Tomorrow is Earth Day, and your old sneakers and cell phones will come in handy at the Philadelphia Zoo.
This year's event, which will take place through Sunday and is free with zoo admission, is aimed at educating the public about conservation efforts.
Part of this effort involves recycling old materials, such as the rubber from sneakers, that are used to construct new sports surfaces like basketball courts and playgrounds.
Cell phones will also be collected to raise funds to help the critically endangered douc langur, one of the most endangered primates in the world.
In addition to recycling efforts, zoo employees will be manning "Just ask" booths to answer questions about conservation.
The zoo has held the event, organized by the Philadelphia Zoo Docent Council, a volunteer teaching group, annually for over a decade.
College students should stop by the booths because they effectively communicate what can be done to help endangered species, Zoo Director of Public Programs Kristen Lewis said.
Visitors will also receive 10 percent off the price of native plants at local stores to encourage planting indigenous species in the area.
The Academy of Natural Sciences is also hosting an Earth Day weekend tomorrow and on Sunday.
The theme for the Academy's conservation program this year is owls, which were chosen to be linked with the upcoming movie Hoot. Free movie passes and Hoot prizes will also be available for visitors, and there will be two shows with live owls.
An eco-themed craftmaking session will be held from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m both days. Visitors' crafts aren't theirs to keep, though; they will be given to the Academy's parrots and mammals to rip apart.
"It's not your average craft," Carolyn Belardo, an Academy spokeswoman, said.
The Academy has about 100 live animals that will be available for visitors to touch, along with the limited display of a ground-breaking fossil that shows the transition between fish and land animals.
