Metro Detroit Youth Day: Investing in Our Young Community

By Tess Fisher, Community Engagement Coordinator

On Monday, Aug. 11, the Detroit Zoological Society brought its expertise to Belle Isle for the opening day of Metro Detroit Youth Day, a five-day, six-location celebration of Detroit's youth. It was a fitting setting, given the Detroit Zoological Society's deep roots on the island through the operation of the Belle Isle Nature Center. Four of our teams, including education, access and community engagement (ACE), the Belle Isle Nature Center and Service Systems Associates (SSA), showed up together to connect with youth from our community at this impactful and long-running community event.

History of the Festival

Metro Detroit Youth Day (MDYD) was founded in 1981 by Ed Deeb, along with Tom Fox and Jerry Blocker, growing out of Detroit Mayor Coleman A. Young's call for community leaders to invest in the city's youth. What began with 1,000 attendees has grown into Michigan's largest youth-focused event, drawing more than 34,000 people annually. Following the 2025 passing of founder Ed Deeb, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Detroit now carry the event forward. To date, MDYD has served more than 2.5 million kids and awarded more than 2,300 college scholarships. This year's event expanded to meet growing demand, spanning six sites across five days, with special guests like Mayor Mary Sheffield and musical artist Big Sean.

Education: Getting Hands-on With the Mudpuppy

Education staff presented topical information on the mudpuppy, an elusive freshwater salamander found in the Detroit River that serves as a key indicator of water quality. Kids got hands-on with models and water quality testing strips, running their own mini conservation experiments while staff answered questions about animals and careers at the Zoo. Staff even connected with Roary of the Detroit Lions to swap animal facts!

Belle Isle Nature Center: Biofacts and Nature Tots

Nature Center staff brought biofacts from the animal world for families to explore, including a nearly 10-foot shed of snakeskin, turtle shells and skeletons, and a variety of animal models. Alongside the hands-on table, staff introduced families to Nature Tots, a free outdoor program for children ages 2-4 and their adult caregiver that supports early learning through stories, crafts, movement and nature adventures.

Access and Community Engagement: Spotlighting Hidden Disabilities

ACE staff introduced festival-goers to the Sunflower Hidden Disability Program, a simple tool that allows people to discreetly share that they have a disability or condition that may not be immediately visible, from diabetes to autism to sickle cell. Green Sunflower products signal that the wearer has a hidden disability; white Sunflower products signal an ally who supports them. Over the course of the day, the ACE team connected with nearly 350 individuals to talk about the Sunflower Program and various other accessibility resources available at the Detroit Zoological Society, like our social narratives (sensory-friendly guides for visiting our campuses, available in both English and Spanish on the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center websites).

Service Systems Associates: Sustainability in Action

SSA, the team that manages food services, restaurants, catering and retail at the Zoo, brought that same expertise to Belle Isle, teaching kids about responsible recycling and helping keep the island clean throughout the day's activities. The team even snagged a photo with Woodsy Owl, the U.S. Forest Service mascot and fellow conservation enthusiast!

Metro Detroit Youth Day is more than a catalyst for connection among Detroit's young people. It's a reminder that the Detroit Zoological Society is a year-round community partner, not just a destination. The teams who showed up on Belle Isle put that into practice, from sustainability education to accessible community engagement. Days like this reflect our commitment to cultivating an equitable and inclusive culture, one that creates engaging experiences to educate and inspire meaningful connections among our community, guests and team members.

We're already looking forward to next year's Metro Detroit Youth Day and to more days spent showing up for the city's youth.