Homeschool Zoo Crew

Potter Park Zoo is excited to start the second year of our 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.

a young girl looking through glass at an otter swimming underwater.

Sessions will alternate each week between two different age groups – ages 5-8 and 9-12. This means each age group will meet once every two weeks. (See Spring Schedule below for dates.)

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.

This fall we will also be offering an afternoon session on 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. Dropoff for the afternoon session will start at 2:20.

Price

The cost to register for each session is:

$10/child, member

$15/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 2023: Animal Senses 

 

Sep 20, 2023

Animal Senses 1: Oh say can you see?

This week we’ll be exploring how animals see the world around them.

 

Oct 4, 2023

Animal Senses 2: What’s that smell?

This week we’ll be exploring how animals smell the world around them.

 

Oct 18, 2023

Animal Senses 3: Do you hear what I hear?

This week we’ll be exploring how animals hear the world around them.

 

Nov 1, 2023

Animal Senses 4: Just a Feeling

This week we’ll be exploring how animals feel the world around them.

 

Nov 15, 2023

Animal Senses 5: All in Good Taste

This week we’ll be exploring how animals taste the world around them.

 

Dec 6, 2023

Animal Senses 6: Animal Super Senses

Animals have many unique senses that let them perceive the world around them in fun different ways.

 

Ready to sign up?

Register Here

Ages 9-12

Fall 2023: Human Impacts on the Environment

 

Sep 27, 2023

Human Impact 1: Natural Resources

What are natural resources? Why are they important? This week we’ll learn about different types of natural resources as we set the stage for our discussion of human impacts on the environment.

 

Oct 11, 2023

Human Impact 2: Pollution

Pollution comes in many forms. This week we’ll be learning about pollution and its effects on the environment.

 

Oct 25, 2023

Human Impact 3: Climate Change

Climate change is a term we hear a lot, but what is it? This week we’ll be exploring the topic of climate change and ways that we can in the fight against it.

 

Nov 8, 2023

Human Impact 4: AZA SAFE

What is AZA SAFE? And what are zoos doing to help protect endangered species and the environment? This week we’ll be exploring the world of zoo conservation both here at Potter Park Zoo and around the world.

 

Nov 29, 2023

Human Impact 5: Climate Actions at Home

Our focus this week is all on simple actions we can do every day at home to help keep our planet healthy!

 

Dec 13, 2023

Human Impact 6: Spread the Word!

One of the most important things we can do to help the planet is spread the word! This week we’ll be focusing on how we can teach others about the important things we’ve been learning this fall.

 

Ready to sign up?

Register Here