Dickerson Park Zoo is a division of the Springfield-Greene County Park Board and an accredited member institution of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums.
417-833-1570
Email: info@dickersonparkzoo.org
Dickerson Park Zoo
3043 North Fort Springfield, MO 65803
Zoo Education Programs
Z.E.B.R.A. Classes at Dickerson Park Zoo open the amazing world of animals to children from tots to teens. Encourage curiosity, appreciation and wonder with up-close animal encounters where students learn through hands-on activities and experiences, crafts, stories and games, all designed to instill a lifelong love of learning and animal conservation and care. All education classes take place in the Gaska Family Education Wing building located a short drive from the front gate. See map for details. Registration for classes closes at noon one day prior to date of the class to allow teachers time to prepare.
Before registering for a class you must register for our website. It's free and easy. Just use the link below and then you can sign-up for classes once you are logged in.
Summer 2018 Z.E.B.R.A Classes
Zoo Tots classes are designed to spark curiosity and encourage discover in young children. Classes include a craft, meeting animal friends and finding out fascinating facts.
Age: Children ages 2-5 (students who have not yet started kindergarten) with an adult
Fee per session: $10/FOZ Member; $15/Non-member
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
June: Rainforest Rendezvous:
#200 Thursday, June 14
#201 Friday, June 15
#202 Saturday, June 16
July: Dig into Deserts
#203 Thursday, July 12
#204 Friday, July 13
#205 Saturday, July 14
August: Forest Fun
#206 Thursday, August 16
#207 Friday, August 17
#208 Saturday, August 18
A 45 minute program with story time and crafts. Kids learn fun facts about the month's featured creature.
Age: Children ages 2 to 6 with an adult
Fee per session: $10/FOZ Member; $15/Non-member
Time: 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
May: Red Wolves
#155 Friday, May 11
#156 Saturday, May 12
#157 Wednesday, May 16
June: Bobcats
#210 Tuesday, June 19
#211 Thursday, June 21
#212 Saturday, June 23
July: Blue Tongue Skinks
#213 Friday, July 20
#214 Saturday, July 21
August: Ducks
#215 Wednesday, August 22
#216 Thursday, August 23
#217 Friday, August 24
Single Day Pre-K Mini-Camp
ROAR for Dinosaurs!
Learn more about dinosaurs! Students ages 4 and 5 will enjoy a longer class time for a zoo tour, crafts, animal visits, stories, snacks, and more. Zoo tours are weather dependent.
Age: Children ages 4 and 5 (students who are not yet enrolled in kindergarten) Adults do not stay with children.
Fee per session: $20/FOZ Member; $30/Non-member
Time: 9:00 am to noon
#225 Saturday, June 30
#226 Tuesday, July 17
Two Day Pre-K Mini-Camps
Summertime Science
Science is wonder; that feeling of awe! Let your child experience that sense of excitement, intellectual curiosity, and fascination in our Summertime Science Mini-Camp! In this camp, our budding scientists will formulate questions, hypothesize, and experiment. We will explore the zoo each day, perform experiments, collect data, and even meet some animal friends up close to help us learn! Please dress for the weather and prepare to get messy! For your child’s safety, closed-toe shoes are required. Sandals, flip-flops and Crocs are not allowed. This is a child-only class.
Ages: Children 4 to 5 years of age, who have not yet started Kindergarten; parents do not stay with child.
Fee per session:
$40/FOZ Member
$55/Non-member
Time: Two-day camp from 9:00 a.m. to noon each day
#220 Tuesday and Wednesday, May 22 and 23
#221 Thursday and Friday, May 24 and 25
African Safari
Lions, zebras, and giraffes are all anxiously awaiting a visit from you! Africa is a wondrous land with fantastic animals to meet. Join us as we go on Safari, make crafts, sample African food and even meet some African animals up close! This class will take us outside onto zoo grounds, so dress for the weather, and prepare to get messy. For your child’s safety, closed-toe shoes are required. Sandals, flip-flops and Crocs are not allowed. This is a child-only class.
Ages: Children 4 to 5 years of age, who have not yet started Kindergarten; parents do not stay with child.
Fee per session:
$40/FOZ Member
$55/Non-member
Time: Two-day camp from 9:00 a.m. to noon each day
#222 Wednesday and Thursday, June 27 and 28
#223 Thursday and Friday, July 5 and 6
#224 Tuesday and Wednesday, July 10 and 11
Herbivores, Omnivores, and Carnivores, oh my!
In this two day camp, students will discover who eats what, and who eats whom! We will learn fascinating facts about animal teeth, digestion, and the sensitive balance of the food web. This is a jam packed camp filled with zoo exploration, animal encounters, crafts, games and memories to last a lifetime. We might get messy, so please wear clothes you don’t mind getting wet or dirty. Please bring a sack lunch that does not require refrigeration. For your child’s safety, closed-toe shoes are required. Sandals, flip-flops and Crocs are not allowed. Kick the summer off right with the Dickerson Park Zoo!
Ages: Students who have completed kindergarten or first grade during the 2017-18 school year.
Fee per session:
$75/FOZ Member
$90/Non-member
Time: Two-day camp from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day
#230 Thursday and Friday, May 31 and June 1
#231 Monday and Tuesday, June 4 and 5
#232 Friday and Saturday, June 8 and 9
Animal Science
Science is wonder; that feeling of awe! Let your child experience that sense of excitement, intellectual curiosity, and fascination in our Summertime Animal Science Camp! In this camp, our budding scientists will formulate questions, hypothesize, and experiment. We will explore the zoo each day, perform experiments, collect data, and even meet some animal friends up close to help us learn! Please dress for the weather and prepare to get messy! For your child’s safety, closed-toe shoes are required. Sandals, flip-flops and Crocs are not allowed. Please bring a sack lunch that does not require refrigeration.
Ages: Students who have completed kindergarten or first grade during the 2017-18 school year.
Fee per session:
$75/FOZ Member
$90/Non-member
Time: Two-day camp from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day
#233 Tuesday and Wednesday, August 7 and 8
#234 Thursday and Friday, August 9 and 10
Animal Artistry
Find inspiration in the animal kingdom to create beautiful works of art, using different mediums and styles. We explore the areas of the world where animals live and incorporate the cultures of those places into our art. Each camper takes home a piece of artwork “painted” by a zoo animal! Art can be messy, so please dress accordingly. Full day camps must bring a sack lunch that does not require refrigeration.
Ages: Students who have completed kindergarten or first grade during the 2017-18 school year.
Fee per session:
$40/FOZ Member
$55/Non-member
Time: Two-half day camp from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day
#240 Saturday and Saturday, July 14 and 21
Ages: Students who have completed 2nd and 3rd grade during the 2017-18 school year.
Fee:
$120/FOZ members
$150/Non-members
Time: Two-day camp from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day
#241 Wednesday and Thursday, May 30 and 31
Age: Students who have completed 4nd through 6th grade during the 2017-18 school year.
Fee per session:
$120/FOZ members,
$150/Non-members
Time: Two-day camp from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day
A three- or four-day adventure full of animal fun and hard work! Students shadow zookeepers and participate in everyday keeper duties, including preparing food for animals, making enrichment items, and helping clean. Closed-toe shoes required. Bring a sack lunch. Three and four day camps available.
Ages: Students who have completed 2nd or 3rd grade during the 2017-18 school year.
Fee per session:
Four day camp $250/FOZ members, $300/Non-members
Three day camp: $180/FOZ members, $225/Non-members
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day
#250 Monday-Thursday, June 11-14 (four day camp) FULL-SESSION CLOSED
#251 Monday-Wednesday, July 23-25 (three day camp) FULL-SESSION CLOSED
Ages: Students who have completed 4th – 6th grade during the 2017-18 school year.
Fee per session:
Four day camp $250/FOZ members, $300/Non-members
Three day camp: $180/FOZ members, $225/Non-members
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day
#252 Monday-Thursday, June 25-28 (four day camp) FULL-SESSION CLOSED
#253 Monday-Wednesday, July 30-August 1 (three day camp FULL-SESSION CLOSED
What’s on the Menu?
Feeling hungry? This camp is all about food! Join us as we go behind-the-scenes to discover what it takes to feed an entire zoo. We will learn where our favorite animals fall on the food chain, pay a visit to the zoo’s commissary, and help to prepare food for some hungry, hungry critters.
Ages: Students who have completed 2nd or 3rd grade during the 2017-18 school year.
Fee per session:
$120/FOZ members
$150/Non-members
Time: Two day camp from 9:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day
Animal Myths & Legends
Animals have been the source subject of mythological stories and legends for ages. From unicorns to dragons, Cyclops to Big Foot, let’s get to the bottom of these mythical creatures and meet the real life animals that inspired them. Bring a sack lunch.
Ages: Students who have completed 4th, 5th, or 6th grade during the 2017-18 school year.
Fee per session:
$120/FOZ members
$150/Non-members
Time: Two day camp from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day
Junior Zoo Biologists
What happens behind-the-scenes to ensure our animals are healthy? How do we prepare for medical emergencies, and implement scientific knowledge into the everyday care of our animals? If you are interested in a career in veterinary medicine, wildlife conservation or animal care, this is the camp for you! Closed-toe shoes required. Bring a sack lunch.
Age: Students who have completed 7th and 8th grades during the 2017-18 school year.
Fee per session:
$250/FOZ members
$300/Non-members
Time: Four day camp from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day
Fall 2018 Z.E.B.R.A Classes
This season the Zoo Explorers are focusing on amazing predators. From their hunting techniques to their incredible physical adaptations, we’ll learn what it takes to make it to the top of the food chain. Crafts, games, and animal encounters make this class series one you won’t want to miss.
Age: Grades 2 & 3
Fee per session: $20/FOZ Member ; $30/Non-member
Time: 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
#350 September 16 - Big Cats
#351 October 14 - Wild Canids
#352 November 4 - Crocodiles & Alligators
#353 December 2 - Sharks & Rays
Age: Grades 4-6
Fee per session: $20/FOZ Member ; $30/Non-member
Time: 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
#354 September 23 - Big Cats
#355 October 21 - Wild Canids
#356 November 18 - Crocodiles & Alligators
#357 December 16 - Sharks & Rays
Scavenger Hunts
Resources For Teachers & Parent
Activities for Grades 3 & 4
Resources For Teachers & Parent
Activities fo Grades 5 - 7
Resources For Teachers & Parent
Outreach programs for school classrooms, groups and civic organizations “Animal Encounters” for preschools and daycare centers.
Video Conferencing
Dickerson Park Zoo and the Discovery Center are collaborating to offer zoo classes to schools via videoconferencing. Each class is presented by a zoo staff member and will include several live animals.
All About Mammals!
What are mammals? What makes them different? We’ll talk about these things and learn how to classify mammals based on certain characteristics. Fun mammal facts will be presented as we check out some mammals from the zoo! (1-5)
Endangered Animals
Animals play a very important part in this world, but some animals’ existence is threatened. Find out why and what we can do to stop animal extinction. (5-12)
Animal Families
Learn about family groups and structures and how animals raise their young. (PreK-2)
Your Wild Backyard
Our backyards play a very important role in conserving nature. Learn about all the animals found in our backyards, as well as how to attract them and build a healthy backyard habitat. (PreK-5)
All About Birds!
Learn about these feathered animals and their unique features. Birds can be classified by beak size and shape, body size and shape, and even foot size and shape. We’ll learn about these grouping and meet some of the zoo’s birds and use them as live models for learning. (1-5)All About Reptiles!
We’ll learn about these scaled creatures as we use zoo animals to model their amazing features. Learn about the five classes of reptiles and discover the great diversity in reptile morphology. Physical and behavioral adaptations will be discussed. (1-5)
All About Reptiles
We’ll learn about these scaled creatures as we use zoo animals to model their amazing features. Learn about the five classes of reptiles and discover the great diversity in reptile morphology. Physical and behavioral adaptations will be discussed. (1-5)
Animal Awareness
Learn about the characteristics of mammals, birds, and reptiles, as we compare and contrast these animals. We’ll discuss traits as modeled by our live zoo animals. (Pre-K-2)
Cost and Scheduling:
Classes are $150 per video conference. Classes should be booked a minimum of two weeks in advance. To book a video conference or for more information call the Programs Coordinator at:
417-862-9910, ext. 726 or visit the Discovery Center’s Web site.
For more information about education programs at Dickerson Park Zoo and outreach programs for schools and organizations, please contact the Education Department by phone, 417-833-1570, or by email.