diversify and stratify the habitat to best serve the diverse wildlife that rely on it. If you are not up for digging you can help deliver plants or water, spread native seed, or do trash removal in the area. Location is TBD based on need and will be communicated out the week of the event.
Saturday December 13th 10AM-12PM 2nd Saturday Trail Walk and Cleanup – Join us and the Jordan River Commission for the final Second Saturday #LoveYourWatershed event of the year. We will be collecting trash and organic matter to keep it out of our waterways. Trash grabbers will be provided to aide in picking things us and wagons will be available for those that are unable to carry a trash bag. If weather does not allow for cleanup we will do a walking tour of the Parkway. Location is TBD based on need and will be communicated out the week of the event.
For more information and or questions about our various conservation programs, please contact: [email protected]