Detroit Zoo Dental Day 2026
Location: Detroit Zoo
Address: Royal Oak, MI
July 18, 2026 - Two Events - One Day
- Zoo Day Picnic - social event
- Wild About Smiles Community Outreach
Detroit Dental Society Zoo Day - a picnic for dentists, families, staff, and dental students
All are invited to a Detroit District Dental Society Zoo Day on July 18, 2026. This program includes admission to the zoo, a family picnic under a pavilion with kid craft station, private seating, and special DDDS science station for the kids.
July 18, 2026
8:30am Registration Tent open - outside the main front gate of the Detroit Zoo
9am - 4pm Detroit Zoo Day admission to the Zoo
Public Tent 8:30am - 11:30am - this is Wild About Smiles Volunteer for Oral Health Tent to the public
Picnic 11:30am to 1:00pm
THANK you to our SPONSORS: MIRLO Real Estate Partners, Dental ROI Associates (Dental CPAs), Orow Construction, Detroit Children's Surgery Center, and First Community Bank.
Map pavillion where the picnic is located.
Registertration is open Detroit Dental Zoo Day Picnic.
Register today! Early registrants prior to June 22, 2026 have choice of Detroit Zoo Train tickets or a Zoo Key.
Special Bonus for Early Registration by June 22, 2026
Tauber Family Railroad - cut the zoo walk in half. The Tauber Family Ralroad was presented to the Zoo in 1931 by the Detroit News. The miniature railroad consists of two complete trains of six coaches each and one standby. All three locomotives were donated by the Chrysler Corporation in the 1950s. In the ‘80s, the locomotives were renovated, and new coaches were fabricated through a fund-raising campaign co-hosted with The Detroit News. The locomotives were refurbished again in 2008 with new coaches, rebuilt engines, gears, gauges, wheels and bodies. The train serves more than a half million passengers per year.
Zoo Keys - Audio Adventure
If you grew up visiting the Zoo, you might remember the thrill of turning an elephant-shaped key, hearing that familiar click and being drawn into a story that made the world feel a little wilder. Now, Zoo Keys are back and perfect for curious minds of all ages, Zoo Keys let you connect deeper with the animals who call the Detroit Zoo home. Each key unlocks a storytelling box at more than a dozen locations around the Zoo, revealing powerful poems crafted by local poets — many of them teens from the Zoo Corps Volunteen.
Registration
Register for the Detroit Dental Zoo Day Picnic Only
Online Registration via EventBrite for Detroit Dental Zoo Day
Register for volunteering at Wild About Smiles, the Community Outreach on Oral Health, and Zoo Picnic.
Online Registration via SignUpGenius for Wild About Smiles
Pricing
MDA Members and Adults Guests $40.00
Special price for New Dentists $30.00 per adult and guests
Dental Students $30.00 per adult and guests
Children 6-18 $15.00
Children 5 and younger FREE
Non-member of MDA Dentists and Adults Guests $65.00
Volunteer Dental Students/New Dentists for Wild About Smiles with picnic FREE
Volunteer MDA Members Wild About Smiles with picnic $25.00
Volunteer MDA Members Wild About Smiles no picnic FREE
Tickets will be distributed the day of the event at a group private tent with a Detroit District Sign outside the front gate of the Detroit Zoo. The tent will open at 8:30am. The Detroit Zoo opens at 9:00am.
Wild About Smiles - July 18, 2026
Volunteers needed: Community Outreach Tent to promote Good Oral Health to the public.
The Detroit District Dental Society will once again have a community outreach tent that will be engaging the public in learning more about "Good Oral Health". This was made possible with the PR Grant from the Michigan Dental Association (MDA). The tent will be at the Zoo entrance and participants will interact with the public in promoting oral health at various stations. We need volunteers from 8:30am to 12noon. We are running two-hour shifts. Volunteer in the morning and enjoy the Detroit Dental Society Picnic and the zoo in the afternoon.
Volunteer sign up for Wild About Smiles Community Oral Health Tent will open May 18, 2026.
Information for Wild About Smiles
- Planning Committee - contact the planning committee directly by email to dddsmarketing@gmail.com
- Committee Member Listing with contact information
- Community outreach - Dental informational tent at the entrance of the zoo for the public to provide oral health information to families
- Detroit Zoo Family event - enjoy the zoo for your dental team, family, friends and we will have a picnic buffet at the covered pavilion at the Zoo.
- Interested in sponsoring or brining your dental team/ family. Contact Marcy Dwyer at 313.337.4900 or centraloffice@detroitdentalsociety.com
