Sparking young minds at the Gladys Porter Zoo

The Gladys Porter Zoo hosted a weekend of Lower Valley Appreciation Days this weekend-that continues today with a discounted admission of $4 for Lower Rio Grande Valley residents and $2 for Brownsville residents.

"It's our way of giving back to the community," Director Patrick Burchfield said. "We want to make the zoo available to everyone. It's their zoo."

Lower Valley Appreciation Day was extended to a full weekend this year to ensure that working parents could take advantage of the discounts.

"Especially now, with high gas prices and commodity prices rising, it's helpful to take the strain off of people's pocketbooks," Burchfield said.

KRGV-TV News Channel 5, Walmart and the Port of Brownsville sponsored an Oceanarium event Saturday, as well. Kids held sea urchins, competed for prizes, and learned about the ecology of the ocean.

"You never know what's going to spark a young mind," said Tim Smith, the chief meteorologist for News Channel 5. "One of these 4-year-olds could go on to solve the greatest environmental challenges of our time."

Zoo spokeswoman Cynthia Galvan said an interactive aquarium may be completed by next year's Lower Valley Appreciation Day.

ltillman@brownsvilleherald.com