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CALL US: 1-217-585-1821
Bring the Zoo to You!
"Zoo to You" - Animal Outreach for K-12:
Are you looking to enrich your NGSS life science curriculum or animal unit, to get help earning a badge, to reward students with a fun assembly for good behavior, or to have a unique guest speaker or activity for your after school program, residents, or group members? If so, you need a Zoo To You program! The Zoo’s Education Department has a wide spectrum of fun and educational program themes for audiences of all ages that we can bring to YOUR facility. We can perform our programs for a variety of audience sizes from a single classroom to a school assembly. However, due to the size of our program animals and the increase in noise levels for larger audiences, we ask that assembly audiences be limited to 150 students or less. Multiple assembly programs may be required to accommodate all students. Typically, our programs are 45 minutes. The number of animals in the program depends on the program theme requested. Costs for programs inside of Springfield are $80.00 for one program. However, consecutive programs within that same visit are at a reduced rate of $60.00 per program. Programs outside of Springfield but within Sangamon County are $90 + a round trip mileage fee calculated for your location for the first program and $70 per consecutive program/same visit. Contact the Education Department at htierny@springfieldparks.org to inquire about program themes or to help us create a custom theme for your needs. Please note this is not a petting zoo. It is an educational program.
Interactive Zoo Experience - Interpretive Booth
Are you looking for a “Zoo Booth” at your next event? Your event participants will enjoy stopping by our Interactive Zoo Experience table with a variety of our education animals, biological artifacts, and/or animal activities. Manned with our expert Zoo Staff and Docent volunteers, we are ready to interpret our items and answer all questions. Costs for events inside of Springfield are $80.00 per hour or $100 per hour for events outside of Springfield but within Sangamon County. Contact the Education Department at htierny@springfieldparks.org to inquire about availability.
Programs and Tours
Animal Encounters
Would you like your group to meet a cool critter up close on your visit to the zoo? Enrich your group’s visit with a private, educational Animal Encounter with one of our zoo’s touchable animals! Each 15 minute Animal Encounter gives you tons of information about the animal, allows for questions, and gives you the opportunity to touch the animal. Registration is required and scheduling is subject to staff availability. Call us at at (217) 585-1821 ext 1706 or 1703 to ask us about animal options and to register for your Animal Encounter. Cost is $30 per encounter (general admission to the zoo is not included). This is NOT an offsite program.
Animal Program
Would you like to help your troop with their animal or habitat badge? Maybe you are looking to add something extra to your animal or habitat themed unit in your classroom. You might just be looking for a way to make your zoo visit more fun and educational. Our 45 minute Animal Programs in our zoo’s amphitheater or classroom feature 4 amazing animals and allow for touching of one of the animals at the end of the program. Registration is required and scheduling is subject to staff availability. Call us at at (217) 585-1821 ext 1706 or 1703 to ask us about program theme options and to register for your Animal Program. Cost is $50 per program (general admission to the zoo is not included). This is NOT an offsite program.
Hours:
Educational Programs are available year-round!
Outreach &
Programs