By Jonathan Turner, jturner@qconline.com

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Photo: Gary Krambeck Hannah Breitbach, 5, and Avery Breitbach, 8, of Onslow, Iowa, build a bird perch for the Niabi Zoo’s macaws and parrots during the Party for the Planet with Earth Day programs and activities at Niabi Zoo on Sunday.

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Photo: Gary Krambeck Heidi Erekson, 3, of Moline, has her hand washed by her mother, Katie Erekson, while the other hand painted pink is placed on a tile by volunteer Jean Campise, for the ‘A Show of Hands’ display at Niabi Zoo during the Party for the Planet to celebrate Earth Day on Sunday.

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Photo: Gary Krambeck Kyler Romero, 7, of Park View, Iowa, learns how to build a bird perch for the Niabi Zoo's macaws and parrots during the Party for the Planet with Earth Day programs and activities at Niabi Zoo on Sunday, April 22.

COAL VALLEY — Niabi Zoo is a lot more than looking at wild animals. Its goals of conservation, education and preservation were promoted to visitors more than usual Sunday, during its fifth annual Earth Day celebration, "Party for the Planet."

The sunny day featured a variety of activities and information to help kids and adults learn how to make every day Earth Day.

"We make it more of a fun event so it's not just a lecture," Niabi interim director Marc Heinzman said.

At the zoo entrance was a "Hands Up for Conservation" program, which offered the chance to make a "lasting impression" while supporting global animal conservation efforts. For $30, people can buy a wood tile that can be decorated with a child's handprint and permanently installed in a display on the entrance wall of the education center.

Since the wall has space for 48 tiles, if Niabi didn't go sell them all Sunday, it will continue until they do, Mr. Heinzman said.

Zoo volunteer Jean Campise, of Bettendorf, said two brothers put their handprints on a tile, and their mother wrote: "Brothers who love the zoo as much as they love each other."

Ms. Campise said she volunteers because "It's fun. I enjoy animals; you get to be outside; you get to spend time with the animals and the kids. It's a good balance from work. I spend far too many hours at work."

Also new this year is the Rhythm of Conservation Sweepstakes, sponsored by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which will go into June. People can enter to win prizes by visiting rhythmofconservation.com, or texting "ROC" to 67463 for 12 chances to win a trip for four to Disney World.

Niabi visitors also made toys out of colored wood blocks and ropes for birds in the aviary.

"It's a fun activity, to teach them to do stuff for the birds," volunteer Sue Petersen, of Iowa City, said. "I thought most of the kids would want to keep them."

"They're excited to have them go for the birds," her niece Sara Petersen, a volunteer from Cedar Rapids, said of the young visitors, who signed their name on each string of blocks, which will be hung in the aviary.

There were tables to donate plastic milk jugs, to be recycled in exchange for a free carousel ticket, and Niabi has launched an electronics recycling program, which will allow visitors to bring old and unwanted electronic devices (such as cell phones or computers) to have them disposed of in an environmentally safe way.

Proceeds from the donated electronics go to support gorilla conservation in the wild, Mr. Heinzman said, adding that anyone — not just zoo visitors — can drop off electronics.

"A big part of our mission here is promoting conservation," he said. "Having this event is a good way to get kids involved, to get families involved, more so than just reading an educational sign or attending a lecture.

"It gets them more hands-on, to connect a little better. Hopefully, it inspires some sort of lasting passion for conservation, whether it be for a particular animal or the rainforest."

The zoo has recycling containers on the grounds for bottles and cans, and its staff recycles all paper waste, as well as glass, plastic and aluminum containers, Mr. Heinzman said. There also are motion sensors on building lights, so they turn off when rooms are not occupied.

"We're always looking for ways ourselves to be more green. We encourage other people to do that as well," Mr. Heinzman said.

The education center includes a simulated rainforest, with several touch-screen kiosks to teach visitors about deforestation and its effects on animal habitats.

An outdoor table had information about rainforests, and visitors were encouraged to take a "rainforest pledge," including to limit use of water and electricity, and support the sustainable use of palm oil.

Many rainforests are clear cut to plant palm oil trees, for use in food and other products, a zoo volunteer named Phil, said.

Deforestation reduces animal habitat, particularly for orangutans, he said. "I love animals, love the environment, love nature. I'd like to see it continue."

A portion of every zoo admission, train ride and carousel ride goes toward Niabi's $4 million fundraising campaign to build a new elephant enclosure, Mr. Heinzman said, adding that $500,000 has been raised so far.