Discover More Together at Houston Zoo
Every visit starts as a discovery. Every visit has a story behind it. This June, during Member Appreciation Month, we’re celebrating our members who make the Houston Zoo more than a place – they make it home.
Meet some of our Houston Zoo members who discover more, together.
From Family Membership to Conservation Award Winner: The Park Family – Min, Heidi, Ethan, Chase
Members since 2011
Min and Heidi Park joined the Houston Zoo in 2011 when Ethan was just one year old — drawn in by a Family membership and Heidi’s educator discount. What began as weekend strolls through the Zoo grew into something far greater.
Ethan fell in love with the animals, connected with Zoo educators, joined Zoo Crew, and became a member of the Teen Leadership Council. In 8th grade, he championed his school’s entry into the Houston Zoo’s Saving Wildlife School Partnerships program. This April, he was recognized on Earth Day as one of 10 national winners of the Disney Conservation Fund Award for his Seven Lakes High School Prairie Restoration Project — an effort to revive the Katy Prairie for future generations.
“It is a place that has helped Ethan find his ‘Why’ in life at such a young age and continually gives him opportunities to explore his passion.”
— Min Park
The Houston Zoo didn’t just give Ethan a place to visit, it opened the door to new possibilities. We are celebrating Ethan and the entire Park family this Member Appreciation Month for showing how a Houston Zoo membership can spark a lifelong passion, nurture curiosity, and create meaningful connections that grow with every visit.
From First Visit to Forever Member: Sylvia Mayer
Member since 1994
Sylvia was born in Houston, and some of her earliest childhood memories are of the Houston Zoo.
She became a member as a young adult and has never really stopped. She has brought her children to the same lion water fountain she drank from as a girl, attended events like Feast with the Beasts, volunteered at the Zoo, and built a family tradition around Member Mornings.
Along the way, she developed deep connections to our keepers and animals such as Berani the Malayan tiger; animals in the Galápagos Islands habitat (which reminds her oldest son of the work that he has done as a scientist); Yzma the llama; and many more.
“Do you love animals? Do you enjoy learning? Are you passionate about conservation? Is being outside in nature important to you? Do you value family time? If you answer yes to any of these questions, then the Houston Zoo is the place for you.”
— Sylvia Mayer
For Sylvia, the Houston Zoo has never been just a destination but a place she considers home. We celebrate her this Member Appreciation Month for a lifetime of loyalty, love, and showing up for the animals and the community she believes in.
From One Generation to the Next: Lauren Beamon
Flock Donor since 2015
A native Houstonian, Lauren grew up visiting the Houston Zoo with family and on school trips. As an adult, it was Flock, the Houston Zoo’s donor club for young professionals and philanthropists, that brought her back. She joined as a Flock member in 2015, became a Flock Patron member in 2021, and this year joined the Flock Committee, moving from participant to someone who actively shapes the experience for others.
Along the way, she brought her daughter to the Zoo for the very first time at just four months old, turning her personal rediscovery into a family tradition. From the opening of the penguin habitat and Zoo Lights Donor Night to easy Saturday mornings with the lions, the Houston Zoo has become a regular place of wonder for her family.
“It means connection, discovery, and community. It’s where I can become a kid again — while learning something new. Every visit provides a new experience! And the Houston Zoo’s commitment to animals in the wild is unmatched. You get to have a great experience while contributing to conservation efforts.”
— Lauren Beamon
Lauren didn’t just return to the Houston Zoo, she became part of what makes it a place where everyone belongs. We are celebrating her this Member Appreciation Month for her commitment to community, conservation, and the next generation of zoo lovers.
Member Appreciation Month
With every visit and every membership, you are helping save animals in the wild.
Join us for Member Appreciation Month as we celebrate our Houston Zoo members with a variety of exclusive benefits.
Not a Houston Zoo member? Join the herd. Become a member and save. A Houston Zoo membership pays for itself in as few as two visits per year. Become a member today and enjoy free admission for 12 months without needing to make a reservation while helping save animals in the wild.
