School Programs
Daniel Pastor ©WCSClass 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.
Programs for Pre-K–3rd 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, pretend to be a zoo vet, animal dress-up, the scoop on poop and more! All visits include a live animal encounter and a private visit to the Discovery Center.
Time: 45 minutes
Fee: $150
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
Pre-visit Program Option at Your SchoolEnrich 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: $200 (2 program minimum for off-sites)
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
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:$200 (2 program minimum for off-sites)
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
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
Incredible Insects
Students will learn about the anatomy and life cycle of insects through hands-on exploration and dramatic play and get a glimpse into the many important roles that insects play on our planet. Students will also will also get up-close with insects in the zoo classroom and meet an animal that eats insects in the wild!
Time: 1 hour
Fee: $200
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.
Invertebrate Exploration
Decomposers serve an essential role in the global ecosystem. In this program, a zoo instructor will discuss basic worm anatomy, and demonstrate how worms are great recyclers in an active compost bin. The class will also receive the materials for an ongoing experiment, used to continue the appreciation of invertebrates in their environment.
Time: 50 minutes
Fee for pre-visit program: $200 (2 program minimum for off-sites)
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
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
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
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: $200 (2 program minimum for off-sites)
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: 75 min
Fee: $200
Endangered Species
Prospect Park Zoo is home to many endangered species: red pandas, golden lion tamarins, Rodrigues Fruit Bats and more. Students will work in groups to learn about different threats that endangered species face and discuss what scientists and others are doing to help them survive. We will also meet an endangered animal in the classroom and visit animals on exhibit.
Time: 75 min
Fee: $200
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: $200 (2 program minimum for off-sites)
School Reservations and Information
Due to their great popularity, Education Department programs are scheduled well in advance. We recommend that you contact the Education Department three to four months ahead of time to schedule a program. In some cases, space may be available on shorter notice.
Program Registration
1. To make a reservation, please call the Education Department at 718.399.7327, Monday through Friday, between 9:00am and 4:30pm. Reservations for school programs are handled by phone only. However, feel free to send inquiries about program information and date availability via email to ppzeducation@wcs.org
2. Maximum program class size is 29 students. Schools are not allowed to combine classes to reach a class size of 29 students. One adult for every ten students is required, with a maximum of five adults.
3. We welcome students with special needs. Please be sure to mention special needs or disabilities when registering so that we can place your class in a wheelchair-accessible classroom. We require one adult for every two students in special education classes (maximum class size of 12 students).
4. Once your information has been processed, a confirmation letter with program information, including session dates, times and classroom locations will be emailed to you. This letter is valid for free general admission for your class and must be shown at the entrance gate to the Zoo on the date(s) of the scheduled session(s).
Payment Policy
Fee-based programs must be pre-paid by the school or district (purchase orders accepted). Under no circumstances will classes be offered without full payment or purchase order.
Cancellation Policy
All cancellations must be received by the Prospect Park Zoo Education Department in writing, by mail, email (ppzeducation@wcs.org) or fax (718.399.7329). Cancellations made at least 4 weeks in advance will receive a 50% refund. There are no refunds for programs cancelled less than four weeks prior to the scheduled date of program. Please note that any request to reschedule your class is equivalent to a cancellation.
Late Arrivals
Due to a very full schedule, programs will not be extended for late-arriving groups beyond the scheduled end time. Staff will make every attempt to cover as much material as possible in the time available. Please obtain information on how to locate the Zoo in advance of your trip by visiting the Directions page on our website.
Weather Conditions
All programs are held as scheduled (regardless of weather) unless field trips are cancelled by the Chancellor's office. Please encourage your class to dress appropriately for outdoor activities.
Prospect Park Zoo Admission Policy for Visits Only
All schools not participating in an Education Department program must contact the Prospect Park Zoo Group Services Office at 718.399.7339 for information about the current admission prices and policies.
Class Visits