About our Educational Programs

Thank you for having an interest in our educational programs. Please note, after scheduling a program, you must also create a reservation for your group through our Admissions department.

Create a Reservation

On-site programs are only available year-round at Franklin Park Zoo, with some seasonal availability at Stone Zoo. Please contact the Education Department for more information about on-site opportunities at Stone Zoo for late spring and early fall.

Zoo New England educational programs are:

Aligned to Massachusetts State Curriculum Frameworks
Fun and interactive
Designed to supplement in-class learning
Hands-on and inquiry-based
STEM-focused

Packages of multiple outreaches and on-site programs are available at a discounted rate. Contact us for more details!

Topics Include:

Animal Adaptations	Endangered Species
Animal Classification	Life Cycles
Animal Senses	Wildlife Conservation
Ecosystems	Zoo Careers
Habitats	Rainforests

Snapshot from our Educational Program listing:

Adaptations: Adaptations are the functions and behaviors that living things use to survive in their habitats. This program will use several touchable biofacts as well as encounters with animal ambassadors to get students to think critically about what certain adaptations are used for along with where certain animals live and why.
Zoo Careers: It takes a lot more than zookeepers to run a zoo. This class helps students identify various zoo careers ranging from those that work in close contact with animals, to other important careers within a zoo. Students will recognize the progression of academic training and develop an understanding behind volunteering and the importance of service in the zoo field.
Endangered Species: This class will help to explain the different levels of concern a species can be placed in, as well as identify some of the common threats to endangered species. We will provide examples of endangered species both locally and world-wide, and cover possible conservation solutions and concrete actions students can take to have a significant impact on species survival.

For pricing details, contact us at 617-989-3742 or email education@zoonewengland.org.

FAQ

Do we need to put down a deposit for our school’s program?

No, we don’t require a deposit for school educational programs, however we require programming to be paid for before the school’s program begins, even if only by purchase order.

Do you have grants to help us pay for our program?

We often have grants to help cover costs for Title 1 Schools. Please ask when booking your program.

If my school group is large, is there a difference in prices?

Yes, if your group has more than 30 children attending one program, we consider it an assembly, so there’s a different price structure. We recommend your group be split into groups with under 30 children per program to reduce the costs to you and to allow for a better student-to-teacher ratio.

Do you have programs that come to our school?

Yes, we offer educational programs that travel to schools throughout Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. If your school is located more than 15 miles away, there will be an additional one-way charge of $1.25 per mile measured from the Zoo closest to your location. We try to bring live animals to every program, but we will need to know whether there are animals already living in the classroom where we’ll be teaching.

If it rains, do you still hold educational programs for our school on-site or off-site?

Yes, we try to run the programs rain or shine. If you need to reschedule, please try to give us as much notice as possible, and we’ll try to accommodate your group. If school or the Zoos are closed due to weather, we’ll reschedule your program at no cost.

Can teachers request certain animals for their program?

Due to the animals’ availability and health, we can make no guarantees as to which animals we bring. Animals we bring align with the program topic and information covered.