Virtual Programs
We’re bringing the Zoo to you!
With Virtual Programs, Phoenix Zoo educators broadcast into your home or classroom with live animals, engaging activities and inquiry-based programs – the same quality programming you expect from the Phoenix Zoo, just virtual. All you need is a computer, and an internet connection, although we recommend a projector for larger groups.
Our interactive presentations are designed to meet Arizona State Academic Standards and may include a mix of live discussions and demonstrations, pre-recorded videos, interactive quizzes and questions, as well as live animal presentations.
With programs designed for PreK through High School, we have something for every learner! Our standard platform is Zoom, which allows students to interact with zoo educators creating a two-way dialogue. We can consider other platforms, but interactive features may be impacted.
Title 1 Schools may qualify for a ZooReach Scholarship. For more information, click here!
The Phoenix Zoo is excited to host its Teen Career Conference once again, an opportunity for teens to explore many different careers in animal science. Click here to learn more about the free virtual event on April 1, 2023!
Each PreK topic lasts 30-45 minutes and will incorporate an interactive story in addition to live animals.
Backyard Bugs: Move, roll, bumble, flutter and crawl… there are bugs that do them all! We will meet, learn and explore bugs, bees, beetles and more! Literacy Component: Some Bugs by Angela DiTerlizzi
- Shapes in Nature: Circle, triangle, or square, shapes can be found everywhere! We’ll look for shapes in our world, on us, and on the animals too! Literacy Component: The Shape of my Heart by Mark Sperring
- Count the Zoo Desert Discovery: Arizona boasts four beautiful deserts, all full of wonderful plants and animals. Join us as we meet and count some of the animals you can see in the desert! Literacy Component: Way Out in the Desert by T.J. Marsh and Jennifer Ward
- Colorful Creatures: Animals come in many colors … like red, green, brown, and blue. All those pretty colors might help them hide from YOU! A tale of a chameleon will help explain it all, we’ll explore animal colors and have ourselves a ball. Literacy Component: The Mixed-Up Chameleon by Eric Carle
- Movin’ and Groovin’ : Twist and shout, do-si-do and turnabout! While we all love to rock and sway, animals like to move their way. Find out if YOU can move like the animals do! Literacy Component: Doing the Animal Bop by Jan Ormerod and Lindsey Gardiner
Duration: PreK 30 – 45 minutes
Cost: $125 schools | $175 non-school
Group Size: 30 maximum
How to Book: Call 602.914.4333 or fill out the request form (three weeks advance notice required for scheduling)
- Animal Kingdom: Ideal for grades K-3, but can be adapted to suit any age learner. From fur to feathers, scales to exoskeletons, discover the characteristics of the animal world. Identify and learn about the similarities and differences that help us categorize animals into distinct scientific groups
- Ask a Zoo Expert: Ideal for all learners. Customize your program to fit your needs! Tell us what you’re studying or interested in, and we will design a program just for your group. Some topic examples are nocturnal creatures, desert adaptations, and rainforests. After you’ve booked your program, a member of our education team will contact you to discuss your needs.
Duration: 45 – 60 minutes (PreK 30 – 45 minutes)
Cost: $125 schools | $175 non-school
Group Size: 40 maximum
How to Book: Call 602.914.4333 or fill out the request form (three weeks advance notice required for scheduling)
Visit the Phoenix Zoo from the comfort of your home or classroom! Virtual Field Trips include pre-recorded guided tours with three different animals, a review activity, accompanying worksheet and challenge activity, PLUS a 15-minute live, virtual Q&A session with a Zoo educator! All Virtual Field Trips are aligned with Arizona State Academic Standards.
Duration: Digital content varies. Virtual Visit with Educator is 15 min and option to add an additional 15 minutes.
Times: M-Th 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., Noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m.
Cost: $50 per classroom (add on a 15-minute, live virtual encounter with an ambassador animal for an additional $50)
Group Size: 40 maximum
How to Book: Call 602.914.4333 or fill out the request form (three weeks advance notice required for scheduling)
Topics
K-2: Food Webs: Who Eats Whom?: Fangs, beaks, and tusks, oh my! Did you know that animals have different types of teeth? Come join us as we visit some of our animals at the Zoo to uncover what their teeth can tell us about what they eat and where they get their energy.
K-2: Survival: Animal Features: Why are some birds colorful? How do monkeys use their tails? Observe three astounding animals at the Phoenix Zoo as we consider why they have certain features and how these features help them survive in the wild.
3-5: Food Webs: Energy Flow: Have you ever wondered how energy moves within an ecosystem? Explore the Tropics Trail with us and have an up-close encounter with three animals who play important and unique roles in the rainforest!
3-5: Survival: Adaptations: How do animals survive and thrive in the harsh climate of the desert? Discover the amazing adaptations of three exceptional animal species on the Africa Trail.
6-8: Food Webs: Human Impact: How do humans affect wildlife and ecosystems? Assume the role of a wildlife manager while we explore the Arizona Trail to discuss and observe three extraordinary species that we can directly impact!
6-8: Survival: Genetics and Inherited Traits: Why are some species endangered while others thrive? Investigate the genetic and environmental factors affecting three rare species at the Phoenix Zoo!
Call 602.914.4333 to book today!
Experience a unique, project-based learning program that brings the Phoenix Zoo to your classroom! Self-paced curriculum includes lessons for 60 minutes per week for 9 weeks. Designed to be flexible to fit the needs of classrooms doing virtual learning, in-person learning or a combination of both.
Project Orangutan is fun, fascinating and promotes hands-on, authentic problem-solving.
Duration: Learner-led curriculum (recommended timeframe is 9 weeks; 60 minutes per week)
Cost: $175 per classroom (add on a 30-minute, live virtual encounter with an ambassador animal for an additional $50)
How to Book: Call 602.914.4333 or fill out the request form (three weeks advance notice required for scheduling)
What is included in the program?
- A live, virtual 30-minute Q&A session with a Phoenix Zoo educator**
- In-depth Teacher Guide with:
- Arizona State Standards Alignment (Science, ELA, Math, Educational Technology)
- Detailed content outlines and lesson plans
- Comprehensive materials list
- Assessment rubrics
- Student Guide that outlines the overall project timeline, key vocabulary and assessment criteria
- Pre, post assessment and formative assessments
- Student Research Notebook PDF
- Support materials for each lesson including pre-recorded videos, recommended research sources and activity worksheets
**Optional Add-ons: Add a virtual, live encounter with ambassador animals to your virtual session for an additional $50 per classroom
Call 602.914.4333 to book today!
For teachers looking for engaging STEM content to include in the classroom, living room or afterschool program, Camp Zoo to You is here to help. Camp Zoo to You uses the energy and fun of summer camp to engage students in learning how to “build a zoo.” Content includes animal encounters, behind-the-scenes tours, guided visits to exhibits, crafts, learning activities, and scientific investigations. Choose from three different topics (birds, mammals, and reptiles and amphibians) which are each filled with hours of carefully curated, engaging digital content on a secure online platform.
Camp Zoo to You is designed for students in grades 3 – 6 to participate independently. Activities can be used with younger students with adult guidance. Content is delivered by animated and engaging instructor staff who are trained in interpretive techniques and activity facilitation. All content is available in pre-recorded format for use in the way that best suits your needs. Use the activities to complement your plans or build your lessons around them…it’s all up to you!
Your one-time fee grants 4 weeks of access to your chosen topic’s videos and activity descriptions plus a materials list.
Duration: 3 – 5 hours per topic, 3 topics
Cost: $40 per classroom or household
Group Size: 1 classroom/1 household
How to Book: Call 602.914.4333
Meet the ZOOm Animal Crew!
Add a Phoenix Zoo animal to your virtual work meeting, get together, or party! Select animals are available for 15-minute segments, accompanied by a Zoo staff member who can answer questions and share facts about your special guest.
If you’re interested in booking one for your event or meeting, please contact outreach@phoenixzoo.org to see if we can accommodate your request.
Please note that Animal ZOOms must be requested at least two weeks in advance and can only be accommodated between 7 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Arizona time. It may take up to one week to confirm your event.
FERNANDO | $200
Fernando, (his friends call him Fern), is available to chill out with you during your next online meeting. While we cannot guarantee Fern will be awake during your scheduled rendezvous, we can guarantee that you will fall in love with him!
LADY | $200
Lady the aardvark will be “all ears” on your next video call! Purchase today to have Lady virtually join you for a team meeting, a casual hangout or any type of celebration! Lady is ready for all your calls and an animal keeper will be there to tell you all about her.
TORTOISE | $200
Sometimes it’s good to slow things down and absorb the wisdom of our elders – or at least stare at their cute faces! Have our giant Galapagos tortoises join your next meeting and be whisked away to a peaceful island paradise, if only for a short spell.
FLAMINGOS | $200
Mingle with flamingos! Flamingos are fancy, flashy and flamboyant, but they are never dull. Want to find out what the fuss is all about? Let our flamingo flock and one of their keepers crash your next meeting and experience the fun firsthand!
MYSTERY | $150
Who’s it going to be? If you are the daring kind, purchase the Mystery Guest and you will receive a call from one of the four following animals: porcupine, chameleon, tamandua, raven or owl. Learn all about them from one of their keepers while they steal the show, err, meeting!
Zigazoo is the leader of peer-to-peer video sharing for remote learning.
With its stellar safety ratings from children’s advocacy organizations, Zigazoo gives teachers, pod leaders, and families access to hundreds of projects built for at-home learning and the tools to share video responses with .
Teachers can create a Zigazoo Classroom and parents can join the Zigazoo Global Community to start assigning or responding to projects today.
Zigazoo is free for all users. Details can be found at zigazoo.com.
that's zoo we are
The Phoenix Zoo is one of the largest non-profit zoos in the U.S., caring for over 3,000 animals, with nearly 400 species represented, including many threatened/endangered species.
