Grades: Pre-K–12

Group Size: up to 20

Length of Tour: 90 minutes

Description: Embark on an engaging and educational journey through the Ross Park Zoo! Our guided tour takes participants on a captivating exploration of our animal residents, their native habitats, and the pressing conservation issues they face.

During this immersive experience, our knowledgeable tour guides will weave captivating stories about the animals' natural history, highlighting their remarkable adaptations. As we stroll through the zoo, we'll delve into the critical topic of climate change and its impact on wildlife conservation, connecting these discussions to New York State Learning Standards.

This program not only offers an opportunity to witness incredible creatures up close but also aligns with educational objectives, providing a deeper understanding of our environment and the vital importance of wildlife conservation. Join us in this educational adventure, where learning comes to life amidst the wonders of the animal kingdom!

This program supports the following NYS Learning Standards:

English Language Arts Common Core Learning Standards

• • • Comprehension and Collaboration (speaking and listening)

    • Presentation of knowledge of ideas (speaking and listening)

    • Vocabulary acquisition and use

Mathematical Practices Common Core Learning Standards

• Counting and cardinality

• Measurement and data

Science and Engineering Practices

• Using mathematics and computational thinking

Categories: Animals / Environmental Education / Farms / Nature, Art, English Language Arts, Math, Museums / Exhibits, Science, Teamwork/Leadership Skills

Cost: 

●        $200 for up to 20 attendees

●        2 complementary chaperone

●        $9/additional chaperone (excludes 1:1 aides)

●        Complementary admission for 1:1 aides

●        Aides for individuals 18 and over who may require assistance/support due to a disability receive complementary admission

Grades: Pre-K–12

Length of Tour: 90 to 120 minutes

Description: Embark on a journey of wonder at the Ross Park Zoo! Our expansive zoo covers nearly 60 acres, accompanied by access to 30 acres of lush wooded nature trails. Here, you’ll encounter an array of captivating animals, boasting an impressive collection of approximately 100 creatures from around the globe.

We hold firm to the belief that exploring the natural world should be a delightful adventure. Our zoo offers engaging exhibits, interactive learning experiences, and a steadfast commitment to wildlife conservation. We warmly invite you to immerse yourself in the joy of discovery, fostering connections with animals in a secure and vibrant environment.

At the Ross Park Zoo, there’s a world of exploration waiting for curious minds of all ages. Come and craft cherished memories with us today!

This program supports the following NYS Learning Standards:

English Language Arts Common Core Learning Standards

• • • Comprehension and Collaboration (speaking and listening)

    • Presentation of knowledge of ideas (speaking and listening)

    • Vocabulary acquisition and use

Mathematical Practices Common Core Learning Standards

• Counting and cardinality

• Measurement and data

Science and Engineering Practices

• Using mathematics and computational thinking

Categories: Animals / Environmental Education / Farms / Nature, Art, English Language Arts, Math, Museums / Exhibits, Science, Teamwork/Leadership Skills

Cost: 

Sept 3, 2024 - May 25, 2025 

● $5 per person (same for Student/Chaperone) 

May 26, 2025 - September 1, 2025 

● $6 per person (same for Student/Chaperone) 

Grades: K-12

Group Size: up to 30

Length of Tour: up to 55 minutes 

Description: This program can take place at the school in a classroom or auditorium and does not involve live animals for the health and safety of animals and humans. Ross Park Zoo is home to many species that are disappearing in the wild due to habitat loss and wildlife trafficking. Our priority conservation actions will address these two key challenges to their continued survival. During this program our knowledgeable educator will provide an interactive presentation where students will be tested on their knowledge and taught about animals, adaptations, wildlife trafficking, and habitat loss. Students will also engage with physical biofacts that range from tarantula molts, furs, skeletons, and more so they can better understand physical adaptations. At the end, students will also have an opportunity to ask any lingering questions they have. 

This program supports the following NYS Learning Standards:

English Language Arts Next Generation Learning Standards: 

● Develop and answer questions about a text. 

● Make connections between self, text, and the world. 

● Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse peers and adults in small and large groups and during play. 

● Create and/or utilize existing visual displays to support descriptions. 

● Develop and answer questions about what a speaker says. 

● Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening; Compare academic and conversational uses of English. 

● Demonstrate understanding of word relationships and nuances in word meanings. 

● Recognize differences between the conventions of spoken conversational English and academic English; signal this awareness by selecting conversational or academic forms when speaking or writing. 

● Acquire and accurately use conversational, general academic, and content-specific words and phrases, including those that signal spatial and temporal relationships. 

● Speaking and listening anchor standards include: comprehension and collaboration, presentation of knowledge and ideas 

● Speaking and listening anchor standards include: comprehension and collaboration, presentation of knowledge and ideas Science and Engineering Practices 

● Use observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals (including humans) need to survive. 

● Make observations of plants and animals to compare the diversity of life in different habitats. 

● Construct an argument that some animals form groups that help members survive. 

● Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all. 

● Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence that plants and animals have traits inherited from parents and that variation of these traits exists in a group of similar organisms. 

● Use evidence to support the explanation that traits can be influenced by the environment. 

● Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction. 

● Scientific knowledge is based on empirical evidence 

● Science models, laws, mechanisms, and theories explain natural phenomena 

● Asking questions and defining problems 

Categories: Animals / Environmental Education / Farms / Nature, Art, English Language Arts, Math, Museums / Exhibits, Science, Teamwork/Leadership Skills

Cost: 

●       $250 for up to 30 students within 50 miles of Ross Park Zoo 

$0.70/per additional mile. 

$50 per 30 extra students 

Grades: 7th

Group Size: 15-60

Length of Tour: 4 hours

Description: The Wild Science Program is designed as a hands-on field trip for 7th-grade science students, ages 12-13, to connect their classroom learning with real-world experiences in the setting of Ross Park Zoo. This program encourages students to actively participate by making observations, recording data, sketching, and engaging in discussions. Its primary focus is to deepen their understanding of ecology, adaptation, and biodiversity.

Activities

●        Four stations, each lasting 40 minutes, with a 20 or 30-minute lunch break.

●        Stations include Water Quality & Biodiversity, Scavenger Hunt, Tree Observation and Identification, and Adaptations for Life.

●        Participants engage in hands-on activities, data collection, and discussions.

This program supports the following NYS Learning Standards:

English Language Arts Common Core Learning Standards

●        Research to build and present knowledge

●        Comprehension and Collaboration (speaking and listening)

●        Presentation of knowledge of ideas (speaking and listening)

●        Vocabulary acquisition and use

Mathematical Practices Common Core Learning Standards

●        Counting and cardinality

●        Measurement and data

Science and Engineering Practices

●        Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering)

●        Planning and carrying out investigations

●        Constructing explanations (for science) and designing solutions (for engineering)

●        Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information

Learning Standards for Physical Education

●        Safe and healthy environment

●        Resource management

●        Science and Engineering Practices

Categories: Animals / Environmental Education / Farms / Nature, Art, English Language Arts, Math, Museums / Exhibits, Science, Teamwork/Leadership Skills

Cost: 

●        Full Group Rate: $500 for up to 60 students.

●        Half Group Rate: $300 for a group of up to 30 students.

●        Chaperone Ratio: One free chaperone included for every 15 students.

●        Additional Chaperones: $6.00 per additional chaperone.