Grades: K through 12 Availability: Late September through late April. General Information : Thanks to the passage of the ProParks levy in 2000, free admission and reimbursed bus transportation are available from September through April to groups applying for this opportunity. Seattle schools with a minimum of 30% of their students receiving free or reduced-rate lunches or a comparable level of scholarship, qualify for free zoo admission and reimbursed bus transportation. King County school outside of Seattle with a minimum of 30% of their students receiving free or reduced-rate lunches or a comparable level of scholarship, qualify for free zoo admission. All King County schools with fewer than 30% of their students participating in the free and reduced-rate lunch program are also welcome to attend a School-to-Zoo program, however they are responsible for their own admission and transportation expenses. Between late September and the end of April, you can attend a School-to-Zoo program, a ZEST program, a docent-guided school program, or take self-guided visit---whatever works best for you and your students. Phone: 206.548.2424 or email the School Programs Registrar

Download a PDF brochure!

How do I take advantage of this opportunity?
Complete the downloadable School Visit reservation form. This form is in PDF format and requires the free Adobe Acrobat Reader plugin. If you experience difficulty opening the form you can get the necessary software here. You can also call the Education Department at 206.548.2424 or email the Schools Programs Registrar and request to have a form mailed to you.

Reservations must be received at least three (3) weeks in advance of your visit date for a self-guided visit. Free admission and transportation are limited by the funds available, so apply early! Classes, whole grades or entire schools are eligible. To make the funds last as long as possible and reach as many students as possible, we ask that classes do not apply individually, but rather attend in groups that will make the best use of the space available on the bus.

Programs:
School-to-Zoo programs are aligned with the NSRC/STC science kits and other science curricula adopted by Seattle Schools. These tour-based programs are available at 10:00 and 11:30, Tuesday through Friday. They are designed to complement your science lessons as you begin the curriculum, or provide a new way to conclude your lessons. For information please call 206.548.2424 or email the Schools Programs Registrar.

Farm and Fabric/Family Farm (K-1st grades)
Students will use observation skills focused on in the Animals 2-by-2 curriculum, as they explore the differences and similarities in cows, chickens and goats. This interactive program also incorporates the NSF Fabric unit by giving students the opportunity to touch a sheep and to follow how fleece from the sheep becomes yarn and fabric. Students will even make felt from wool.

Download the Farm and Fabric Pre-visit sheet

Weather and Organisms/Northern Trail (K-2nd grades)
This program introduces students to the plants and animals of the far north. Focusing on the influences of weather on a variety of organisms, the program consists of a tour of the Northern Trail, during which students learn about plant and animal adaptations to the cold.

Download the Weather and Organisms Pre-visit sheet

Forest Explorers/Temperate Forest and Tropical Rain Forest (1st - 3rd grades)
Forest Explorers introduces students to the important components of Costa Rica's tropical rain forests and Washington state's temperate forests. The program consists of an interactive auditorium program, in which students are transformed into different parts of both forests, and a tour of the zoo's Temperate and Tropical Rain Forest bioclimatic zones. They also discover the importance of soil in forest ecosystems.

Download the Forest Explorers/Temperate Forest and Tropical Rain Forest Pre-visit sheet

Plant Growth and Development/Tropical Asia (2nd - 4th grades)
Your students will tour Woodland Park Zoo's exciting Trail of Vines, which features ecosystems of tropical Asia. Students will discover how plants rely on animals, and how animals rely on seeds, seedlings, mature plants and even dead plants.

Download the Plant Growth and Development/Tropical Asia Pre-visit sheet

Ecosystems/African Savanna (3rd - 5th grades)
Students explore the zoo's African Savanna to examine ecosystem elements on a large scale. Focusing on important ecosystem components such as animals, plants, soil, fire and more, this program teaches about interdependent relationships of savanna inhabitants.

Download the Ecosystems/African Savanna Pre-visit sheet

Click here for Docent-guided Programs