These 30-45 minute programs enhance any visit to the Zoo. With many topics to choose from, give your group a chance to meet some animals up close!

Reservations should be made two weeks in advance.

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Our Ed-Zoo-Cational Combo includes a 45 minute class on a topic  of your choice with live animals, as well as a personal guide through the Zoo to tell you about the animals and answer your questions.  This program lasts approximately 1.5 hours.

Reservations should be made two weeks in advance.

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Bring the zoo to you, with just a phone call our animal ambassadors can visit your school or facility. Using biofacts, activities and up-close animal encounters we bring the outside world inside to you. Choose from a variety of programs, designed for all age groups to help fulfill State Standards.

Costs start at $175.00 . Prices are adjusted for travel outside of Peoria and number of participants.

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Ever had a giraffe peaking in your bedroom window? You can now when you spend the night at the Zoo! Get a chance to sleep in Africa!, enjoy nocturnal tours, meet some animals up close and find out what the Zoo is like at night. Your group’s adventure begins at 7:00pm and ends the next morning at 9:00am. Snack and breakfast provided as well as admission into the Zoo the next day! This program is great for scouts, church groups and so many others!

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Come and learn about Peoria Zoo! This adult only series will focus on what makes Peoria Zoo a world class zoo experience. Learn about our past, our efforts today, and our bright future. Light refreshments will be served. Registration is required.

Attend each class in the series, classes offered; January 18, February 15, March 15 and April 19

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Bring your grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, and kids of all ages to learn about animal families while spending time with your own! We will explore different animal family dynamics through activities, crafts, and games. Light refreshments will be served. Registration is required.

Attend both classes in the series; the classes are offered on February 14-Mobs, Pods, and Prides (Mammal Families) and April 11-Parliaments, Flocks, and Murders (Bird Families).

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Come and learn about Peoria Zoo! This adult only series will focus on what makes Peoria Zoo a world class zoo experience. Learn about our past, our efforts today, and our bright future. Light refreshments will be served. Registration is required.

Attend each class in the series, classes offered; January 18, February 15, March 15 and April 19

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Come and learn about Peoria Zoo! This adult only series will focus on what makes Peoria Zoo a world class zoo experience. Learn about our past, our efforts today, and our bright future. Light refreshments will be served. Registration is required.

Attend each class in the series, classes offered; January 18, February 15, March 15 and April 19

Comments closed

Bring your grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, and kids of all ages to learn about animal families while spending time with your own! We will explore different animal family dynamics through activities, crafts, and games. Light refreshments will be served. Registration is required.

Attend both classes in the series; the classes are offered on February 14-Mobs, Pods, and Prides (Mammal Families) and April 11-Parliaments, Flocks, and Murders (Bird Families).

Comments closed

Come and learn about Peoria Zoo! This adult only series will focus on what makes Peoria Zoo a world class zoo experience. Learn about our past, our efforts today, and our bright future. Light refreshments will be served. Registration is required.

Attend each class in the series, classes offered; January 18, February 15, March 15 and April 19

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Instructors: Zoo & Botanical Garden Staff

Within nature, there are many spooky creatures and seriously dangerous, even frightening, plants. In the spirit of Howl-Zoo-Ween and the Chrysanthemum Show “The Nightmare before Christmas”, we will explore sensationally spooky creatures and beautiful but dangerous plants. The class will be held at the new Tropics classroom at the Zoo (use the old Zoo entrance).  Halloween fun for the whole family! Spooky snacks will be served!

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Ever wondered what’s going on at Peoria Zoo at night?  Find out when you spend the night at the Zoo! Enjoy nocturnal tours, meet some animals up close and find out what the Zoo is like at night. Your group’s adventure begins at 7:00pm and ends the next morning at 9:00am. Snack and breakfast provided as well as admission into the Zoo the next day!

This event runs April 22nd from 7:00pm until April 23 at 9:00am.

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Let’s get back to nature together! Nature based crafts, activities, takeaways, and more!  Join our Peoria Zoo Family Nature Club! Family Nature Club is a program for all ages!  This program is designed for parents and children to explore the natural world together.

Family Nature Club Programs are running   March 23, April 13, April 27

March 23 – Spring is Here!
Warmer temperatures are just around the corner.  Let’s take a look to see what our animal friends are doing to get ready for a busy summer season.

April 13 – Earth Day Can Be Every Day!
We’ll learn all about the easy ways we can help our planet and the wonderful animals that call it home.

April 27 – Flowers and Pollinators
The bees will be buzzing!  Let’s take a look at all of the incredible pollinators and the ways that we can help them.

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Homeschool Classes

Science has never been more exciting, with up-close animal encounters, tours, experiments, crafts and more! For students 5-13 years old.

Each month is a new topic designed to help meet state standards and ignite a love of animals in young learners.

*Parents are welcome to drop children off after sign-in. Parents who wish to attend the session must also enroll for the activity.

2025 Dates and Topics:

February 12 – Extreme Extremities
Hands and feet have adapted in many ways. We will learn about the amazing different ways animals use their limbs to survive.

March 12 – Bone Appetit
The diet of the Zoo animals depend on the species, natural environment and nutritional needs of the animals.

April 9 – Welcome to the Bat Cave
Discover the amazing world of Earth’s only flying mammal!

May 14 – Weather Alert!
Get ready to uncover the furry and feathered meteorologists of the animals kingdom!  We’ll dive in to how critters can sense the weather before it hits, and how it shakes up their world.

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