This weekend is the beginning of daylight saving time, which sadly means that most people will lose an hour of sleep when they set their clocks forward one hour on Sunday night. However, instead of mourning the loss of time, Walt Disney World is celebrating it with a series of whimsical activities for the whole family. At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, guests can get a “leap” on the weekend’s time change with some frog-focused events that will remind them to set their clocks ahead.

On Thursday, March 5, the park kicked off their daylight saving time celebrations, which will continue through the weekend. Some of the activities include a frog-leap that challenges children to see if they can jump as far as frogs and a special frog-calling game where guests match the frog to the corresponding “ribbit.” Little ones can also don “frog-wear” with goggles to model amphibians’ transparent eyelids, along with mesh vests that represent permeable skin and special suction-cupped gloves to mimic froggy feat.

The events are part of Animal Kingdom’s efforts to promote conservation and raise awareness of the serious decline in amphibian populations. Some estimates suggest that as many as one-third of known amphibian species may be threatened by extinction because of loss of habitat, climate change, pollution, and disease.

So aside from providing a subtle clock change reminder, the program is also designed to engage guests in conservation efforts. Guests will be given tips on how they can help combat the dwindling numbers of amphibians in the world and create a frog-friendly environment in their own backyard. Some of the suggestions include building a pond with native shrubs, providing an overturned pot or small areas of leaf litter to benefit amphibians, and using fewer chemical pesticides to keep amphibians healthy.

Incidentally, at Animal Kingdom, which is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, members of the Animal Programs teams are studying the nutritional needs of the Puerto Rican Crested Toad, a species native to Puerto Rico where it is threatened by extinction. Hopefully, the teams will help conservationists determine alternate habitats where food is abundant for the toads. Researchers are studying the amphibian population in Orlando’s backyard as well, in Disney's Wildlife Management and Conservation Area.

To learn more about Animal Kingdom’s conservation efforts, guests can also stop by the Conservation Station at the Rafiki’s Planet Watch area of the park. There, animal handlers and exhibits offer a behind-the-scenes look at the day-to-day activities of the park, and guests can get more information on what they can do to help in the preservation and conservation battle.

There’s no extra cost to participate in the froggy fun this weekend; you only need a Walt Disney World ticket, which you can get at discount rates right here at OrlandoFunTickets.com. Don’t forget to stop by Animal Kingdom for an educational amphibian experience, and don’t forget to make your clocks leap forward on Sunday, March 8.