(Springfield, MO) -- Melinda Arnold with Dickerson Park Zoo is in the studio with us today.  We had plans to visit live at the Zoo today at the giant tortoise exhibit, but lightning moved in, so Melinda came to us instead. 

You have a big event for the entire family coming up this weekend.  Tell us about it.

Melinda - That's right.  It's our annual Art Gone Wild event where the Zoo and the Springfield Regional Arts Council partner up and we have five stations throughout the zoo for children 12 and younger to be able to do some hands-on arts projects, have a little fun in addition to what you would normally expect at the Zoo.

Sonya - And that's free with Zoo admission.

Melinda - That's right.  They are all free activities.  We call them make-and-takes, meaning some of the activities you'll be able to make then take them with you.  One of them will stay at the Zoo. It's the "wild child" project.  They are child life-sized silhouettes and they'll be decorating those.  Those will stay at the Zoo because they're big.

But they'll be making a parrot hat, a koi fish windsock, and other activities they can take with them to remember their day at the Zoo.

Sonya - We're showing some video of this event from the past and it looks like it's been pretty popular.

Melinda - I think this is our 6th year for it.  It runs from 10am to 2pm, so there is plenty of time if you have other things to do that keep you from getting to the Zoo first thing in the morning.

Sonya - That's this Saturday only. And you'll have other activities going on?

Melinda - Yes, we'll have free face-painting and some martial arts exhibits.
Sonya - Something that's been very popular in the past is back.

Melinda - That's right.  We're having daily elephant baths at 11 am.  The keepers pull out the fire hose and call the elephants up to the wall and spray them down with the fire hose.  You can tell how much the elephants enjoy the water, but it's also a lot of fun to watch.

For more information, call 864-1800 or visit dickersonparkzoo.org