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Children’s Birthday Parties

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Update on Facility Rentals:

We are no longer booking non-education based private events in our Bonner Barn. This includes graduation parties, corporate rentals, and weddings. 
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A Truly Unique Birthday Party Idea

Bring your friends and family to enjoy a wildlife themed birthday party experience like no other at Ohio Wildlife Center.

 

A Wild Birthday Experience

With a fun, nature-centered atmosphere, live animals and hands-on activities, our birthday party programs are a unique experience for the animal- and nature-loving child in your life. Programs are fully facilitated with hands-on assistance from one of our wildlife educators for the length of the program.

Parents must remain on-site, providing a minimum child to parent ratio of 5:1.

Birthday Party Package | $350

  • Climate-controlled Bonner Barn space reserved for 1.5 hours
  • Accommodations for 25 people (includes attending parents)
  • 30-minute live Animal Ambassador program with two animals*
  • Wildlife educator/party support team member
  • Table and chair set-up
  • White table coverings

The remaining hour can be split between cake, gift opening and a 15-30 minute nature hike option. Children can see many animals when they come to visit, but the most common ambassador species used for our up-close programs would be a box turtle, opossum, snake, screech owl and/or kestrel.

 

Make your party even more WILD with these add-on options:

 

Extra Time (30min increments) | $50
Add up to an extra hour onto your party time.

Invite More Friends up to 40 total guests (children and parents) | $50

Additional Animal Ambassador Encounter | $50 (add 15 minutes to your party)
Add another Animal Ambassador to your party program.

Enrichment Excitement | $100 (add 30 minutes to your party)
Create enrichment activities for our resident Animal Ambassadors in this hands-on activity. Learn more about what enrichment means for the animals, then watch as they respond to the items you created.

Animal Art Demonstration & Painting | $50 (add 15 minutes to your party)
Watch as one of our Animal Ambassadors creates a unique piece of art. We use non-toxic paint and let the animals crawl/walk across the canvas. The birthday child can take the original piece of art home.

Looking to make your experience more unique?

 

Extra Time

$50 per 30min

Add up to an hour to your party time.

Extra Guests

$50

Have up to 40 guests attend your party.

 

 

Enrichment Excitement 

$100 (add 30 minutes)

Your group will stuff our raccoons’ diet (dog food and produce) into cardboard boxes, tubes, and newspaper. We will then walk to their enclosure and a staff member will give them to the raccoons to rip up and enjoy!

Additional Animal Ambassador Encounter 

$50 (add 15 minutes)

Add a *special* animal ambassador to your program (red-tailed hawk, turkey vulture, screech owl, or raccoon).

Animal Art Demonstration & Painting

$50 (add 15 minutes)

Watch creativity unfold as one of our turtle ambassadors creates a unique piece of art. We use non-toxic paint and let the animals crawl/walk across the canvas. You get to take the original piece of art home with you.

Take a Hike!

$100 (add 30 minutes)

Immerse yourself in nature and learn about the secrets our forests hold with a hike through our woods. Trail is a mulched path with a couple big hills, please dress accordingly!

About Your Space

The Bonner Barn

Bonner Barn at Sunset

This beautiful, restored barn from 1891 is a focal point at our scenic Powell location. Set within 20 acres of wooded seclusion, the barn is brimming with rustic charm. The spacious, open-concept floor plan offers a blank canvas to create your perfect event.

Party Layout

  

Party Booking Guidelines

  1. We recommend booking birthday parties six to eight weeks in advance for the most availability.
  2. Form submission does not guarantee a party program reservation.
  3. Once submitted, please allow up to three business days for our education team to contact you for scheduling.
  4. Parties are currently hosted on weekdays between noon-4 p.m. and on weekends for the morning (starting at 10am) or afternoon (starting at 2pm) time blocks. Additional dates and times are possible, but will incur an additional $50 staffing fee.
  5. Guests (including attending adults) cannot exceed 40 people.

Birthday Party Program Request

Submit your birthday party program request below and one of our team members will reach out to you to confirm details.

By providing your phone number, you are consenting to receive calls or SMS messages

  • MM slash DD slash YYYY
    Birthday parties are typically scheduled 4 weeks in advance. Please choose your top three dates.
  • MM slash DD slash YYYY
  • MM slash DD slash YYYY
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Birthday Party FAQs

What age groups are birthday parties most appropriate for?

All ages of children can be accommodated. We are able to tailor the education programming to any grade level, from preschool to middle school.

What is your cancellation/change policy?

Refunds are subject to a processing fee.  You will receive an 80 percent refund if cancellation is received more than two weeks prior to your chosen date. If a cancellation is made within 2 weeks of your chosen date, your refund will be 50 percent.

Are arrangements available for food and a cake?

The booking party is responsible for supplying all food, drinks, plates, napkins, utensils and cups.

Is Ohio Wildlife Center peanut-free?

We strive to keep our campus peanut-free. Ohio Wildlife Center does not provide food or drinks for birthday parties, so it will be up to the party organizer to keep food choices safe for their invited guests.

What items, if any, should not be brought to the party?

Our Center is home to many animals, and guests must refrain from loud noise (outdoor speakers), fireworks, toy guns, candle centerpieces or open flames, balloons, glitter and confetti. We also do not allow smoking or firearms on grounds.

Is there time to set up decorations and food prior to the party?

Yes. We have set time limits for these parties knowing that you need time to set up and tear down. Usually, the party can happen from start to finish within the time allowed. Additional time can be arranged for a fee when booking your party.

Is parking available?

Yes, our main parking lot is located at 9000 Dublin Rd., Powell, OH 43065.

Are party favors available?

We do not provide favors for parties. Please feel free to bring your own party favors.

How soon do I need to make a reservation?

The sooner the reservation is requested, the better chance we have of reserving your first-choice date. Weekend availability varies depending on time of year. We strongly recommend booking at least 4 weeks in advance, but 6-8 weeks in advance will usually have most availability. 

Is there a required parent child ratio?

Yes. We ask for 1 adult for every 10 children to manage the group if children are under the age of 8.

Are weekdays available for parties?

Yes: weekdays from noon-6 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Where can I see the party space?

Please visit our Bonner Barn Rental Page for details or see photos above for the setup of a birthday party. 

Support Us

To help support the work we do at Ohio Wildlife Center, please consider making a donation.

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