As the school year swings back into gear, educators across Kent County are once again invited to take learning beyond the classroom—into the wild.
John Ball Zoo is welcoming back students and teachers with a full lineup of free field trips and engaging educational programs. Thanks to continued support from the 2016 millage, admission is free for all Kent County students, and schools outside of the county receive a heavily discounted rate of just $5 per student.
More than 119,900 local students have visited the Zoo since the millage’s passage, experiencing everything from self-guided tours to up-close animal encounters and STEM-based learning modules.
“We are so grateful to our community for making these engaging and hands-on experiences possible for our local students, and we’re excited to welcome back teachers and students this fall to the Zoo,” said Rhiannon Mulligan, director of conservation and education at John Ball Zoo. “We love connecting students to wildlife and sparking a love for nature and conservation that we hope they will carry with them throughout their lives.”
Programming is available for all grade levels and can be customized to fit curriculum goals. Highlights include:
Self-guided field trips that allow for exploration at your own pace
Interactive classroom add-ons such as live animal presentations, “Penguineering,” and 3D modeling of zoo exhibit designs
Free online resources to support educators before, during, and after the visit
Customizable lessons aligned with environmental and conservation themes
This fall also features a limited-time exhibition: The Power of Pollinators, a hands-on, interactive display that showcases the essential role pollinators play in maintaining ecosystems. The traveling exhibit features more than 20 animatronic creatures—some large enough to climb on—spread throughout the Zoo grounds, offering an exciting, tactile way to explore environmental science in action.
Educators can register for fall visits through the John Ball Zoo Field Trip Registration page. Special programming is available for any school or educational group with 15 or more students, including homeschool groups.
For more information on planning your visit and enhancing your students’ experience with curated educational add-ons, visit johnballzoo.org.
