School Programs
Suzanne Bolduc ©WCSSchool Reservations and Information
Class Visits
Learning is an adventure when you enroll in one of Prospect Park Zoo’s education programs. Bring your class to us, or we’ll come to your school for a pre-visit program guaranteed to make your educational experience richer. We offer a wide range of programs to enhance science curricula and educate and inspire diverse communities so they come to appreciate the wonders of wildlife and wild places.
Book a program for Fall 2009 and receive a 10% discount
Book for Winter 2009/2010 and receive a 20% discount!
Programs for Pre-K–6th Grade
Discovery Center visit
Explore the wonders of the natural world in the hands-on, interactive Discovery Center. Students can visit stations that include camping with kestrels, pretend to be a zoo vet, conservation quest, and more! All visits include a live animal encounter and a private visit to the Discovery Center.
Time: 45 minutes
Fee: $150; $100 for each additional group booking from the same school on the same day.
Programs for Pre-K & Kindergarten
In Living Color
How does an animal’s color help it to survive? In this program, children will engage in dramatic play, and meet some animals that have warning, attracting, and camouflage colors.
Time: 45 minutes
Fee: $185; $100 for each additional group booking from the same school on the same day.
Pre-visit Program Option at Your School
Enrich your zoo visit by booking a pre-visit program that will be held at your school.
Intro to In Living Color
Why do animals have the colors that they do? Children will help an artist (and some “animal” friends) discover why animals have different colors. This interactive puppet show uses visuals, singing, movement, poetry and dramatic play to teach children all about animal colors!
Time: 45 minutes
Fee for pre-visit puppet show: $115; $50 for each additional group booking from the same school on the same day
Zookeeper Math
Some animals eat meat; some animals eat plants; and some animals eat both! In this program, which develops counting and sorting skills, young learners will learn terms such as carnivore and herbivore while observing an educator give three zoo animals their morning snack.
Time: 45 minutes
Fee: $185; $100 for each additional group booking from the same school on the same day
Pre-visit Program Option at Your School:
Enrich your zoo visit by booking a pre-visit program that will be held at your school.
Intro to Zoo Keeper Math
Help a zookeeper feed the animals! Featuring poetry, movement activities and three “hungry” animal puppets, this puppet show will delight young audiences while developing counting and sorting skills.
Time: 45 minutes
Fee for pre-visit puppet show:$115; $50 for each additional group booking from the same school on the same day
Programs for Kindergarten–2nd Grade
Magnificent Mammals
Prospect Park Zoo is home to mammals such as meerkats, baboons, sea lions, and more. Students will discover the characteristics of mammals and how their adaptations help them to survive in a variety of habitats.
Time: 1 hour
Fee: $200; $100 for each additional group booking from the same school on the same day
Reptiles and Amphibians
Where do poison dart frogs get their poison? Why does a skink have a blue tongue? As amateur herpetologists, you’ll study some of the zoo’s reptiles and amphibians and answer these questions and more!
Time: 1 hour
Fee: $200; $100 for each additional group booking from the same school on the same day
Patterns and Textures
Animals are covered with a variety of textures and patterns. This student-driven program enhances children’s skills in observation, inquiry, and math. Program highlights include touching animals and engaging in sensory activities that focus on patterns and textures.
Time: 1 hour
Fee: $200; $100 for each additional group booking from the same school on the same day
Pre-visit Program Option at Your School for K-2nd grade
Enrich your zoo visit by booking a pre-visit program that will be held at your school.
The Emu's Egg
A zoo educator will tell and draw the Australian folktale of the Emu’s Egg. The children will examine some real bird eggs from around the world, and learn about the properties of eggs. Finally, they will see how other cultures have used bird eggs in art and they will collage real bird eggs to take home.
Time: 50 minutes
Fee for pre-visit program: $100; $50 for each additional group booking from the same school on the same day
Programs for 3rd–5th Grade
Rainforests
In this class students will see, smell, touch and make the sounds of the Rainforest! They with role-play the components of a healthy rainforest ecosystem and examine some of the zoo's unique rainforest exhibits.
Time: 1 hour
Fee: $200; $100 for each additional group booking from the same school on the same day
All About Owls
This program uses the study of owls to enhance children’s inquiry, classification, and observation skills. Students will learn how to use bird field guides to identify owl species as well as dissect owl pellets, which students will use to determine the diet of the owls being studied.
Time: 1 hour
Fee: $200; $100 for each additional group booking from the same school on the same day
Creature Features
In this hands-on program, children will investigate animal adaptations. They will work in groups to observe and make conclusions about animal skulls and coverings and determine how an animal’s adaptations help it to survive in the wild.
Time: 1 hour
Fee: $200; $100 for each additional group booking from the same school on the same day
Creature Features can be held at the zoo, or as a pre-visit program at your school!If you book All about Owls or Rainforests, you can also bring Creature Features to your classroom!
Fee for Creature Features as a pre-visit program at your school: $100; $50 for each additional group booking from the same school on the same day
Programs for 5th–8th Grade
Animal Behavior and Enrichment
Zoos provide their animals with behavioral enrichment such as new smells, toys, and foods to enhance the animal's physical and mental well-being. Using an ethogram, students will observe animals before and after they receive enrichment. They will then determine whether the enrichment provided elicited a change in the animal’s behavior.
Time: 1 hour
Fee: $200; $100 for each additional group booking from the same school on the same day
Primate Behavior
In this advanced primate class, students will learn to use the ethogram, a tool that scientists use to record observed behaviors. They will conduct first-hand primate behavior studies and discuss the results of their studies.
Time: 1 hour
Fee: $200; $100 for each additional group booking from the same school on the same day
Pre-visit Program Option at Your School for 5th - 8th grade
Enrich your zoo visit by booking a pre-visit program that will be held at your school.
Intro to Zoo Animals Behavioral Enrichment
What do animals need? How do keepers work to stimulate animals and encourage wild behaviors? Kids will view footage of animals being enriched and use problem-solving skills and group discussion to learn about the zoo’s enrichment program.
Time: 50 minutes
Fee for Pre-visit at your school: $100; $50 for each additional group booking from the same school on the same day
School Reservations and Information
Class Visits