zoo School

Participants will have a unique opportunity to experience The Zoo with a Zoo educator by their side! These 45-minute programs offer children a chance to interact closely with a variety of zoo ambassador animals while also participating in The Zoo's two-time national-award-winning Kids Go Wild curriculum. Each session includes a STEAM activity that meet Massachusetts state education standards in literacy, science, math, engineering or art.


Zoo School serves homeschoolers ages 6 to 12. Children under 6 years old may participate but must be accompanied by an adult guardian at all times; all children attending a Zoo School lesson must be paid for.

COST:

Members: $30 per person/per program

OR $170 for all 6 programs/per person ($10 discount)

Non-members: $35 per person/per program

OR $200 for all 6 programs/per person ($10 discount)


Minimum enrollment: 5 participants
Maximum enrollment: 10 participants

Session dates and topics:

  • December 23, 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

    Creature Colors: From sneaky camouflage disguises to bright and vibrant displays; Come explore how animals use colors to communicate in a variety of ways.

  • December 26, 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

    Animal Signs: Can you recognize a raccoon footprint? Do you know what a Bald Eagle nest looks like? Which animal left that fur in your backyard? Discover how we can learn about the animals in our environment from the signs they leave behind.

  • December 30, 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

    Food Web: From sun, to soil, to snakes! Explore the complexities of how all the many part of a natural system interact with each other.

  • January 2, 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

    Mammals, Birds, & Reptiles: Learn about how science classifies and groups different kinds of animals, and what traits and feautures are needed to identify our furry, feathery, or scaly animals friends.

  • January 6, 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

    Domestic, Wild, or Feral?: What's the difference between a wolf and a dog? What happens when a housecat ends up in the woods? Are there any wild chickens? Find out how humans and animals have influenced each other through history.

  • January 9, 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

    Native vs Invasive Species: Sometimes animals end up in places where they shouldn't be; learn about how human activities can change where and how animals live.

Registration form

Online Registration Form

If paying by check, make checks payable to Forest Park Zoological Society. Checks must be received prior to the start of your child's Zoo School session.

Forest Park Zoo
c/o: Patrick Gallagher
P.O. Box 80295
Springfield, MA 01138-0295

Email: patrick@forestparkzoo.com