By Sara Westhead
Published Oct 2, 2014 at 8:00 am (Updated Oct 2, 2014 at 10:07 am)

The Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo will be transformed this coming weekend as the Bermuda Zoological Society holds the latest instalment of its wildly popular event Zoobilee: The Hungry Games.

This year, the theme is a twist on The Hunger Games phenomenon and, while guests will not have to fight for their lives, the games are expected to begin the moment they arrive with a special performance by Rockfire Productions and music by DJ Donnavon.

The entire BAMZ facility will be divided into themed districts and guests will enjoy dining on a wide variety of tapas-style dishes from some of Bermuda’s top chefs, including the Lido’s Serge Bottelli, Island Restaurant Group, AZU Beastro, Flying Chef, and Butterfield Bank’s Christopher Malpas. Guests will also be challenged to try their hand at a variety of fun and exciting games and activities.

The event, which takes place on Saturday, October 4, from 7pm until midnight, costs $125 per person and is all-inclusive. Guests may want to come prepared for the Silent and Mystery Auctions, where more than 25 unique prizes will be up for bid.

The purpose of Zoobilee is not just to have fun, but also to raise vital financial support for the BZS’s free educational programmes provided to more than 6,000 students each year.

“Our goal is to raise $100,000 from this year’s Zoobilee,” explained BZS Development Officer, Lynda Johnson. “This will allow us to continue providing free educational opportunities that connect Bermuda’s children with nature.”

The BZS has a long history of strong educational programmes including classes, guided field trips to locations around the Island and trips aboard the floating classroom and research vessel, The Endurance, as well as transportation on the BAMZ bus.

All of the classes offered have been specially designed to support the Bermuda school’s curriculum, allowing students of all ages, from nursery to high school, the opportunity to see first-hand how scientific research is conducted.

Classes and field trips are entirely free of charge to school groups, so support from events like Zoobilee are vital. Last year, more than 6,000 students from public and private schools were able to take advantage of these free educational opportunities, taught by experienced professionals who are passionate about sharing their love of the natural world with Bermuda’s children.

“BZS’s educational programmes not only have an impact on student’s immediate educational experiences, but also on their future, whether as advocates or professional stewards of our environment. What sets BZS conservation education programmes apart is the opportunity to observe, study, interact and care for live animals, and these are experiences that resonate deeply with students,” Mrs Johnson added.

Zoobilee would not be possible without the support of generous sponsors KPMG, OIL Group of Companies, East End Group, Sunrise Construction and AES. Thanks also to our vendors Butterfield and Vallis, Barritt’s, Burrows Lightbourn, Gosling’s and Bacardi.

Tickets for Zoobilee: The Hungry Games are still available, but they are going fast. This is an adult only event and minors (under 18 years) will not be admitted, even if they are accompanied by a parent. To purchase tickets, contact Lynda Johnson at 299-2326 or development.bzs@gov.bm.