EDUCATION
VISIT THE ZOO
EDUCATION
Plan Your Field Trip to John Ball Zoo!
Make learning come alive for your students with John Ball Zoo and our education programs. Our programs are designed using fun, hands-on and flexible teaching methods. Programs are developed for students ages 3 through adult.
No matter what grade your students are in, let us enhance your field trip with our grade-specific onsite educational programs.
Registration below for Spring 2023.
ADMISSION
School Group Reservations
School groups that pre-register and pre-pay for a field trip at least three weeks in advance are eligible to receive our discounted student rate.* A separate reservation must be made for each visit. All paid students, teachers, and adult chaperones are issued a wristband for admission into the Zoo once payment is received. Wristbands will be mailed to your school. Please find a copy of our wristband policy below.
*These rates do not apply to daycare or day camps. For Discounted Admission Rates for Youth-Oriented Organizations please click here.
Discounted Admission for School Groups
School groups visiting from outside of Kent County receive a discounted student rate of $5 per student. All teachers, bus drivers, and 1 parent chaperone per every 5 students receive free admission. Additional chaperones beyond the 1:5 ratio will be charged the regular admission rate.
Kent County School Groups
Kent County school students in grades Kindergarten through 12th grade receive FREE Zoo admission for school group visits, thanks to the 2016 millage! All teachers, bus drivers, and 1 parent chaperone per every 5 students receive free admission. Additional chaperones beyond the 1:5 ratio will be charged the regular admission rate.
Homeschool and Virtual Learning Groups
Groups of 15 or more homeschool/virtual learning students that pre-register and pre-pay for a field trip at least two weeks in advance are eligible to receive the discounted student rate. 1 parent chaperone per every 5 students receives free admission. Additional chaperones beyond the 1:5 ratio will be charged the regular admission rate.
ONSITE PROGRAMS
Add a Program to Your Visit!
Please direct any questions to [email protected] or call 616-336-4302.
Wild Encounter
Come visit John Ball Zoo and learn about wildlife with our Zoo Education Staff in an interactive live animal presentation. Bring animals to your classroom with a Travel Zoo!
- Our 30-45 minute Wild Encounter presentations are designed to teach students about one of our core education topics through a hands-on animal encounter in a classroom setting.
- These classes are for students ages pre-K through adults and are for groups of up to 30 students and up to 6 adults.
- Classes for pre-K students are limited to 20 students.
- Wild Encounters are $60 per classroom.
Penguineering
Habitats come alive as students are immersed into the life of a penguin. Hands on activities bring to light what Magellanic penguins need in their habitat and how animals are natural engineers.
- Designed for grades 2-4. Penguineering is for classroom sized groups of no more than 30 students.
- Students pretend to be a penguin while they create a nesting habitat which is then put to the test against some environmental constraints.
- Price is $60 per class at the zoo.
- Bring Penguineering to your classroom for $110 for the first program, $75 for each consecutive program, and $1 per mile travel fee.
Zoo Careers
Working with wild animals can be exciting, rewarding, and sometimes even a little stinky! During this program, your class will get a sneak peek into what working for a zoo is really like.
- This career-focused class is for middle and high school students.
- Enjoy hands-on activities and expert insight while learning about zoo keeping, zoo veterinary care, and wildlife research.
- Price is $75 per class at the Zoo.
- Bring Zoo Careers to your classroom for $110 for the first program, $75 for each consecutive program, and $1 per mile travel fee.
Exhibit Design
Building exhibits at the Zoo is no small task. Engineering skills are put to the test as groups use an animal’s needs and adaptions to design and create 3D models of a new exhibit.
- Designed for 5th-12th grade. The exhibit design class is for classroom sized groups of no more than 30 students and is ideal for 20-25 students.
- This class can be modified for a variety of age groups and aligns perfectly with the engineering design standards.
- Price is $75 per class.
- Bring the Exhibit Design class to your classroom for $110 for the first program, $75 for each consecutive program, and $1 per mile travel fee.
Core Education Topics
John Ball Zoo’s Wild Encounter and Traveling Zoo Programs are designed to teach the following science topics to your students. Other, more customized programs are also available upon request.
Preschool - Kindergarten
- Body Coverings: Experience the furry, feathery and scaly side of the animal world and learn why animals have these amazing coverings.
- Michigan Wildlife: Explore the wild side of Michigan and learn more about the animals that might be right in your backyard.
- Animal Senses: Explore your own senses as well as those that animals use to survive.
- Animal Essentials: Learn animals' basic needs and how they satisfy these needs to survive.
1st - 3rd Grade
- Animal Classification: Students learn how scientists group and classify animals based on their similarities and differences.
- Growing Up Wild: We'll explore animals, their young and how they each grow up differently.
- Habitats: Learn the basic needs of animals and how they meet those needs in the different types of habitats, from deserts to wetlands.
4th Grade and Above
- Animal Adaptations: Get an up-close look at the amazing physical and behavioral adaptations animals use to survive.
- Predator-Prey: Learn about adaptations that help predators find prey and how potential prey avoid being eaten while exploring the relationships these animals have with each other.
- Connections: Learn to recognize the connections between animals and plants, and how they effect the flow of energy through an ecosystem.
- Wildlife Conservation: Learn what you can do and what others are doing to help protect wildlife and their habitats around the world.