School Field Trips at the Bronx ZOO

Enrich your Class field trip to the zoo with an educational program. Our inquiry- and standards-based curricula take advantage of the Zoo’s naturalistic exhibits and allow students up-close encounters with animals from the Zoo’s unmatched educational animal collection in a supervised environment. We have programs for specific for all grade levels and ages.

Please call 718-741-1681 between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday (except holidays), or email reserve.bronxzoo.com@wcs.org with any questions about education programs or the registration process. Click Here to view the cancellation policy.

School Group Programming at the Bronx Zoo Pre-K to 5th Grade

Animal Alphabet Pre-K Animal alphabet friends including a charming chinchilla and tantalizing turtle will help early learners recognize, identify, and write letters to solve wildlife word puzzles. From antelopes to zebras, your students will discover a living alphabet at his or her fingertips. Time: 1 hour Fee: $200/class Bronx Zoo Class Registration Information

1, 2, Counting at the Zoo Pre-K Your students will explore the amazing variety of animal life while practicing their math skills. Up-close meetings with animals and storytelling will reinforce students’ recognition of numerals and help them examine the different relationships among numbers. Time: 1 hour Fee: $200/class Bronx Zoo Class Registration Information

Size and Shape Grades K-2 Students will compare and contrast sizes and shapes and recognize these as adaptations that help an animal to survive. Science based activities also support English language art and math skills when exploring measurement as well as how animals grow and change. Time: 75 minutes/session Fee: $225/session Bronx Zoo Class Registration Information

Textures and Patterns Grades K-2 Students will explore the variety of textures and patterns that exist in the natural world. In addition to hands-on encounters with animals and visiting zoo exhibits, students will examine Mystery Texture Buckets and solve pattern puzzles. Time: 75 minutes/session Fee: $225/session Bronx Zoo Class Registration Information

Colors Grades K-2 Why are animals the colors they are? How does an animal’s color help it to survive? Your students will discover the answers to these questions by visiting Zoo exhibits including Madagascar and JungleWorld as well as through up close observations of animals in the classroom. Time: 75 minutes/session Fee: $225/session Bronx Zoo Class Registration Information

Sounds >Grades K-2 From a tiger’s growl to a sea lion’s bark, the program will develop students’ awareness of the variety of sounds that animals make. Students will be able to identify specific animal sounds and understand that these sounds communicate specific information. Time: 75 minutes/session Fee: $225/session Bronx Zoo Class Registration Information

Moves and Meals Grades K-2 This program will introduce students to a variety of animal locomotion styles and the reasons that animals move from place to place. Students will observe animals in the classroom to identify carnivores from herbivores and omnivores and identify the adaptations each has for finding food. Time: 75 minutes/session Fee: $225/session Bronx Zoo Class Registration Information

Animal Survival Needs Grades K-2 In this program, students will explore what a habitat is along with identifying the living and non-living parts. Students will recognize what animals need to get from their habitat to survive and how they get it. Time: 75 minutes/session Fee: $225/session Bronx Zoo Class Registration Information

Mammals Grades K-3 Students will explore Mammal Clue Kits to discover the unique characteristics of mammals and learn what sets them apart from other classes of animals. Up-close visits from some furry friends along with visits to zoo exhibits make this program an excellent learning opportunity. Time: 75 minutes/session Fee: $225/session Bronx Zoo Class Registration Information

Birds  Grades K-3 From feathers and beaks to eggs and nests, students will learn about the major characteristics of birds. Visits to zoo exhibits and in-class observations of a couple of fine-feathered friends will complete this all avian adventure. Time: 75 minutes/session Fee: $225/session

Reptiles and Amphibians Grades K-3 Through small group work and hands-on activities, students will compare and contrast these two classes of animals. Students will walk away from this program with an appreciation of all things scaly and slimy. Time: 75 minutes/session Fee: $225/session Bronx Zoo Class Registration Information

Wildlife and Habitats of Africa Grades 3-4 This exciting interdisciplinary program offers a unique opportunity for students to be immersed in the African experience as they travel on an Adaptation Safari and meet African animals up-close in the classroom. Time: 2 hours/session Fee: $250/session Bronx Zoo Class Registration Information

Saving Africa’s Wildlife Grades 3-4 Students will explore the plight of Africa’s endangered animals including gorillas, rhinos and elephants. They will investigate the impact that people have had on the environment and what conservation actions can be taken to protect Africa’s wildlife. Time: 2 hours/session Fee: $250/session Bronx Zoo Class Registration Information

Endangered Wildlife Grades 3-5 What are the major causes of wildlife endangerment and extinction? In this program, students will learn the answers to this question by investigating Threats to Wildlife Boxes and visiting the zoo’s exhibits. Students will discuss issues involved with the development or protection of wildlife areas and leave this program with an understanding of conservation actions they can do everyday. Time: 2 hours/session Fee: $250/session Bronx Zoo Class Registration Information

Temperate Forests Grades 3-5 In this program, students will explore the characteristics of this New York City habitat, discover how animals that live there adapt to seasonal changes and complete a Temperate Forest Journal. Time: 2 hours/session Fee: $250/session Bronx Zoo Class Registration Information

Rainforests Grades 3-5 Students will learn about the characteristics of tropical rainforests including the stratification and biodiversity of plant and animal species that live there. Students will also discover the ways in which humans depend on the rainforest in their everyday lives. Time: 2 hours/session Fee: $250/session Bronx Zoo Class Registration Information

Grasslands Grades 3-5 Students will explore Habitat Boxes and the Bronx Zoo’s African Plains to learn about the unique characteristics of the grassland habitats and the adaptations that animals have to survive there. Time: 2 hours/session Fee: $250/session Bronx Zoo Class Registration Information

Wild Poetry Grades 3-5 With the Bronx Zoo’s incredible animals and exhibits as their inspiration, your students will enhance their observation skills and build their literacy skills as they learn how to write an ode for a toad or creative words about birds. In the classroom, students will be introduced to amazing animal adaptations and explore 5 fundamental forms of poetry. Time: 2 hours/session Fee: $250/session Bronx Zoo Class Registration Information

School Field Trips at the Bronx ZOO

Enrich your Class field trip to the zoo with an educational program. Our inquiry- and standards-based curricula take advantage of the Zoo’s naturalistic exhibits and allow students up-close encounters with animals from the Zoo’s unmatched educational animal collection in a supervised environment. We have programs for specific for all grade levels and ages.

Please call 718-741-1681 between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday (except holidays), or email reserve.bronxzoo.com@wcs.org with any questions about education programs or the registration process. Click Here to view the cancellation policy.

School Group Programming at the Bronx Zoo 5th to 8th Grade

School Field Trips at the Bronx ZOO

Enrich your Class field trip to the zoo with an educational program. Our inquiry- and standards-based curricula take advantage of the Zoo’s naturalistic exhibits and allow students up-close encounters with animals from the Zoo’s unmatched educational animal collection in a supervised environment. We have programs for specific for all grade levels and ages.

Please call 718-741-1681 between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday (except holidays), or email reserve.bronxzoo.com@wcs.org with any questions about education programs or the registration process. Click Here to view the cancellation policy.

School Group Programming at the Bronx Zoo 8th to 12th Grade

School Field Trips at the Bronx ZOO

Enrich your Class field trip to the zoo with an educational program. Our inquiry- and standards-based curricula take advantage of the Zoo’s naturalistic exhibits and allow students up-close encounters with animals from the Zoo’s unmatched educational animal collection in a supervised environment. We have programs for specific for all grade levels and ages.

Please call 718-741-1681 between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday (except holidays), or email reserve.bronxzoo.com@wcs.org with any questions about education programs or the registration process. Click Here to view the cancellation policy.

School Group Programming at the Bronx Zoo Pre-K to 5th Grade

Animal Alphabet Pre-K Animal alphabet friends including a charming chinchilla and tantalizing turtle will help early learners recognize, identify, and write letters to solve wildlife word puzzles. From antelopes to zebras, your students will discover a living alphabet at his or her fingertips. Time: 1 hour Fee: $200/class Bronx Zoo Class Registration Information

1, 2, Counting at the Zoo Pre-K Your students will explore the amazing variety of animal life while practicing their math skills. Up-close meetings with animals and storytelling will reinforce students’ recognition of numerals and help them examine the different relationships among numbers. Time: 1 hour Fee: $200/class Bronx Zoo Class Registration Information

Size and Shape Grades K-2 Students will compare and contrast sizes and shapes and recognize these as adaptations that help an animal to survive. Science based activities also support English language art and math skills when exploring measurement as well as how animals grow and change. Time: 75 minutes/session Fee: $225/session Bronx Zoo Class Registration Information

Textures and Patterns Grades K-2 Students will explore the variety of textures and patterns that exist in the natural world. In addition to hands-on encounters with animals and visiting zoo exhibits, students will examine Mystery Texture Buckets and solve pattern puzzles. Time: 75 minutes/session Fee: $225/session Bronx Zoo Class Registration Information

Colors Grades K-2 Why are animals the colors they are? How does an animal’s color help it to survive? Your students will discover the answers to these questions by visiting Zoo exhibits including Madagascar and JungleWorld as well as through up close observations of animals in the classroom. Time: 75 minutes/session Fee: $225/session Bronx Zoo Class Registration Information

Sounds >Grades K-2 From a tiger’s growl to a sea lion’s bark, the program will develop students’ awareness of the variety of sounds that animals make. Students will be able to identify specific animal sounds and understand that these sounds communicate specific information. Time: 75 minutes/session Fee: $225/session Bronx Zoo Class Registration Information

Moves and Meals Grades K-2 This program will introduce students to a variety of animal locomotion styles and the reasons that animals move from place to place. Students will observe animals in the classroom to identify carnivores from herbivores and omnivores and identify the adaptations each has for finding food. Time: 75 minutes/session Fee: $225/session Bronx Zoo Class Registration Information

Animal Survival Needs Grades K-2 In this program, students will explore what a habitat is along with identifying the living and non-living parts. Students will recognize what animals need to get from their habitat to survive and how they get it. Time: 75 minutes/session Fee: $225/session Bronx Zoo Class Registration Information

Mammals Grades K-3 Students will explore Mammal Clue Kits to discover the unique characteristics of mammals and learn what sets them apart from other classes of animals. Up-close visits from some furry friends along with visits to zoo exhibits make this program an excellent learning opportunity. Time: 75 minutes/session Fee: $225/session Bronx Zoo Class Registration Information

Birds  Grades K-3 From feathers and beaks to eggs and nests, students will learn about the major characteristics of birds. Visits to zoo exhibits and in-class observations of a couple of fine-feathered friends will complete this all avian adventure. Time: 75 minutes/session Fee: $225/session

Reptiles and Amphibians Grades K-3 Through small group work and hands-on activities, students will compare and contrast these two classes of animals. Students will walk away from this program with an appreciation of all things scaly and slimy. Time: 75 minutes/session Fee: $225/session Bronx Zoo Class Registration Information

Wildlife and Habitats of Africa Grades 3-4 This exciting interdisciplinary program offers a unique opportunity for students to be immersed in the African experience as they travel on an Adaptation Safari and meet African animals up-close in the classroom. Time: 2 hours/session Fee: $250/session Bronx Zoo Class Registration Information

Saving Africa’s Wildlife Grades 3-4 Students will explore the plight of Africa’s endangered animals including gorillas, rhinos and elephants. They will investigate the impact that people have had on the environment and what conservation actions can be taken to protect Africa’s wildlife. Time: 2 hours/session Fee: $250/session Bronx Zoo Class Registration Information

Endangered Wildlife Grades 3-5 What are the major causes of wildlife endangerment and extinction? In this program, students will learn the answers to this question by investigating Threats to Wildlife Boxes and visiting the zoo’s exhibits. Students will discuss issues involved with the development or protection of wildlife areas and leave this program with an understanding of conservation actions they can do everyday. Time: 2 hours/session Fee: $250/session Bronx Zoo Class Registration Information

Temperate Forests Grades 3-5 In this program, students will explore the characteristics of this New York City habitat, discover how animals that live there adapt to seasonal changes and complete a Temperate Forest Journal. Time: 2 hours/session Fee: $250/session Bronx Zoo Class Registration Information

Rainforests Grades 3-5 Students will learn about the characteristics of tropical rainforests including the stratification and biodiversity of plant and animal species that live there. Students will also discover the ways in which humans depend on the rainforest in their everyday lives. Time: 2 hours/session Fee: $250/session Bronx Zoo Class Registration Information

Grasslands Grades 3-5 Students will explore Habitat Boxes and the Bronx Zoo’s African Plains to learn about the unique characteristics of the grassland habitats and the adaptations that animals have to survive there. Time: 2 hours/session Fee: $250/session Bronx Zoo Class Registration Information

Wild Poetry Grades 3-5 With the Bronx Zoo’s incredible animals and exhibits as their inspiration, your students will enhance their observation skills and build their literacy skills as they learn how to write an ode for a toad or creative words about birds. In the classroom, students will be introduced to amazing animal adaptations and explore 5 fundamental forms of poetry. Time: 2 hours/session Fee: $250/session Bronx Zoo Class Registration Information

Bronx ZOO Field Trips To You!

OutReach Programs

Can not make into the Zoo? Try our Distance learning Program to bring the Zoo to your class room!

Take your students on a trip to the Zoo without setting foot outside your own classroom! Using two-way videoconferencing technology, the Bronx Zoo can bring engaging programs for K-12 students right into your own classroom—live! All Distance Learning Expeditions include several live animal “guests”—lemurs, lizards, owls and more. Programs are approximately 50 minutes and include extensive teacher support materials. These time-tested, teacher-endorsed programs are aligned with the National Science Education Standards and have received rave reviews from students and teachers alike.

An extensive teacher guide accompanies every program including:

• Tips on preparing for a videoconference
• Content background
• National Science Education Standards correlation
• Lesson plans for pre-conference activities
• Lesson plans for post-conference activities
• Reproducible student materials

Technical Requirements

Bronx Zoo Distance Learning Expeditions are broadcast at a minimum speed of 384 Kbps using a Tandberg Codec 6000 videoconference unit via H.323 standard over Internet Protocol (IP). To receive an IP videoconference, you must have a broadband connection.  For schools without  videoconferencing units, Bronx Zoo Distance Learning Expeditions are broadcast via the computer-based, web platform, SAFARI Montage Live!  Minimum hardware for schools using SAFARI Montage Live! include a computer, web camera, and headphones.  Check with your district or building technology coordinator to see if your school is compatible.

Cost

Each program is priced at $180 per single class with a maximum of 35 students.

Availability

7 days a week from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM EST. Due to the popularity of these programs, please reserve three weeks in advance.

Awesome Adaptations

Grades 5-8, Approx. 50 minutes

If you’ve been to a zoo lately, you may have seen some odd-looking creatures and wondered why some animal body parts are so unusual. In this program students will uncover the mystery of land animals’ feet. Adaptation, a challenging yet essential concept, becomes clear in this program. Understanding how physical adaptations are related to the environment will lead students to additional insights, such as why an animal cannot survive when its habitat is destroyed.

Food Webs

Grades 4-6, Approx. 50 minutes

Each individual species is concerned with obtaining energy – energy to keep going, energy to grow, energy to reproduce, energy for survival. Starting with analyzing their own breakfast, students examine the flow of energy in living systems as represented in food chains and webs. Students discover the role of producers, consumers, herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores, as they build an actual food web.

Leaping Lemurs! Conservation on the Edge

Grades 6-8, Approx. 50 minutes

Take your students to the heart of Madagascar. Visit diverse habitats and explore the relationships between lemurs and their environments. Live cameras will transport your class to the Bronx Zoo’s new Madagascar! exhibit, where students will observe lemurs, fossas, and a ring-tailed mongoose, and make decisions on how to best protect them and their native habitats.

Videoconference Demonstration

Teachers & Administrators, 15 minutes, Free of Charge

Is your school new to videoconferencing? Connect with the Bronx Zoo to explore its Distance Learning Program. Teachers and administrators will observe a live animal and have the opportunity to ask questions regarding lessons and registration policies and procedures.

Bronx ZOO Field Trips To You!

OutReach Programs

Can not make into the Zoo? Try our Distance learning Program to bring the Zoo to your class room!

Take your students on a trip to the Zoo without setting foot outside your own classroom! Using two-way videoconferencing technology, the Bronx Zoo can bring engaging programs for K-12 students right into your own classroom—live! All Distance Learning Expeditions include several live animal “guests”—lemurs, lizards, owls and more. Programs are approximately 50 minutes and include extensive teacher support materials. These time-tested, teacher-endorsed programs are aligned with the National Science Education Standards and have received rave reviews from students and teachers alike.

An extensive teacher guide accompanies every program including:

• Tips on preparing for a videoconference
• Content background
• National Science Education Standards correlation
• Lesson plans for pre-conference activities
• Lesson plans for post-conference activities
• Reproducible student materials

Technical Requirements

Bronx Zoo Distance Learning Expeditions are broadcast at a minimum speed of 384 Kbps using a Tandberg Codec 6000 videoconference unit via H.323 standard over Internet Protocol (IP). To receive an IP videoconference, you must have a broadband connection.  For schools without  videoconferencing units, Bronx Zoo Distance Learning Expeditions are broadcast via the computer-based, web platform, SAFARI Montage Live!  Minimum hardware for schools using SAFARI Montage Live! include a computer, web camera, and headphones.  Check with your district or building technology coordinator to see if your school is compatible.

Cost

Each program is priced at $180 per single class with a maximum of 35 students.

Availability

7 days a week from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM EST. Due to the popularity of these programs, please reserve three weeks in advance.

Madagascar, Conserving Biodiversity

Grades 9-12, Approx. 50 minutes

How do scientists protect the future of a species? Students will answer this question as they explore the diverse world of lemurs at the Bronx Zoo’s new Madagascar! exhibit. Live cameras will transport your class to our lemur exhibits, where students will explore the world of biodiversity. Through observation and classroom activities, students will learn what it takes to ensure a future for lemurs. This program has a strong focus on the role of genetics and geography in wildlife conservation, and includes visiting our fossa and ring-tailed mongoose exhibits.

Videoconference Demonstration

Teachers & Administrators, 15 minutes, Free of Charge

Is your school new to videoconferencing? Connect with the Bronx Zoo to explore its Distance Learning Program. Teachers and administrators will observe a live animal and have the opportunity to ask questions regarding lessons and registration policies and procedures.

Teacher Development Programs

The Education Division of WCS offers a variety of learning experiences for teachers. Whether on-site at one of our five WCS parks across the city, online from the comfort of your home, or through our partnerships, teachers can earn credit as they learn how to connect to wild nature.

On-site Professional Development

The Education Division of WCS offers a wide range of professional development opportunities for teachers. Teacher courses are held at the Bronx Zoo, New York Aquarium, Central Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, and Prospect Park Zoo. WCS courses for teachers of grades K–12 help bring a new dimension to your lessons, whether you teach science, math, language arts, or anything in between! Professional development courses can also be provided at your school or district. Call 718-220-5136 for more information.

Our multi-disciplinary programs are aligned with both state and national education standards.

Registration Details

View Current Offerings

Online Teacher Academy

Professional Development Department invites K-12 educators to take a walk on the wild side. Whether teaching for schools or non-traditional settings, our Online Teacher Academy offers something for every teacher!

Our courses conveniently enhance your understanding of the living world and revitalize your love for nature and science. Entirely online, these six-week courses provide unique opportunities to examine the life sciences of zoology, ecology and conservation, through topics including predators, marine biology, habitat ecology, and climate connections.

Realizing it’s not just what we teach, but how we teach it, our courses elaborate on effective science education practices. Pedagogical studies will better equip you to facilitate scientific learning and promote STEM (Science,Technology, Engineering, and Math) programs and curriculum.

• Enhance your teaching and use of technology in the classroom
• Learn from virtual and interactive simulations, videos, and presentations from WCS scientists
• Interact with educators around the world
• Graduate credits available
• Receive excellent, ready-to-use education resources

Registration Details

Current Offerings

FREE Webinars

Wildlife Conservation Society Webinars are a unique opportunity to learn more about animals and the science of studying wildlife.   As a participant, you will learn about WCS field research and conservation work as you listen to conservation stories from our field researchers.

Appropriate for ANYONE interested in learning more about wildlife and conservation, WCS Webinars are FREE and easily accessible through our E-Learning Portal (http://pd.wcs.org).  WCS Webinars also include an additional element specific to educators wishing to learn more about how to bring these engaging topics to students.

During the Webinar, you will have the opportunity to:

• learn more about wildlife and wild places, around the world
• discover ways WCS works to save wildlife and wild places through research and conservation
• enjoy conservation stories from WCS field researchers
• view spectacular wildlife photos, video and presentations
• discover how you can help save wildlife and wild places
• explore strategies and resources to enhance your curriculum with wildlife!

Upcoming Webinars

Urban Advantage

Urban Advantage (UA) is a standards-based partnership program designed to improve students’ understanding of scientific inquiry through collaborations between urban public school systems and science cultural institutions such as zoos, botanical gardens, museums, and science centers. UA involves institutions outside the formal education system that support the science-specific goals of the public school system.

Urban Advantage was launched in 2004 in New York City by the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in collaboration with the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the New York Botanical Garden, the New York Hall of Science, the Queens Botanical Garden, the Staten Island Zoo, the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium, and the New York City Department of Education, with leadership funding from the New York City Council.

UA began by assessing and responding to the science education needs of NYC middle schools. Assessment results showed a severe shortage of qualified science teachers. At the same time, a new city-wide mandate required all eighth grade students to complete long-term scientific investigations (known as “exit projects” in New York City). This provided the program with a clear focus: eighth grade student exit projects.

Urban Advantage Framework: Six Components

• High-quality professional development for teachers and administrators
• Classroom materials and equipment that promote scientific inquiry and authentic investigations
• Access to UA partner institutions through free school and family field trips
• Outreach through family events, celebrations of student achievement, and parent coordinator workshops
• Capacity-building and sustainability structures, including a network of demonstration schools and support for the development of lead teachers
• Assessment of program goals, student learning, systems delivery, and outcomes

For more information, read the Urban Advantage brochure.

WCS / Fordham University – Master of Science Degree in Education

Earn your Master of Science degree in Teaching Adolescence Biology/Conservation Life Science (Grades 7-12) or Master of Science degree in Education, Curriculum and Teaching with the Wildlife Conservation Society.

The Wildlife Conservation Society and the Fordham University Graduate School of Education offer a joint program leading to a Master of Science degree focused on professional development in the field of Conservation Life Science and Environmental Education.

The first degree-granting program of its kind in the United States, this unique partnership addresses dire need for well-trained science educators with increased knowledge in the sciences, better teaching skills, confidence in science teaching and an understanding of the value of informal science institutions as resources for teaching science.

Courses offered by the Wildlife Conservation Society focus on science content and best practices in science education; including topics such as:

• conservation biology
• habitat ecology
• conservation challenges
• field studies
• inquiry-based learning
• technology integration to teach conservation life science and environmental education

Courses offered by the Fordham University Graduate School of Education focus on teaching methods, the psychology of adolescent development and learning, learning environments for adolescents, and teaching linguistically and culturally diverse adolescents. The program involves field experiences based on a teaching fellowship model at the Bronx Zoo and a variation of the New York City Department of Education’s Teaching Fellows Program.

For more information about this graduate program, visit the following links:

Degree Details

Program Brochure

Fordham University’s Graduate School of Education

FORDHAM magazine article “At the Zoo”

The Fordham University / Wildlife Conservation Society NSF Robert Noyce Scholarship Program