Zoo Education Programs, By Age Group
Pre-K (4 years & up) and Kindergarten
In My Backyard
The zoo is a great place to see exotic animals, but children can see animals every day right in their own backyards. This program introduces children to New Jersey's wildlife and teaches them how to enjoy and learn more about these animals appropriately and safely. Includes live animal demonstration.
Wild & Crafty Animal Tales
Choose your own animal for the theme of this lesson. Children will hear a story, meet the animal selected, and make a craft to take home. Choose from the following animals: chicken, hedgehog, lizard, snake or turtle. (One animal per class; please indicate your 1st and 2nd choice on reservation form.)
1st - 3rd Grade
Animal Wrappers
With so many different animals in the world, how do we tell them apart, and how are they all related? Discover the characteristics of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Children will be "tested" by classifying the live animal guest.
Wild Pets
We've all seen snakes, turtles, lizards, and parrots at the pet store. But do these wild animals really make good pets? What about ferrets, chinchillas, and rabbits? Join us to learn which animals could and which animals shouldn't be kept as pets. Includes live animal demonstration.
Spineless Wonders
Invertebrates - animals without backbones. They're usually small, and often overlooked. Though most of the zoo's animals are vertebrates, most of the world's animals are invertebrates. Learn all about these spineless wonders and why they're so important in the animal kingdom. Includes live animal demonstration.
Sharing your World with Wildlife (Cub Scouts only)
We will cover all of the information necessary to earn your badge (Requirement
D - Visit a Zoo; Requirement C - Talk to a Wildlife Officer; Requirement
E - Learn about an Extinct Animal; Requirement A - Choose an Animal Learn
About it.) Badges are not provided by the zoo. Includes live animal demonstration.
Animal Try-It (Brownies only)
We will cover all of the information needed for the Animal Try-It (Understanding
Animals; Caring for Pets;
Looks Mean Something; Creature Moves/Sounds Charades.) Try-It badges are
not provided by the zoo. Includes live animal demonstration.
4th-6th Grade
For the Birds
You know that all birds have feathers and beaks and lay eggs. Now learn about their differences! This program will focus on the forms and functions of feathers, beaks, and eggs of different birds. Students will have the chance to meet one of our feathered friends up close.
Amazing Adaptations
Two of the most important things in an animal's life are to eat and to avoid being eaten. Discover the survival strategies of different animals: how they eat, how they avoid being eaten, and how they have adapted to their habitats. Includes live animal demonstration.
Animal Wrappers
With so many different animals in the world, how do we tell them apart, and how are they all related? Discover the characteristics of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Children will be "tested" by classifying the live animal guests.
Naturalist (Webelos only)
We will cover all of the information necessary to earn this badge (Requirement
3 - Visit a Zoo; Requirement 5 - Bird Flyways; Requirement 6 - Poisonous
Plants/Venomous Reptiles; Requirement 8 - Food Web/Balance of Nature.)
Badges are not provided by the zoo. Includes live animal demonstration.
Wildlife (Junior Girl Scouts only)
We will cover all of the information necessary to earn this badge (State Representations; Endangered Plants & Animals in NJ; Wildlife Habitat Project; Focus on Wildlife Group; Visit a Zoo; Wildlife Careers.) Badges are not provided by the zoo. Includes live animal demonstration.
7th Grade - High School
Zoo Careers
What jobs are available for people who like animals? Explore zoo related careers and discover what it's really like to be a zookeeper! This program includes a demonstration of how and why zoo animals are trained. For groups with fewer than 10 participants, a behind-the-scenes option may be available. If your group has more than 10 participants, the program includes an animal training demonstration.
Amazing Adaptations
Two of the most important things in an animal's life are to eat and to avoid being eaten. Discover the survival strategies of different animals: how they eat, how they avoid being eaten, and how they have adapted to their habitats. This program will also include a discussion and examples of convergent & divergent evolution. Includes live animal demonstration.
Animal Tracks (Boy Scouts only)
Learn to identify animals by the clues they leave behind. Participants will identify and make tracks of local wildlife as well as some of the zoo's animals. Includes live animal demonstration.
All About Birds (Cadettes/ Senior Girl Scouts only)
We will cover all of the information necessary to earn this badge (Mechanics of Flight; Native Bird Field Guide; Bird Call ID; Causes of Bird Population Decline; Ornithologist; College Programs; Develop a Guide/Poster.) Badges are not provided by the zoo. Includes live animal demonstration.
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