Prepare Students

1) Remind your students to dress for the weather as most of their day will be spent outside. As long as it is not raining hard or a threat of severe weather, we will be going out. However, there is a rain plan should the need arise. 

2) Please divide your students into 2 groups along with designating chaperones to each group before arriving at the zoo. It would also be helpful to also pair off students within each group, as each pair will share a data sheet during the facilitated biodiversity study. 

3) Students do not need to bring anything from the PIF kit. The zoo will provide worksheets, binoculars, field guides, etc. 

4) Be sure to go over Zoo Visit Reminders and Expectations, found on the Google Drive or click on the following link Zoo Visit Reminders and Expectations 

Meeting Place 

Meet at the bus drop-off gate (This is where the bus should drop you off---just south of the Regenstein Center for African Apes near the zebra exhibit; refer to zoo map). 

*This will also be your departure point.

Your PIF Facilitator will meet you at the gate and lead you to the meeting spot on the Nature Boardwalk.

At the Zoo

Group 1 will stay with the PIF facilitator on the Nature Boardwalk to learn about the site and carry out a bird survey. Group 2 will be free to explore the zoo on their own or to complete an activity of your design. Group 2 should return to the meeting spot within 45-60 minutes. At this time, the groups will switch.

Lunch

There are several options for managing student lunches. 

1) Students can carry their own lunches throughout the zoo as long as lunches are closed and food sealed. 

2) You may also choose to bring your own personal lock and secure student lunches using our outdoor cage lockers located at the bus drop-off location. Note that these are exposed to the weather and we do not suggest leaving valuables in them. We also cannot guarantee their availability; they are first-come, first serve. 

3) In rare and extreme circumstances, we can store lunches in Keller but this is not advised.  

4) Students can purchase lunch at a Zoo Foods location. Park Place Café is the only place that will be reliably open this time of year.

There are several areas set aside for you to enjoy your lunch. If you would like to enjoy the outdoors, you may select from picnic tables near the bus drop-off or the sheltered Foreman Pavilion area near the McCormick Swan Pond. In the event of cold weather, you may eat in the Tadpole Room which is located indoors on the bottom floor of the Park Place Café. Please note that these eating areas are open to all groups and cannot be reserved. 

*Seating at the tables associated with our Zoo Foods locations throughout the zoo is reserved for customers only. This includes the Landmark Café, Park Place Café, Café Brauer, and the Café at Wild Things. We thank you in advance for your understanding.

Zoo Map