School Programs
Julie Larsen Maher©WCSPrograms for Pre-K and Kindergarten
Colorful Creatures
Children learn how critter colors are essential for survival. We’ll introduce them to live animals whose colors help them blend in with their surroundings or warn predators away. A classroom scavenger hunt, a colorful craft, and other activities are part of the program.
Time: 1 hour
Fee: $200
Barnyard Bonanza
Experience the farm without leaving the city! Students learn about farm life with classic songs, activities, and a book about barnyard sounds. Children also feed and pet farm critters in the Tisch Children’s Zoo.
Time: 1 hour
Fee: $200
Exploring the Rainforest
Journey through the tropics and learn about wildlife of the rainforest. Introduce your students to the wonders of the jungle with songs, live animals, and a wild craft.
Time: 1 hour
Fee: $200
1st - 2nd Grade
Head for Home
What does an animals need to survive in the wild? Students learn about the unique relationships between animals and their habitats. Participatory activities, live animals, and an engaging zoo visit will help them discover the diversity of the natural world.
Time: 75 minutes
Fee: $225
Penguin Pals
Students play penguin games and touch penguin feathers as part of an interactive lesson about these flightless birds. They’ll also get to observe the penguins as they splash, dive, and porpoise in their exhibit.
Time: 75 minutes
Fee: $225
Marvelous Mammals
Students develop their sorting and observation skills, learn about classification, and meet furry friends. Kindergarteners and first graders visit the Tisch Children’s Zoo and feed the goats! Older groups discuss mammal misfits.
Time: 75 minutes
Fee: $225
Reptiles and Amphibians
Where do poison dart frogs get their poison? Do reptiles really have cold blood? As amateur herpetologists, students will study some of the zoo’s reptiles and amphibians to answer these questions and more!
Time: 75 minutes
Fee: $225
3rd to 5th Grade
Trekking the Tropics
Students will be amazed at the wonders of the rainforest in this program about its ecosystems, animals, and products. They’ll also meet tropical critters! Programs for older students include discussions and activities about endangered animals and conservation.
Time: 75 minutes
Fee: $225
Habitat Adventure
Animals need food, water, shelter, and space to survive. Students learn what happens when one of these resources disappears. Close-up encounters with native animals demonstrate some of the challenges local wildlife face.
Time: 75 minutes
Fee: $225
Primate Behavior
Meet some of the zoo’s primates including lemurs, tamarins, and snow monkeys! Through hands-on activities, students will discover some fascinating facts about primates and learn about the various behaviors of this unique order of mammals.
Time: 75 minutes
Fee: $225
5th to 8th Grade
Polar Expedition
Students discover what it takes to survive the harsh conditions of the poles. Participatory activities help them learn about geography and adaptations. We also cool off with the penguins to enhance observation
Time: 75 minutes
Fee: $225
Sea Duck Scientists
In this engaging class that can help kids prepare for their middle school exit projects, students will learn all about the animal behavior and breeding research that happens at the Central Park Zoo. Working with our world class collection of sea ducks, students will learn about the unique lifestyle of sea ducks, their threats in the wild, and how the research that the zoo is doing can help these rare birds. Students will meet with an animal department research staff member and conduct a behavior study of the zoo's sea ducks.
Time: 75 minutes
Fee: $225
Earth’s Biodiversity
In this hands-on class, students will explore the biodiversity of our planet. They’ll meet niche animals, visit one of the zoo’s endangered animals, and engage in a lively debate about the many complexities of conserving wildlife and wildlands.
Time: 75 minutes
Fee: $225
Program Fees (include Zoo admission)
Pre-K and Kindergarten: $200 per class, 1-hour program. Maximum of 25 children and 5 adults.
Grades 1–8: $225 per class, 75-minute program. Maximum of 32 students and 5 adults.
Reservations are required. For more information, contact the Education Department registrar at 212-439-6583 and press (4) or email cpzregistration@wcs.org. For a faster response, please fill out this online form and the registrar will call you to finish your reservation.
Reservation Information