Potter Park Zoo is excited to offer a program for Homeschool groups and families!
During our two hour drop-off discovery sessions, students will have an opportunity to learn about exciting topics in animal science through lessons, activities, and zoo exploration. Sessions are organized into 6 week units, but each session will have a unique theme that can act as a standalone lesson on the selected topic. This allows you to register for one session, all six, or somewhere in between, as it fits your schedule. All sessions are designed around/aligned with NGSS standards for the selected age group.
Sessions will alternate each week between two different age groups – ages 5-8 and 9-14. This means each age group will meet once every two weeks. (See Schedule below for dates.)
Example: Week 1- A.M 5-8, P.M. 5-8
Week 2- A.M. 9-14, P.M. 9-14
Times
Morning sessions will run Wednesdays 9:45-11:45 AM. Please note, there is another class in the room until 9:30 so we will not be able to accept students until 9:35. There is also a class in the room starting at 12:00 PM so please be sure to pick up students promptly at 11:45.
Afternoon session will run Wednesdays 2:30-4:30 PM. The content for the afternoon session will be identical to that in the morning session, so please only sign your student up for one session or the other. Drop-off for the afternoon session will start at 2:20.
Price
The cost to register for each session is:
$15/child, member
$20/child, non-member
Scholarships are available, please call (517) 342-2713 for more information.
Class Size
Classes are capped at 16 students. There will be a waitlist available in case seats open up as the session gets closer.
Special Needs/Accommodations
Potter Park Zoo is happy to accommodate your child’s needs within our means. Unfortunately, we are not able to provide extended individual support during the class due to staffing restrictions, but we are happy to work with you to allow a paraprofessional or parent/guardian to assist with children requiring individual support. Please call us at (517) 342-2772 if you would like to discuss your child’s needs or would like to meet with the instructor prior to registering.
Inclement Weather Policy
If the Eaton RESA Career Prep Center or Lansing Public Schools are cancelled due to inclement weather or Potter Park Zoo is closed/Ingham County Operations are suspended, we will not hold Zoo Crew. We will attempt to reschedule any sessions that are missed due to weather. If we are unable to reschedule and/or your child is not able to attend on the new date, registration fees for that week will be refunded.
Schedule
Please use the tabs below to look at dates and themes for each session.
Ages 5-8
Fall 2024: Around the World and Back Again!
Jan 22, 2025
Human Impacts and Biogeology 1: Introduction
Habitats all around the world are constantly changing from humans, plants, and animals. This lesson will focus on an introduction of what changes may happen to different habitats. Questions will be asked like: How do plants and animals change their habitats? Do all plants and animals have the ability to change their habitat? How do humans impact different habitats? Are changes to the habitat always harmful or can they be positive changes too?
Feb 5, 2025
Human Impacts and Biogeology 2: Forests and Rainforests
Have you noticed the similarities between a forest and rainforest? Do you think that they are impacted by humans, plants, and animals the same way as each other? We will be looking at both of these habitats to see how they are impacted by plants, animals, and humans! We will be answering questions such as: How do plants and animals change their forest and rainforest habitats? Are forests and rainforests impacted the same way as each other? Are forest or rainforest impacted more than the other? How do humans impact the forest and rainforest habitats?
Feb 19, 2025
Human Impacts and Biogeology 3: Deserts and Savannas
This week we will explore Deserts and Savannas! We will answer questions such as: How do plants and animals change their desert and savanna habitats? Are deserts and savannas impacted the same way as each other? Are deserts or savannas impacted more than the other? Do plants change desert habitats? How do humans impact the these habitats?
March 05, 2025
Human Impacts and Biogeology 4: The Poles and Mountains
This week we will explore the Poles and mountain habitats! We will answer questions such as: How do plants and animals change their habitat in the poles and in mountain ranges? Are different types of waterways impacted the same way as each other? Are the Poles or mountain habitats impacted more than the other? How do humans impact these habitats?
March 19, 2025
Human Impacts and Biogeology 5: Waterways and Urban Areas
This week we will explore Waterways and Urban Areas! We will answer questions such as: How do plants and animals change urban areas and waterways? Do urban areas being near waterways have an impact on them? Are different waterways impacted more than the other? How do humans impact the these habitats?
April 02, 2025
Human Impacts and Biogeology 6: Conservation
This week we bring it home to look at how we can make a difference around the world! We will answer questions such as: How can we help? What conservation organizations are doing to help? Are there different conservation actions that could help several habitat types?
Ready to sign up?
Register Here
Ages 9-14
Fall 2024: Human Impacts
Jan 29, 2025
Jr. Researcher 1: Introduction
In this semester, we will see how researchers use different tools to help them research different animals. This week will be an overview of what tools they use. We will answer questions like: What does it mean to be a researcher? What tools do researchers use. Do researchers all use the same tools for every animal species.
Feb 12, 2025
Jr. Researcher 2: Animal Tracking
In this lesson, we will look at how some animals can be tracked on foot by looking at different clues that the animals leave behind. We will answer questions like: Why do researchers track some animals on foot verses using tools to help track them? Do they combine tracking with other ways to study the animals?
Feb 26, 2025
Jr. Researcher 3: Radio Telemetry and Banding
In this lesson, we will be looking at radio telemetry and banding. We will be answering questions like: What is radio telemetry? How do researchers use collars or bands to help them track animals? What animals do they use radio telemetry or banding to track?
March 12, 2025
Jr. Researcher 4: Camera Trapping
In this lesson, we will be looking at how camera traps help researchers. We will answer questions like: What is a camera trap? What animals do they use camera trapping for? Why do they use radio telemetry or some animals and camera traps for others?
March 26, 2025
Jr. Researcher 5: Citizen Scientist
In this lesson, we will look at what it means to be a citizen scientist and how they help researchers. We will answer questions like: What is a citizen scientist? How does it help? How can citizens help researchers? Can citizen scientist only help researchers in the area that they live?
April 9, 2025
Jr. Researcher 6: Conservation
In this lesson, we will look at how we can help animals just like researchers do! We will answer questions like: How do researchers help with wildlife conservation? How can we help? We will also be doing our conservation project during this class!
