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The zoo is a great family outing any time of the year.
Whether you visit your hometown zoo or take a quick trip to a neighboring community to experience their zoo, it's an adventure that can appeal to families with kids of all ages.
With the pandemic, there are still many things to consider taking in addition to your normal list of things to take to the zoo. Brining a mask and hand sanitizer is still a must. Bringing a picnic and/or snacks are a wonderful way to make the zoo more fun with less stops for snacks and lunch. Make sure you include sunscreen and a hat too.
But how do you keep your visit from being the "same old walk around the animal exhibits?" By doing a little pre-work to make your zoo visit event more interactive.
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Here are a few ideas for helping your kids experience the zoo in a different way.
Try something different each time you visit or assign one child (or a team if you are taking a group) to each of the tasks and see what new things you can learn.
Map It! Print out a world map or maps by continent (you can find several free map options here). Use a clip board and colored pencils and identify the countries that each animal is from as you move through the exhibits. At the end of your trip, take a look at the world tour that the animals helped you take!
From A to Zoo! Using a small notebook, list all the letters of the alphabet, A to Z, and use that to guide a scavenger hunt throughout the zoo. Will you be able to find an animal (or maybe something else in the zoo) that begins with every letter of the alphabet?
What Would the Animals Tell You? Use a notebook again to play "reporter" in the zoo. After learning about a specific animal from the educational displays, ask your kids to imagine how the animals would answer some basic interview questions about their background and even their life in the zoo. Encourage them to write down some notes and then create a story (or even a newspaper) about the animal. Be sure to take some pictures to accompany your story!
Map It! Print out a world map or maps by continent (you can find several free map options here). Use a clip board and colored pencils and identify the countries that each animal is from as you move through the exhibits. At the end of your trip, take a look at the world tour that the animals helped you take!
From A to Zoo! Using a small notebook, list all the letters of the alphabet, A to Z, and use that to guide a scavenger hunt throughout the zoo. Will you be able to find an animal (or maybe something else in the zoo) that begins with every letter of the alphabet?
What Would the Animals Tell You? Use a notebook again to play "reporter" in the zoo. After learning about a specific animal from the educational displays, ask your kids to imagine how the animals would answer some basic interview questions about their background and even their life in the zoo. Encourage them to write down some notes and then create a story (or even a newspaper) about the animal. Be sure to take some pictures to accompany your story!
What's New at the Zoo? I always check in to see what is new at the zoo. Many times they have feeding times and shows listed for you to enjoy.
Denver Zoo:
Plan your visit ahead - online timed tickets are required for entry to the zoo. Tickets are 12+ $20, 3-11 $14, 2 and under free. Masks still required.
- Denver Zoo is celebrating 125 years of Love. Everyone is invited to submit their stories of why they love the zoo.
- Tropical Discovery will welcome the new Sloth Tree opening May 24th featuring a 22 ft. high tree in a walk-around exhibit.
- The Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Animal Hospital will open June 1st to visitors from 9am - 4pm.
- Stingray Cove is open to visitors now. The 15,000-gallon tank holds gentle cownose and southern stingrays, and peaceful bamboo and bonnethead sharks. You must have tickets to see them and tickets are available onsite on a first-come-first-served basis. Tickets are $2 for members and $3 for non-members. Kids 3 and under are free. You can buy food for the stingrays and sharks for $2 per piece of food. This exhibit is open seasonally and has opened March 20th, hours depend on the weather.
- Other fun at the zoo, Toyota Elephant Passage, Harmony Hill Bear Habitat, The Edge Tiger habitat, Benson Preditor Ridge, Primate Panorama, Northern Shores, Birds, and Pachyderms. There are so many fun zones at the zoo that you can create a fun day or several days of exploration.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo:
Plan your visit in advance with online timed tickets and enjoy all the up-close experiences you can. Tickets range for Non-members Military adult $16, Military child $11, adult $19, Senior $17, child $14 2 and under free.
- You can feed the Giraffes, Budgies, Chickens, Goats, Elephants, Rhinos, and many of the Loft inhabitants.
- River's Edge: Africa - is a new home for Hippos and penguins.
- Encounter Africa - you can explore Africa in this award-winning exhibit.
- African Rift Valley featuring giraffes, lions, red river hogs and more.
- Asain Highlands featuring tigers, leopard,s and Pallas cat.
- Australian Walkabout with kangaroos, wallaby's and budgies
- Hands-on at the Loft with many little animals for kiddos to investigate, feed and help care for.
- My Big Back yard full of farm animals of all kinds, a fun playground, and koi pond .
- Primate world full of fun-loving Siamang, Gorillas, Orangutans and more.
- Rocky Mountain Wild featuring bears and other local animals.
- Scutes Family Gallery featuring 40 species of reptiles in artistic settings.
There are some wonderful ways to experience the zoo but the best way is the way that fits you and your family.
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