Homeschool ZOOventure Classes at the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens

The Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens is offering ZOOventure classes targeted to Homeschool students. The students will be inspired and challenged as they experience our living classroom for these interactive programs. Limited class size allows for personal attention and up close wildlife encounters. Registration is required at least two weeks in advance. Please observe age requirements. Fee includes admission to the Zoo for the day for the registered student.

Zoo Members $12 / Non-Members $15

*NEW! Homeschool ZOOventure Series: Each three part series will include exciting animal encounters, in-depth studies, follow up activities, innovative ideas and more.
Zoo Members $40 / Non-Members $50 (Price includes series of three classes.)

Register Online or Download Registration Form

Homeschool ZOOventure Classes:

Island Seekers: It's time to set sail in search of far off and mysterious islands where strange and unusual animals roam the forests and walk the beaches. Amazing animals and beautiful habitats await our island seekers.

Ages: 6-8 Date: Tues. Sept. 9, 2008 Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm

Ages: 9-12 Date: Tues. Sept. 23, 2008 Time: 2:00-4:00pm

Web of Life: Students will investigate food webs, the inter-dependence of plants and animals, predator/prey relationships and more.

Ages: 6-8 Date: Tues. Oct. 14, 2008 Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm

Beast Feast: Carnivores, herbivores, omnivores and more...Explore what animals eat and examine the adaptations they have that allow them to do it.

Ages: 9-12 Date: Tues. Oct. 28, 2008 Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm

Passport to Adventure: Discover amazing animals from both near and far as we go on safari exploring old and new world continents and the animals that live there.

Ages: 6-8 Date: Tues. Nov. 11, 2008 Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm

Ages: 9-12 Date: Tues. Nov. 25, 2008 Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm

Chill Out! (6-8) From the inside out learn all about animal body temperatures. Cold blooded, warm blooded, what does it all mean???

Ages: 6-8 Date: Tues. Dec. 9, 2008 Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm

Chill Out! (9-12) From the inside out learn all about animal body temperatures. Ectothermic, endothermic, what does it all mean???

Ages: 9-12 Date: Tues. Dec. 16, 2008 Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm

Nocturnal Navigators - What happens after dark? It's time to find out with some nocturnal animal exploration! Learn about different adaptations nocturnal animals have that help them survive in the night. Myth busters included!

Ages: 6-8 Date: Tues. Jan. 13, 2009 Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm

Ages: 9-12 Date: Tues. Jan. 27, 2009 Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm

I Dig Bones! Get down and dirty in the ZooLab paleontology dig site and examine fossils, skulls, and biofacts. Learn some cool facts about prehistoric animals and develop your skull skills as a junior paleontologist.

Ages: 6-8 Date: Tues. Feb. 10, 2009 Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm

Skull Skills – Take a fascinating look at skulls and other bones and what they can teach us about the animals they come from.

Ages: 9-12 Date: Tues. Feb. 24, 2009 Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm

Cat Walk – The lure of the leopard, the speed of the cheetah; take a walk on the wild side and explore both the beauty and the danger of felines.

Ages: 6-8 Date: Tues. Mar. 10, 2009 Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm

Ages: 9-12 Date: Tues. Mar. 24, 2009 Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm

Survival of the Fittest – Speed, strength, climbing ability, intelligence; what abilities do animals have to ensure that they are the ultimate survivor?

Ages: 6-8 Date: Tues. Apr. 14, 2009 Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm

Ages: 9-12 Date: Tues. Apr. 28, 2009 Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm

Secret Agent 00-ZOO – A game of "I Spy" is ahead for those that are willing to take on the challenge of spotting and identifying animals that have mastered the ability to remain hidden.

Ages: 6-8 Date: Tues. May 12, 2009 Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm

Ages: 9-12 Date: Tues. May 26, 2009 Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm

Homeschool ZOOventure Series

X-treme Reptiles - Class Reptilia: Crocodilians, lizards, snakes, turtles, tuatara...tuatara? This extreme adventure will take students deep into the realm of reptiles. Found on every continent except Antarctica, this large and diverse group will fascinate and enthrall students. X-treme Reptiles is an interactive program that will intrigue students as they meet amazing creatures, learn incredible facts, and enter the fascinating world of herpetology.

Ages: 6-8 Date: Tues. Oct. 2, 9, 16, 2008 Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm

Stayin’ Alive – A Walk on the Wild Side of Conservation:
Location: Planet Earth
Mission: Save Endangered Species
Solution: Rescue Planet Earth

Animals around the world are depending on you for their protection and survival. Without your help many species of threatened and endangered animals may soon become extinct. What can you do? Over the next three weeks students will study animals at risk and will develop ideas and discover opportunities that can make a difference to the future of our planet. Students will be inspired as they realize that they are already part of the solution. The course will culminate with the students manning a station in the Zoo to inspire Zoo Guests to also be part of saving planet Earth!

Ages: 9-12 Date: Tues. Dec. 4, 11, 18, 2008 Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm

Zoo 101: Go behind-the-scenes in this amazing look at what it means to work with animals in a Zoo. Students will learn what it’s like to be a zoo keeper (rain or shine), how animal handling really works, animal husbandry, research and more. Students will also work to develop their presentation skills as zoo keepers today often participate in animal presentations that educate the public and bring awareness to different habitat and animal conservation efforts.

Ages: 12-15 Date: Tues. Feb. 5, 12, 19, 2009 Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm

Going Native: Fascinating animals are found across the globe, including in our own backyards. Could there really be species yet to be discovered by science right here? Yes! Using official scientific transect study methods and a GPS we just might be the ones to discover the undiscovered as we go native in this exploration of wild Florida. While students explore the diversity of wildlife found on the Zoo grounds they will take part in a real wildlife counting census taking place in the state of Florida and learn how data is collected. We will journey to the far corners of the Zoo’s wetland habitat to compare and contrast species found there with species in the students’ own backyards. The adventures that await these wildlife trackers will surely confirm that Florida’s wildlife is well worth saving.

Ages: 9-12 Date: Tues. Apr. 16, 23, 30, 2009 Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm

Register Online or Download Registration Form