We have activities that elementary school age kids will actually enjoy.  From adventure backpacks to creature campouts, the Zoo fits boys and girls, big and small!

Plan to meet your friends at the Zoo. Discover what animals are in danger and what you can do to help! What do the animals do to keep cool in the summer or stay warm in the winter? Learn more about the animal care and conservation programs at the Zoo through these learning adventures.

^{Classes are held in the Cargill Learning Center unless otherwise noted. Space is limited; therefore pre-registration is required. Please contact Cargill Learning Center to reserve your place. Classes take place rain or shine. Please remember, for everyone's safety and enjoyment all class participants must meet age requirements - no older or younger siblings allowed, including infants.}

This new and exciting program for children in grades 1-2 is designed to get reluctant readers excited about reading and to keep advanced readers on the path enjoying reading! The cost of the program includes the reading material, small snack, fun and excitement! This program is a four-part series. The fee for all four classes and supplies is $40 for members / $50 for nonmembers. Classes run from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

• No programs scheduled at this time.

 

Wonders of Wildlife workshops give children in grades 1–5 the opportunity to learn about our animals in fun and innovative ways. This is a program for students only, please. For a 2-hour class, the fee of $12 for members / $15 for nonmembers covers one child. For an all-day class, the fee of $50.00 for members / $60.00 for nonmembers covers one child. For a five-day class, the fee of $145 for members / $160 for nonmembers covers one child. For all-day classes, plan to pack a sack lunch; this learning adventure will make you hungry. Program times vary.

• Sep 7 Tue — Mmmm Can I Have a Bite?
  We know that creatures big and small must consume calories to survive. Some animal diets are very similar to our own; others have developed, shall we say, unique tastes? We will spend our time learning about wild animal diets as well as what goes into keeping Sedgwick County Zoo’s animals healthy and fit.
   
• Oct 15 Fri — Creepy Crawly Creatures
  This is the time of year when we look forward to be scared by ghosts and goblins! Let’s find out some animals with super scary reputations really deserve them.
   
• Nov 24 Wed — Thanksgiving Safari
  What would Thanksgiving be without Thanksgiving Safari? Drop the kids off for fun while you make last minute holiday preparations!

Before and After Care for Full-Day WOW Classes
We know parents have to work, so we now offer before and after care for full day WOW classes. Students may be dropped off at 7:30 a.m. and picked up by 5:30 p.m. Students will enjoy additional activities and parents can rest assured knowing their child will be supervised by Zoo staff the entire time! Just add $15 to the class fee for a five-day class, or $5 for a one-day class.

These 2-hour programs for children in grades 1–5 include interactive learning, a Zoo walk, story time and a craft. The fee of $8 for members / $10 for nonmembers covers one child. These programs take place rain or shine. Classes run from 10:00 a.m. – noon.

• Aug 14 Sat — Now You See Me, Now You Don't
  How can chameleons hide in plain sight? Can a zebra really play hide and seek with a lion? Come find out how animals can make themselves disappear in the wild by using camouflage techniques.
   
• Sep 18 Sat — School Days
  With the recent return to the classroom kids probably have school on their minds, but we won’t be talking about people schools, no we will be talking about schools of fish, types of fish and some strange fish behavior!
   
• Oct 16 Sat — Harvest Moon
  The moon is something more than a cool thing to look at in the night sky! Our moon helps to regulate tides, guide animals and much more! Join us to learn what a harvest moon is and what impact the moon has on our daily lives.
   
• Nov 13 Sat — Nature's Recyclers
  You know how important it is to recycle materials that you use, and it is no different in nature. Nature may be the ultimate recycler, though nature’s methods may be different than ours and may even gross us out at times!

Are you the kind of kid who needs to know how and why things work? Then this program is for you! From animals to electricity to electric animals, we will explore it all through experiments, exciting discussion and hands-on materials! This is a drop-off program designed for students in grades 3-5. The fee is $8 for members / $10 for nonmembers. Classes run from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

• Aug 5 Thu — Animal Arsenal
  Life in the wild demands defense skills like venomous bites, sharp quills, and even electric jolts! We will examine just what it is that makes these defenses work and who uses what!