Education at Woodland Park Zoo

 

“The purpose of education at Woodland Park Zoo is to inspire an understanding of nature and a commitment to conservation.”

 

The zoo serves as a vital resource for tens of thousands of students and teachers across the state each year. The Education Department offers an array of activities to teach valuable lessons about local and global conservation issues, including zoo-based school programs, public programs and classes for all ages, day camps, teacher workshops and a zoowide volunteer program.

 

These programs are developed with today’s education requirements in mind and are closely connected to Washington’s Essential Academic Learning Requirements and the Environmental Education Goals and Guidelines for Washington Schools.

 

Zoo-based School Programs

·       School-to-Zoo Programs: These programs are based on the NSRC/STC science books and are free to all qualifying Seattle schools (30% and above free- and reduced-lunch program students). Schools receive free zoo admission and transportation as well. The following programs are available: Farm and Fabric (kindergarten), Weather and Organisms (1^st grade), Plant Growth and Development (3^rd grade), Ecosystems (4^th grade).

·       Forest Explorers: This award-winning program for Seattle second grade students teaches about forests, niches, interdependence and conservation through an in-depth curriculum and a zoo visit comprising an auditorium program and staff-led tour of the zoo’s Temperate Forest and Tropical Rain Forest exhibits. All expenses paid, including zoo visit and transportation.

 

Outreach Programs

·       SOAR (Save Our Amazing Raptors) Outreach: Keepers, accompanied by raptors (birds of prey), visit classrooms throughout the Puget Sound region to teach K-12 students about raptors and raptor ecology.

·       Wild Wise Outreach: Wild Wise offers 5th, 6th, and 7th grade students across the state an interactive platform to experience Washington’s diverse habitats and wildlife. Highlights include a custom multimedia show, hands-on learning activities and Web site activities.

 

Teen Programs

·       Zoo Corps: Zoo Corps is a three-tiered volunteer program for teens 14-18 years old, focused on service learning and teen development through wildlife and conservation education, and service. Following a broad-based training course covering the history and mission of the zoo, bioclimatic zones, classification basics, taxonomy, conservation, interpretation, and customer service, teens work with staff and volunteers throughout the zoo for service hours including various zoo programs and community events.

 

Public Classes and Programs

·       Education Classes: From elephants to wolves, discover the amazing world of endangered animals by enrolling in a zoo class, camp or club.

·       Zoo Overnight or Evening Adventures: It’s the wildest nightlife in town! The nocturnal adventure includes visits with the animals, special zoo presentations on animal behavior, games, storytelling, and an overnight amidst the grunts, howls, snorts and calls of the zoo’s wildlife residents. The 2004 theme spotlights amazing animal and plant survival strategies. Zoo Overnight or Evening Adventures is for groups of adults and children ages 7-seniors or for adult groups.

·       Public Programs: Touch or see an arthropod or reptile up close. Tour the zoo’s African Village and discover what it’s like to live in an east African village. Watch keepers as they fly the zoo’s raptors. These are just some of the fun and educational programs you can attend at the zoo.

 

Teacher Professional Development

·       Teacher Training: The Teacher Training Program provides teachers with opportunities to attend topical workshops about plants, animals and the environment. Workshops and summer institutes consist of lectures, hands-on activities, tours, materials and much more, helping teachers to gather information for the classroom and to meet state and local education requirements.