Homeschool Zoo Crew

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.

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 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

Spring 2024: Things They Are A-Changin’

 

Jan 31, 2024

Changes 1: Plants and Animals

Living things can change the world around them – and not just humans! This week we’ll be exploring how plants and animals can change the world in which they live.

 

Feb 14, 2024

Changes 2: The Elements

Turns out it’s not just living things that can change the planet. The weather can too! This week we’ll learn about ways that the weather and other natural phenomena can change the planet on which we all live.

 

Feb 28, 2024

Changes 3: Changing Habitats

This week we’ll be exploring how the changes occurring on the planet change the essential components of habitats and some of the ways that can affect the living things in those habitats.

 

Mar 13, 2024

Changes 4: Natural Selection

This week we’ll learn how the selective pressures of a changing habitat can mean big changes for the species that live there.

 

Apr 3, 2024

Changes 5: Humans

This week we’ll look at how we as humans can change the environment around us.

 

Apr 17, 2024

Changes 6: Be the Change

This week we’ll talk about how we can change the planet for the better through our everyday actions.

 

Ready to sign up?

Register Here

Ages 9-12

Spring 2024: Ecological History and Change

 

Feb 7, 2024

History 1: Cycles

This week we will explore how things like water, gases, and matter cycle through our ecosystems.

 

Feb 21, 2024

History 2: Ecosystem Changes

This week we’ll look at some of the ways that ecosystems change over time.

 

Mar 6, 2024

History 3: The Six Great Mass Extinctions

This week we’ll be looking at how changes in our ecosystems have led to mass extinction events throughout history.

 

Mar 20, 2024

History 4: Fossils

This week we’ll be exploring the interesting world of fossils – what they are, how they’re formed, and what they tell us about species throughout our ecological history.

 

Apr 10, 2024

History 5: Anatomy Then and Now

This week we’ll be continuing our exploration of the ecological history of our planet by looking at anatomical similarities and differences between species.

 

Apr 24, 2024

History 6: Genetics

This week we’ll be wrapping up our exploration of some of the ecological history of our planet by looking at how scientists use genetics to uncover clues about species – both extinct and those we have today.

 

Ready to sign up?

Register Here