Jackson Free Press

As a thanks to all its community supporters, the Jackson Zoo will offer free admission to all members of the public on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 26, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Then, the zoo's annual Cookies with Santa Christmas event will be Saturday, Dec. 12, in the Gertrude C. Ford Education Center from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Kids will get to visit with Santa and give him their Christmas lists, decorate their own sugar cookies, enjoy story time with Brillo the Ferret and craft their own holiday keepsakes. Zoo members can participate for free, and admission for non-members is $8 for adults and $5 for children.

Also in the works is the annual Winter Break Camp from Dec. 28 through Dec. 31. The zoo offers full- and half-day options for the camps, with the full-day camp recommended for children ages 6 to 12 and the half-day mini camps recommended for children ages 4 to 5.

This year's mini camp, "Mini Minions," will include a hike around the zoo, animal encounters, meetings with the zookeepers and more.

The full-day camp, "At the Movies," will involve a cinematic approach to animals with a different movie theme each day based on different hit movies of 2015. The zoo's website states that kids will "take on bad guys, save the world and, of course, learn about animals and nature." Details on the full day camps' itineraries are still pending.

The mini camps take place from 10 a.m. to noon each day, and the full day camps take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission for the full-day camps is $150 for members and $165 for non-members, and the mini camps are $60 for members and $65 for non-members. For more information, contact the Jackson Zoo at 601-352-2580 or visit http://jacksonzoo.org/events/.

Starke Fitness Open House and Toy Drive

Starke Fitness (109 Dees Drive, Madison), a locally owned and operated fitness facility in Madison, is hosting its first Starke Fitness Open House and toy drive, benefitting Batson Children's Hospital, from Nov. 23 through Dec. 12. The official Starke Fitness Open House party will be on the last day of the Toy Drive from 4 to 6 p.m., and will feature pictures with Santa, hot chocolate, snacks and giveaways. Starke Fitness has pledged to match each toy that is donated during the drive.

Brothers Andy and Lee Sahler, Madison residents who both work in the construction industry, came up with the idea for Starke Fitness in 2013. The facility has more than 6,000 square feet of gym floor and a 4,000-square-foot cardio mezzanine, and facilities such as hammer strength equipment, Star Trac treadmills, octane ellipticals, a sauna and more.

Starke Fitness is currently offering group classes free from now until 2016. For more information, call 601-503-6860 or visit http://www.starkefitness.net/.

*CORRECTION: This story has been edited to reflect a time change at the Jackson Zoo for Thanksgiving Day. It will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., instead of 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. In addition, the previously listed upcoming 1 year anniversary celebration of 1 Million Cups Jackson already took place and will not be on December 2. We apologize for the error.