School Programs - Preschool to Grade 3

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Year Round Programs for Schools
Seasonal Programs for Schools
Sleepover at the Zoo
Travelling Programs - The Zoo in Your School

Program Fees

Program fees include gate admission. We welcome and encourage groups to plan time before and after the program to enjoy the zoo.

School Program Fees
Program Type	Program Date	Fee
1.5 - 2hr on-site program	Jan 1 - May 8, 2016	$152
	May 9 - Aug 31, 2016	$187
	Sep 1 - Oct 1, 2016	$195
	Oct 2 - Dec 31, 2016	$165
45min- 1hr travelling program (outreach)	Jan 1 - Aug 31, 2016	$158
	Sep 1 - Dec 31, 2016	$165
45min- 1hr travelling program (outreach) - 2 classes	Jan 1 - Aug 31, 2016	$218
	Sep 1 - Dec 31, 2016	$225
Overnights (sleepover)	Jan 1 - Aug 31, 2016	$500
	Sep 1 - Dec 31, 2016	$650

*2 consecutive travelling programs with 30 min - 1 hour between the programs.

Year-Round Programs for Schools

Zoo Safari

Preschool - Grade 3

Get closer to the animals on your day at the zoo with the assistance of an interpreter. We'll tour the zoo, meet some critters, and have a howlin' good time! Or...try a themed safari that will emphasize certain animal groups, continents, or animal features. Please ask us about theme* options for your Zoo Safari program! These programs can be easily adapted for various age groups.

*Emphasis will be placed on animals that fit in the theme, but other animals will be included in the program.

Program Length: 1.5 or 2 hours 

Option 1 - Animal Senses Tour
Have you ever wondered how animals use their senses to find lunch, or warn others about a predator? Come along on this “sense-sational” safari tour to learn about how some animals use their five senses to help them survive.

Option 2 - Northern Adventure Tour
Discover some of the animals that call the northern hemisphere home! An interpreter will guide your group around the zoo to meet some our native animals. Learn about the diverse ecosystems found in the far north and how animals adapt to living in them.

Option 3 - Animals of the World Tour
Let’s explore animals around the world! The zoo has animals from all over the world. Discover some of the exotic animals at the zoo and learn about how the zoo is trying to help their populations through successful breeding programs.

Fur, Feathers, and Scales

Preschool - Grade 3

Do all birds have feathers? Do all mammals have fur? Do amphibians and reptiles share some of the same features? Students will get a chance to see and feel the difference in textures between fur, feathers, and scales when we tour the zoo to meet a variety of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.

Program Length: 1.5 or 2 hours 

Endangered Species

Grades 1 - 3

Meet some of the world’s most endangered species, and discover ways that you and the zoo can help protect threatened and endangered animals! We’ll examine artifacts that come from endangered species, meet some animals up close and personal, and participate in hands-on activities to illustrate concepts and help your students understand why so many animals are endangered. 

Program Length: 2 hours

Night Creatures

Grades 1 - 3

How do whiskers help animals scurrying around in the dark? Can owls see at night? Discover some of the amazing features of nocturnal animals that live in our nocturnal wing. We’ll also visit familiar and exotic animals from around the world that are most awake at dawn and dusk. Learn about the incredible lives of night creatures as we look at bats, skunks, owls and more.

Program Length: 2 hours

Fees: Winter: $152, Summer: $187

Nosy Noses

Preschool – Kindergarten

Be a little nosy around the Zoo! Discover some of the amazing noses that belong to our zoo animals, and learn how each nose has a special use: elephants use them for work, seals have noses to keep out water, and snakes hide their ‘smellers’ inside their mouth. Have nosy encounters with some animals, play a nose matching bingo game, and test your own sense of smell by playing our mystery scent game.

Program Length: 1.5 or 2 hours

Tail Tales

Preschool – Kindergarten

Discover the tale behind those tails! With an interpreter as your guide, you’ll find tails of all shapes and sizes and discover how different animals use their tails to move, show off, communicate, and defend themselves. As we tour the zoo, try to guess the mystery tails shown in our tail tales cards, and keep your eye out for the only animal at the zoo that doesn’t have a tail! Through encounters and artifacts, your students will learn all about animals -- from behind.

Program Length: 1.5 or 2 hours     

Seasonal Programs for Schools

WinterZoo

Grades 2 - 3

Celebrate winter by visiting animals that live in cold, northern habitats from around the world. Arctic foxes and wolves, snow leopards, takins, and Amur tigers all love winter! Help zookeepers prepare and deliver some special treats to a couple of our northern animals. Through encounters, and hands-on activities, learn how these animals are able to survive the cold, and discover how the zoo provides special care for them. Each class will do something different to stimulate the senses and curiosities of these animals at the zoo.

Program Length: 2 hours

Available: November to March

Old MacDonald's Farm

Preschool - Grade 1

Find out what’s wild and what’s not at the Edmonton Valley Zoo this spring. Discover the differences between domestic and wild animals as we visit animals from around the world. We’ll also encounter farm animals from chickens to sheep and meet some animals that are domesticated in other countries such as alpacas and elephants.

Program Length: 1.5 or 2 hours

Available: May and June

 

Zoo Immersion

Kindergarten - Grade 3

Immerse your students into the world of animals through this customized program. Work with an interpreter to design a program to meet your specific learning objectives. Themes and activities can include any combination of the following: needs of living things, life cycles, adaptations, endangered species, owls, animal classification, careers, and more!  

Program length: 1-5 days

Program Fees: 2015/2016 school year - $450 first day, $200 for each subsequent day // 2016/2017 school year - $450 first day, $215 for each subsequent day

Available: September - April

Sleepover at the Zoo

Edmonton Valley Zoo Sleepover

Grades 2 - 3

This exciting overnight at the Zoo will provide your class with an immersive learning experience tailored to meet your classroom learning needs. Tour the zoo at night to see which animals are just waking up, go behind the scenes, have animal encounters, handle artifacts, help make and deliver animal enrichments, and experience a night to remember. Program can include an evening campfire (depending on weather conditions). Please let us know if you would like to request a campfire at the time of booking your program.

Suggested themes for sleepover programs can include (but are not restricted to):

Option 1 - Nocturnal Animal Adaptations
Tour the Zoo and discover which animals are most active after the sun goes down. Themed activities, games, encounters, artifacts, and enrichments will enhance your students’ appreciation for the wide variety of animals that are capable of surviving at night, and the unique adaptations these nocturnal animals boast.

Option 2 - Endangered Species
Discover some of our threatened and endangered animals. Hands-on activities, games, encounters, artifacts, and enrichments will focus on some of the endangered animals that live at the zoo and help your students explore reasons why these animals have become threatened. Go behind-the-scenes, and discover how zoos and zookeepers take special care to meet the specific needs to these very important species.

Option 3 - Zookeeper Career
What does it take to be a zookeeper? Go behind the scenes and learn how zookeepers care for the many animals that live at the Zoo. Students will participate in various zookeeping activities* including cleaning an animal enclosure, and preparing an enrichment and a diet for a couple of our zoo residents. Animal encounters and hands-on animal-themed games and activities round out the evening.

*Specific activities are dependent on animal health and zookeeper availability.

Other sleepover program themes are available and can be tailored to your class. Please inquire when booking your program.

Meals
You plan and supply your supper and breakfast menus. Adult supervisors will be responsible for preparing meals, with some staff guidance, and for clean up. Please note that cooking facilities are limited.

Sleeping Arrangements
Sleep in our classrooms in the EdVenture Lodge. Participants must supply their own sleeping bags, ground mat, cutlery, mess kits, and personal items.

Staff and Parent Volunteers
A minimum of 4 adult supervisors are required. Choose to bring your own adult volunteer supervisors or pay an additional charge of $125/staff to meet the required number of supervisors.

Program Length
Arrive at 4pm and depart at 8:30am the following day.

Available
Tuesdays or Thursdays, September - April only

Groups staying later than 8:30am will be charged an additional $30/hour or part thereof. Those wishing to visit the zoo on their own after the overnight experience must pay self-guided admission fees for time spent in the zoo after 9am.

The Zoo in Your School

Bring up to three live animals into your classroom and discover a unique learning experience!

Note About Cancellation: The well-being of the animals can be jeopardized if the zoo van encounters road problems in cold temperatures or unsafe driving conditions. For these reasons the Edmonton Valley Zoo reserves the right to cancel Zoo outreach programs if conditions are prohibitive.

For programs outside Edmonton, add $20/hr travel time per program staff and $0.50/km for mileage to your program fee.

Animal Visit

Preschool – Grade 3

Invite a few of our smaller Zoo animals to drop by your classroom for an animal visit! Your students will have a chance to meet, touch, learn about, and Get Closer to these animals. An interpreter will also bring along some animal artifacts that students will be able to see and touch. Three animals are included in this visit. Please inquire at the time of booking about the types of animals* that may be brought for this program.

*We cannot guarantee encounters with specific animals, as this is dependent on animal health and availability on the day of the program.

Program Length: 45 minutes
Fees: $158 (1 group) or $218 (for 2 groups in the same day)*
Available: September - June

*An additional interpreter fee of $20/hour or part thereof will be added to the cost of the programs if the length of time in between the first and second scheduled program exceeds 1 hour.

Amazing Animals (An Accessible Program)

Preschool – Grade 3

What happens when group of forest creatures find a child’s mitten lost in the snow? We’ll find out when this program visits your classroom! Through interactive storytelling, creative movement and song, we’ll learn about the unique survival features of some of our animals. Program also includes a chance to meet and touch two small zoo animals featured in the story.

This program is suitable for children and youth with special needs.

Program Length: 1 hour
Fees: $158 (1 group) or $218 (for 2 groups in the same day)*
Available: Year Round

*An additional interpreter fee of $20/hour or part thereof will be added to the cost of the programs if the length of time in between the first and second scheduled program exceeds 1 hour.

For More Information

Edmonton Valley Zoo School & Group Programs

13315 Buena Vista Road (87th Avenue)
PO Box 2359
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2R7

Telephone	780-442-1442
Email	cmsschoolbookings@edmonton.ca