Chattanooga Zoo throws party for back to school

Animals at the zoo sometimes play hide-and-seek, while others grovel for attention. Of course, they don’t have to go back to school soon.

More than 5,000 people visited the Chattanooga Zoo on Saturday to see the animals and celebrate the new school year — or, for some, grieve the end of vacation.

The sixth annual Comcast First Day Festival provided activities, education and sponsor tables with freebies and information on child care and the upcoming school year. Hamilton County Schools open Aug. 12 while many North Georgia schools open this week.

At one table, Marlene Payne of the Chattanooga Regional History Museum had youngsters spell out their names in Cherokee. The Hamilton County Step ONE table offered charts for youths to track and increase the amount of fruits and vegetables they eat. Walgreens handed out bags with a folder, pen, pencil and other school supplies.

Becky Guile, Comcast marketing coordinator, said six sponsors gave out 500 backpacks early in the day.

“The kids like the zoo. It’s part of Chattanooga,” Ms. Guile said. “It’s just a fun day for families to come out.”

Ms. Guile said the site could accommodate a large number of people and noted the zoo’s recent additions, including the new carousel with hand-carved endangered animals.

LaKendra Sales said her children missed out on most of the supplies, but that they were enjoying the day.

“It’s just a good time to come to the zoo, it’s a nice day. A good outing for the kids before school starts,” Ms. Sales said.

With no entrance fee for the day, zoo exhibits were packed but the crowds moved quickly in the hot weather.

The red panda slept lazily on a rock, while the chimp nodded and chuckled at the crowd. A large turtle tried to amble up to visitors, though appeared to give up about half way. Children ran to the glass to see another chimp jump into the water as the adults held their bags of freebies.

Rivermont Elementary first-grader Davoneka Stoudemire, 6, and her family visited the petting zoo after picking up some school supplies. She and her brother looked at the Shetland ponies.

“I like horses, ponies, and I like pigs and I like goats and dogs, and I like raccoons,” she said after careful consideration.

Aby Martin, 8, a Hixson home-schooler, was diplomatic with her favorite animals, saying she liked “all of them.”

Ryan Sales, 5, said he wasn’t excited to go back to school. But his sister Rainey, 6, said she was.

The first-grader said her favorite subject was “recess,” adding that she liked reading and games.

Another one who was excited to get back to school was Brad Moulder, a kindergartner who liked the cougar — the “big cat” — and said his favorite school subject was “snakes.”