PHILADELPHIA (June 23, 2009) – Children from across Philadelphia will enjoy a visit to the Philadelphia Zoo this Wednesday, June 24, as part of the Philly PAL Day at the Zoo. About 250 children from across the city will get an up close glimpse of the wonderful world of animals and learn about conservation, courtesy of PECO.

Louie the Lightning Bug also will make an appearance and teach the kids about safety in the summertime and electric safety around the home. Louie will greet the children upon their arrival around the Zoo’s opening time at 9:30 a.m.

Later in the morning, the children will gather at the Zoo’s Peacock Pavilion (approximately 11:30 a.m.) for a special Zoo on Wheels program with the Zoo’s Education staff who will provide up-close wildlife encounters and interesting animal facts. There will also be face painting, giveaways, and lunch for children in attendance. www.philadelphiazoo.org

For the eighth year, the PAL Day at the Zoo is made possible as part of PECO’s longtime support for the Police Athletic League and the Zoo.  Next month, the Zoo will mark the 10th anniversary of the PECO Primate Reserve, which was created to help efforts to save some of the world's most endangered and fascinating primates.

The Police Athletic League of Philadelphia is "Cops Helping Kids". With 27 centers across Philadelphia serving almost 26,000 kids, PAL offers a large variety of sports, education, and recreational programs to all of Philadelphia's youngsters completely free of charge.  www.phillypal.com