Calling All Greater Toronto Area High School Students!


Your Toronto Zoo is excited to invite students in grades 9-12, enrolled in Ontario secondary schools, to participate in the 2025 Rain Barrel Art Project. This is your chance to showcase your creativity and support important environmental initiatives.

How It Works

To participate, interested artists must submit a design for judging. Our panel will select 20 winning designs to be brought to life on rain barrels provided by your Toronto Zoo. Once completed, these barrels will be displayed at the Zoo and later auctioned off, with proceeds going towards climate change action at your Zoo.

Plus! Participating artists have the chance to win some incredible prizes!

Two separate Wild Encounter experiences for four people (two individual prizes) ● An eco-friendly retail bag, valued at $100 ● A Gold Dual Membership to your Toronto Zoo, valued at $260 ● A four-hour job shadow with Exhibit Design ● A one-hour painting session with Bethany Aiken ● A one-of-a-kind piece of Penguin artwork ● An art tablet!

How to Submit Your Artwork

The entry period for the 2025 competition opens this fall!
Here’s how you can get involved:

Note: This project is best suited for students in the Greater Toronto Area or those able to travel to the Zoo for barrel pick-up and drop-off. Chosen artists will be responsible for transporting the rain barrels to and from your Toronto Zoo.

1. Prepare Your Design By Following These Instructions:

  • Please stick to the template as closely as possible. "Rough sketches" as pictured below will not be accepted.
  • Please use the colors you plan to use on the rain barrel.
  • All entries must reach us on or before December 6, 2024.

2.Draw Your Design on the:

RainBarrel Artwork Submission Form PDF

3. Submit Your Design Here: Upload a Photo of Your Final Form

or send by mail to: Toronto Zoo, 361A Old Finch Ave., Toronto, ON M1B 5K7, Attention: GEZT.
If you’re sending us a photo, please hold onto the original copy of your design!

  • Each student may submit only 1 design.
  • Teachers may submit up to 3 student designs.

If Selected

  • If your design is chosen, you’ll be invited to an artist workshop at the Zoo, where you'll pick up your rain barrel.
  • You'll then have from January to early March to paint your barrel.
  • Return your completed rain barrel to your Toronto Zoo and see it displayed throughout the month of April.

Auction and Event Details

  • All finished barrels will be displayed at your Toronto Zoo for public viewing from March 8 to April 25, 2025.
  • Beginning April 11, 2025, the barrels will be auctioned online, with bidding open until April 25, 2025.
  • The funds raised from the auction will directly support climate change and sustainability initiatives at your Zoo.
  • Artists and their families will be invited to a special reception at the Zoo on April 24, 2025, to celebrate the project and its impact.

Project Timeline

  • Entry Period: October 4, 2024 – December 6, 2024
  • Selection Period: December 9, 2024 – December 11, 2024
  • Artist Selection Announcement: December 12, 2024
  • Artist Workshop and Barrel Pick Up: January 4, 2025, 10:00am – Noon @ your Toronto Zoo
  • Painting Period: January 4, 2025 – March 7, 2025
  • Rain Barrel Drop-Off: March 8 & 9, 2025, 11:00am – 4:00pm @ the Visitor Drop-Off Loop, Toronto Zoo
  • Display Period: March 8, 2025 – April 25, 2025
  • Online Auction: April 11, 2025 – April 25, 2025
  • Artist Reception: April 24, 2025, 5:00pm @ your Toronto Zoo


Your Toronto Zoo strives to provide experience and events that are accessible to all guests. Accommodation requests by guests for experiences and events are always welcome and every effort will be made to provide optimal support for the needs of guests with disabilities.

*Please note all events subject to change without notice.