This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.
Did you know that April is World Autism Month? During April, Great Wolf Lodge is teaming up with Autism Speaks and pledging to “go blue” in support of a more inclusive world for people with autism and their families through a month-long Blue Wolf Ears fundraising campaign.
Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. We now know that there is not one autism but many subtypes, and each person with autism can have unique strengths and challenges. Most are caused by a combination of genetic and environmental influences. One in 59 children are on the autism spectrum.
Throughout April, the family-friendly indoor water park resort will offer a blue version of the brand’s signature wolf ears, available to guests for a minimum $5 donation to Autism Speaks. A limited-edition collection of 10,000 blue wolf ears were made for this event and will be available for purchase at all 16 of the company’s U.S.-based resorts.
All proceeds from the Blue Wolf Ears campaign go directly to Autism Speaks, with a goal of raising $50,000 to support its mission of enhancing lives across the spectrum at every stage of life. Last year alone, the non-profit aided more than 1 million people through Autism Speaks-funded programs and resources.
To increase understanding and acceptance of people with autism, Great Wolf Lodge is launching a social media campaign in conjunction with the Blue Wolf Ears effort. The company encourages guests to post a photo on social media of themselves or a family member wearing their blue wolf ears, using #GreatWolfCares. For each post using this special hashtag, Great Wolf Lodge will make an additional $5 donation to Autism Speaks, up to $20,000.
“We’re honored to have this opportunity to give back during World Autism Month and to help raise funds for a terrific organization like Autism Speaks. Our Blue Wolf Ears campaign is just the start of a long-term partnership with Autism Speaks. In the future, we hope to use their expertise to help guide us as we continue to explore ways to make our resorts even more welcoming for people with autism and their families.” – Erin Wallace, chief operating officer of Great Wolf Resorts.
For more information on Great Wolf Resorts and its brands of indoor water park resorts, please visit greatwolf.com.
Some images and logos are property of Great Wolf Lodge and Autism Speaks and used with permission.
The Pet Expo will also debut “Kids’ Pet Care Course.” Led by licensed dog trainers, Kid Camp is an immersive experience where kids age 6-12 can learn how to care for their pet and will Earn a responsible pet ownership certificate. In 2018, there were more than 698 animal adoptions including dogs, cats – and even a few guinea pigs who found forever homes during the three-day event which drew approximately 50,000 attendees.
Coming this year to America’s Family Pet Expo is the Instagram sensation “Moshow the Cat Rapper” (@iAmMoshow), who boasts nearly 223K followers and more than 1M video views. Known for rapping about cat care and his passion for “cat ladies and cats,” he will be rapping on stage along with meet and greets at the TICA Cat Show twice daily, all weekend.
The “All-Star Stunt Dog Show” will be entertaining at the Pet Expo. Founded in 1999, the canine agility-show features high-flying, fearless and air-defying canines as they try to out-trick, flip and out jump one another. Audiences will be mesmerized by their talent and boundless energy.
The 2019 Expo will be the “Cat’s Meow” as the The Catit Playground and TICA, The International Cat Association, returns. From rare breeds to household domestics, TICA will offer continuous opportunities for owners to showcase their prize-worthy felines for best in show categories. Alongside TICA, the Catit Playground will provide a close-up view for guests to watch adorable, adoptable cats and kittens and see how they interact with different toys and people.
Returning favorites to the Pet Expo include Repticon, Reptile Show andSale, offering hundreds of common and rare species of reptiles in all shapes and sizes, such as lizards, snakes, and spiders. Plus, the ever-popular Splash Dogs will also be on hand offering a “splashing” good time as these dogs compete at dock jumping.
In advance of America’s Family Pet Expo, kids can design and create a 10-gallon aquarium in the Kid’s Aquarium Contest sponsored by Tetra/Marineland. Continuing this year is the America’s Family Pet Expo Hobbyist Aquascaping contest sponsored by FLUVAL. Plus, the ever-popular Splash Dogs sponsored by CANIDAE will also be on hand offering a “splashing” good time as these dogs compete at dock jumping. There will also be the Butterfly Walk-Through, Police and Protection Dog Demonstrations, an Aquatic Touch Tank, Tortoise Petting Exjbit and The Free Flight Bird Show as added features.
Doggie makeovers and pet adoptions will be handled onsite for those looking for that perfect animal addition to the family. There will be hundreds of animals hoping to find their “fur-ever home” from local community partner organizations at the Pet Expo.
Thrill to high-speed stunts and high-octane fun, as Lightning McQueen, Mater and the crew of Disney•Pixar’s Cars race across the ice. Dive into adventure with Ariel from Disney’s The Little Mermaid, as she explores her undersea kingdom. The toys are back in town with heroic action when Buzz, Woody, Jessie and the Disney•Pixar Toy Story gang escape Sunnyside Daycare in a daring adventure to get back to Andy’s room. Plus, enter the wintery world of Arendelle with sisters Anna and Elsa and pals Olaf and Kristoff from Disney’s Frozen as they learn that true love comes from within.
Plus, get warmed up for the show right in your seats with exclusive dance moves taught by the mouse that started it all during Mickey’s Dance-Along Pre-Show Party, as the Disney On Ice skating athletes remind everyone that getting active can help you be your best! Then you’ll be ready to enter a dazzling world of Disney magic to see some of your family’s favorite Disney moments come to life in Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Enchantment, with dazzling skating, special effects and timeless characters certain to create a lifetime of memories.
Long Beach Arena – Thursday, April 18- Sunday, April 21
I’m also hosting a giveaway for one (1) of my readers to win a family 4-pack of tickets to their choice of opening night at either the Long Beach ( (4/18 at 7:30pm) or the Ontario (4/25 at 7:00pm) location. To enter this giveaway, please leave a comment on this blog post telling me why you’re excited to see Disney on Ice. I will accept comments as entries through 11:59 p.m. on April 15, 2019. Giveaway is open to U.S. Residents 18 years of age and older. Prize has no cash value.