Wondering what to do with the kids during their winter break from school? If you're not heading south for some warmth, head on over to the Zoo. We have some fun, indoor activities for children ages 6 to 12 who love animals, the environment and learning. Our February Frolic program runs Feb. 16 to 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and children may sign up for an individual day or the whole week. Each day may include zookeeper talks, behind-the-scenes tours, hands-on-learning, games, crafts and more. Monday is entitled "Predator, Prey"; Tuesday is "Here Kitty, Kitty"; Wednesday is "Animal Adaptations"; Thursday is "Rainforest Rendezvous"; and Friday is "All Birds, All Day". If enrollment allows, sessions will be divided into ages 6-8 and 9-12. The cost of the program is $35 per day or $150 for the week (for Zoo members, cost is $30 per day or $125 per week). Call 203-394- 6563 to register.

Teens interested in learning more about zoos and zoo careers are welcome to attend our Explorer Open House on February 2 from 7 to 9 p.m. (Parents are welcome, too.) Explorers are young men and women 14-21 years old that participate in a program affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America. The Explorers are special interest posts where members learn and participate in specific life skills. Zoo Explorer Post members attend lecture style classes with hands-on activities from February to August. Explorers may then be eligible to take part in a zookeeper shadow day in September or October. Interested teens or parents can call Chris Clark in our Education Department at 203-394-6563 for more information. The fee for the Explorers program is $85. The open house is free. SNOW DATE: February 7.

Wild Wednesdays continue through February. An educational program (story, animal or craft) will be held in the warmth of Professor Beardsley's Research Station at 11:00 a.m. In addition, all children will receive one free Carousel pass, and all adults will receive a free cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate.

Winter is a great time to visit the Zoo; the crowds are smaller, and the animals are more active. We hope to see you!

It's the Year of the Ox! We'll celebrate on Saturday, Jan. 31 from noon to 3 p.m. with a children's parade, story time, crafts, and talks about related animals. (Snow date is Feb. 7.)

• The Explorer Open House is Feb. 2.
• Wild Wednesdays continue through January and February.
• February Frolic is our winter school break program Feb. 16-20.

This time of year, it seems that many of us tend to go through our closets looking for things to donate. There are lots of places to bring unwanted clothing and toys, but what about footwear? Here are cool ideas that will keep those Keds out of the landfill.

Organizations like Shoe4Africa and One World Running donate used running sneakers to overseas athletes. Also, Nike has a project called Nike Grind, which any brand of sneaks are shredded and transformed into surface material for tracks and basketball courts.

If you would like more information, or to find a drop-off location nearby, check out recycledrunners.com or runtheplanet.com.