Homeschool Programs

Homeschool ZOOventure Classes & Series

The Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens is offering ZOOventure classes targeted to homeschool students. The students will be inspired and challenged as they experience our living classroom for these interactive programs. Limited class size allows for personal attention and up close wildlife encounters. Registration is required at least two weeks in advance. Please observe age requirements. Fee includes admission to the Zoo for the day for the registered student.

Homeschool Classes: Zoo Members $12 / Non-Members $15

Homeschool ZOOventure Series: Zoo Members $40 / Non-Members $50 (Price includes series of three classes.)

Homeschool Brochure

Online registration available soon!

Information:

When:	Dates Listed
Time:	2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Cost:	$12 per class for members / $15 per class for non-member $40 per series for members / $50 per series for non-members
Reservations:	Schedule early to guarantee a space for your student by calling 407.323.4450, ext. 123, or email education@centralfloridazoo.org at least two weeks in advance. Classes are subject to cancellation if minimum number of students is not met.

The new Homeschool ZOOventure Programs for 2010-2011 will be posted online in August. Be sure to check back for the exciting new lineup! Registration begins August 17th, 2010.

Homeschool ZOOventure Classes:

The Wonder of Rainforests: Through interactive activities, amazing biofacts, and live animals, students will be transported to rainforests of the world.

Ages: 6-8 Date: Tues. 9/8/09

Ages: 9-12 Date: Tues. 9/22/09

Beauty and the Beasts: From the beautiful to the beastly, butterflies to bearded dragons, discover how an animal’s “looks” affect its life. The students will find beauty in them all!

Ages: 6-8 Date: Tues. 10/13/09

Shivers & Slithers: Explore Florida’s shivery side with a walk on the wild side. Students will learn about Florida’s alligators, snakes and turtles.

Ages: 9-12 Date: Tues. 10/27/09

Talkin’ Turkey: This Thanksgiving season we’ll be taking a close look at the turkey! Learn the truth about this wily, brave bird that Benjamin Franklin wanted to be the national bird of the United States.

Ages: 6-8 Date: Tues. 11/10/09

Ages: 9-12 Date: Tues. 11/17/09

Presenting Pachaderms: What is the largest living land mammal? Why, it’s the elephant, of course! Learn amazing facts about these giant pachyderms and meet them up close.

Ages: 6-8 Date: Tues. 12/8/09

Ages: 9-12 Date: Tues. 12/15/09

The Unhuggables: Loveable and huggable . . . not these animals. These animals are prickly, pokey and sharp as they use spines, quills and more for protection from predators.

Ages: 6-8 Date: Tues. 1/12/10

Ages: 9-12 Date: Tues. 1/26/10

Take Flight!: Experience the world from a bird’s-eye view. On the ground or in the air, what does it take to be a bird?

Ages: 6-8 Date: Tues. 2/9/10

Ages: 9-12 Date: Tues. 2/23/10

Invincible Insects & Other Invertebrates: Explore the world of the mighty insect and learn how powerful these tiny giants can be.

Ages: 6-8 Date: 3/9/10

Fun with Taxonomy: Come have fun and explore the cool side of animal science with an up close look at animal classification.

Ages: 9-12 Date: Tues. 3/23/10

Back Pack Safari: Enter the mysterious world of the jungle; travel across dry, sandy deserts; and climb the tallest mountains in search of animals from amazing habitats around the world.

Ages: 6-8 Date: Tues. 4/13/10

Where the Wild Things Really Live!: Animals all over the world have amazing abilities to survive in some of the most difficult habitats. Join us to discover some of the strange and unusual places that animals live.

Ages: 9-12 Date: Tues. 4/27/10

Leaping Lizards: It’s lizards on the move. Leap, jump, run - they do it all. Learn to respect these masters of disguise, experts of defense and hunters extraordinaire!

Ages: 6-8 Date: Tues. 5/11/10

Ages: 9-12 Date: Tues. 5/25/10

Homeschool ZOOventure Series

Each three part series will include exciting animal encounters, in-depth studies, follow up activities, innovative ideas and more. Three Thursdays, 2:00p.m. to 4:00p.m. on the dates listed. Zoo Members: $40.00 / Non-Members: $50.00

Xtreme Mammals - Class Mammalia: There are approximately 4,000 species of mammals in the world today and mammals reign as the highest developed vertebrates. X-treme Mammals will take students on an exciting exploration of the amazing diversity of mammals and track them from the earth to the sky. This interactive three part series will explore what it takes to be a mammal, adaptations they use in the wild, and extreme habitats they can survive in.

Ages: 6-8 Dates: Thurs. 10/8/09, Thurs. 10/15/09, Thurs. 10/22/09

Stayin’ Alive - A Walk on the Wild Side of Conservation: Animals around the world are depending on you for their protection and survival. Without your help many species of threatened and endangered animals may soon become extinct. What can you do? During these three weeks the students will study animals at risk and then discover opportunities and develop their own ideas about what can be done. The course will culminate with the students manning a station in the Zoo to inspire Zoo Guests to also be part of saving Planet Earth!

Ages: 9-12 Dates: Thurs. 12/3/09, Thurs. 12/10/09, Thurs. 12/17/09

Going Green 101: Do you know why it is so important that we conserve all of earth’s valuable resources? Going Green 101 uses fun interactive games to teach students about the importance of resource conservation and the three R’s - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Meet some of the animals that are affected by our impact on the environment. Students will have fun while being empowered with simple ways they can personally contribute to creating a healthy environment for generations to come.

Ages: 12-15 Dates: Thurs. 2/4/10, Thurs. 2/11/10, Thurs. 2/18/10

Going Native: Fascinating animals are found across the globe, including our own backyards. Could there really be species yet to be discovered by science right here? Yes! Using official scientific transect study methods and a GPS we will track and record species. We just might be the ones to discover some yet undiscovered Florida wildlife. While students explore the diversity of wildlife found on the Zoo property they will also take part in a real wildlife counting census taking place in the state of Florida. We will journey to the far corners of the Zoo’s wetland to compare and contrast species found there with species in the students’ own backyards. The adventure that awaits these wildlife trackers will surely confirm that Florida’s wildlife is well worth saving.

Ages: 9-12 Dates: Thurs. 4/8/10, Thurs. 4/15/10, Thurs. 4/22/10