ESGH’s annual Walk With Me (WWM) fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday, April 12, at the Houston Zoo. If this is your first time joining WWM (or visiting the Zoo), here’s what you should know.
Getting Around
- To find the main WWM route, just walk in the zoo entrance and look for the crowd and the signs. (Expect to see plenty of additional, hand-held signs along the route: our volunteers are great cheerleaders.)
- The afterparty may not be as obvious. Go to the African Forest section and look for the Masihara Pavilion. The party is divided between the pavilion and Kamaru Outpost, which is on the other side of the fence (toward the restrooms and to the right, when you’re walking from Masihara to Kamaru).
- For more specific directions, there are maps at various locations throughout the zoo; and there should be a paper map with your participant supplies. There are also digital maps on the Houston Zoo website: choose real-time interactive or downloadable/printable.
- You can try your own navigation app if you prefer. Be warned, however, that Wi-Fi signals are frequently unreliable inside the zoo.
- If you’re still worried about getting lost, see if you can partner with an experienced WWMer. (ESGH clients: ask your staff contact for recommendations.) This may be especially helpful if anyone in your group has a visual impairment or is neurodivergent, or if you’re coming by rideshare.
- Of course, you can also follow the crowd of walkers to the afterparty. One thing not to do is go exploring on your own first. Besides the increased risk of getting lost, you may be too late for the party, which only lasts until 10:30 a.m. The Zoo pass you get for WWM participation is good all day, so you’ll have plenty of time for closer looks at your favorite exhibits.
What’s This “Afterparty,” Anyway?
According to Alejandra Gonzalez, BridgingApps Digital Navigator, the afterparty is the “most fun part of the whole event” where “everyone gets to hang out.” Think outdoor festival: food; games; music; and tables showcasing ESGH departments and sponsors.
Stop by the BridgingApps table to see what we’ve brought from our Assistive Technology Lab, including toys for your children to try out. And expect to leave Walk With Me eager to do it again in 2026!
P.S. About Wayfinding and Assistive Technology
If you’re directionally challenged and get lost easily (in zoos or anywhere else), check out the navigation apps in our online Search Tool. If you worry about someone else who’s prone to wandering (often called “eloping” when neurological differences are a factor), the web-based If I Need Help app improves their chances of getting back quickly.
And if you’re a serious zoo lover who wants to take that passion on the road, Gabriela Silva, ESGH Special Events Manager, recommends the Zoo Scout app. “You can go on there, select the zoo you’d like to explore, and see their latest map.”
Happy wayfinding!
Keep an eye on our blog and social media for Walk With Me updates.