Education
The mission of the Utica Zoo’s Education Department is to foster an understanding and inspire a respect for wildlife and wild places through informative and entertaining programs while promoting the zoo’s conservation message.
Since 1964 we have been doing just that. Through quality “hands-on, minds-on” environmental education programs, we have introduced thousands of kids and adults to the amazing diversity of the natural world.
Our education department offers a variety of programs to families, schools and organizations of all types. Programs are offered on-site or the Utica Zoomobile will visit your facility with a selection of cool and interesting animals. From birthday parties to classroom presentations, education is wild at the Utica Zoo!
For a complete listing of education programs, download our 2013 program guide.
Check Out our Spring Break Programing on our Camps and Classes page.
Year round programing includes;
Zoo Adventures – A pre-school storytime.
Home School Classes – Geared toward Elementary age learners.
Evening Edzoocation – Animal interactions for the whole family.
Zoomobile Presentations – If you can’t come to the zoo, let the zoo come to you!
Teacher Resource Center
The Utica Zoo has a variety of resource boxes available for teachers to borrow for their classrooms. These boxes contain activity ideas and materials, artifacts, boxes, videos, etc. Everything you need to make your lessons hands-on and fun. These boxes are available for loan for up to two week periods. A deposit fee of $30.00 is required, $20.00 of which is refundable upon the return of the box. The borrower is responsible for the pick-up and return of the boxes. The following boxes are available:
Invertebrates - Contains insect biodiversity mount, metamorphosis mount, wasp nest, honeycomb, Tarantula molt, puzzles, books, videos, & activity packs.
Amphibians - Contains frog metamorphosis mount, frog skull, tape of frog calls, videos, puzzles, books, games, & activity ideas.
Reptiles - Contains lizard, snake and turtle skulls, turtle shells, snake skins, alligator eggs, snake skeleton, video, books, games, & activity ideas.
Birds - Contains bird skulls, feathers, nests, eggs, feet, books, bird songs, videos, games, & activity ideas.
Birds-of-Prey - Contains owl wing, skull, and foot, owl pellet and their prey mount, owl pellets, books, videos, games, & activity ideas.
Bats - Contains bat skeleton, bat skulls, games, books, videos, & activity ideas.
Tiger - Contains tiger hair, tooth, claw, nest, & Realm of Tiger teacher kit.
Rainforests - Contains feathers, bird, ocelot, sloth and monkey skulls, rainforest products, videos, activity books, puzzles, and games.
Dinosaurs - Contains foot prints, velociraptor skull and claw, duckbill skin, triceratops and T-Rex tooth, dinosaur egg, games, videos, and books.
Tracks & Teeth - Contains track molds and skulls from native animals, books, & activity ideas.
Stop by the zoo to check out these and other great resources we have that can help make your lessons exciting and memorable.
For more information, please contact: Mary Hall, Education Curator
Phone: 315-738-0472 Ext. 26 E-mail: mary.hall@uticazoo.org