icon of person Membership icon of ticket Buy Tickets
Buy Tickets - Education
Buy Tickets - Education
Menu
Welcome
Sign up for our quarterly Program Announcement email for new programs, topics, and class sections and sale dates.

Cancellation/Refund Policy
Programs cancelled by the registrant at least two weeks in advance of the program date may receive a refund. Refunds or credits are no longer available for programs cancelled by the registrant within two weeks of the program date.

If you are a Zoo Member or have a promotion code, please enter this information at the time of ticket purchase checkout. Scroll down for a complete listing of all Education Programs.
ZOO TROOP
Learning and growing is fun at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden! These 4-week series encourage the development of important skills and values that will allow your child to interact with peers while fostering knowledge and respect for wildlife and wild places. Through age appropriate, skill and wonder-building hands-on activities, close encounters with animals, Zoo hikes, and child-led projects, children learn biological concepts and become curious to explore the world around them and find their own answers. Come to Zoo Troop, where children can let their imagination run wild!

Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday. See class descriptions for current series content. All programs include acitivities in the classrooms, ambassador animal encounters, and Zoo hikes. Older classes usually have a series project/presentation. Toddler and PreK attend with an adult. Kindergarten-8th attend independently. 
Toddlers Sensational Senses
Regular Price: $105.00
Member Price: $90.00
For 18-36 months olds
Can you smell as well as an aardvark or hear as well as a bat-eared fox? Animals use their senses in incredible ways to explore their world - just like we do! From seeing with eyes of all shapes and sizes, to sniffing with powerful noses, to feeling with toes, tails, or whiskers, animals have amazing ways to understand their surroundings. Discover how different animals use sight, smell, taste, and touch to survive every day.

Note: Plan for one adult to stay with your child during these classes.
Toddlers Hoot and Holler
Regular Price: $105.00
Member Price: $90.00
For 18-36 months olds
“Raaa”, roars the tiger, “Quack”, calls the duck, “Sssss”, hisses the… cockroach. Animals sure do have a lot to say! Animals use their voices to communicate and their ears to listen. Explore the many ways wild animals talk to each other, from the familiar “moo” of a cow to the rumble of a rhino. Together, we’ll celebrate that every animal has a voice - and every voice matters!

Note: Plan for one adult to stay with your child during these classes.
Pre-K Exploring Your World
Regular Price: $105.00
Member Price: $90.00
For 3, 4 and 5 years old not in kindergarten
From the low rumbles of elephants to the gentle touch of a gorilla mom, animals have many ways to share messages with one another. Some use sights and sounds, others use smells or even touch to say “stay away,” “come closer,” or “I’m here!” In this series, we’ll explore how animals communicate—through colors and expressions, calls and rumbles, scents and smells, and even grooming and gentle touches. Discover how animals find friends, work together, and survive by using their senses to talk without words.

Note: Plan for one adult to stay with your child during these classes.
Pre-K Finding Friends
Regular Price: $105.00
Member Price: $90.00
For 3, 4 and 5 years old not in kindergarten
From the low rumbles of elephants to the gentle touch of a gorilla mom, animals have many ways to share messages with one another. Some use sights and sounds, others use smells or even touch to say “stay away,” “come closer,” or “I’m here!” In this series, we’ll explore how animals communicate - through colors and expressions, calls and rumbles, scents and smells, and even grooming and gentle touches. Discover how animals find friends, work together, and survive by using their senses to talk without words.

Note: Plan for one adult to stay with your child during these classes.
Kindergarten Say What
Regular Price: $110.00
Member Price: $95.00
What do colorful feathers, fancy foot work, squawking, and poop all have in common?! Most animals may not be able to “talk” in the same way that we do, but they sure do know how to communicate with each other in a diversity of ways! We’ll meet these unconventional “talkers” up-close and use our senses to figure out what kind of messages they are trying to share.

Note: Children attend this series independently.
Kindergarten Bio-Buddies
Regular Price: $110.00
Member Price: $95.00
Can a moth and a sloth be buddies? Can a tree and a bee be friends? Why not? Many animals have unusual friends. These partnerships show how animals and nature work together. Uncover how animals help each other and how these friendships fit into the balance of nature.

Note: Children attend this series independently.
1st-2nd Grade Extreme Senses
Regular Price: $115.00
Member Price: $100.00
An owl can hear a mouse rustling over 100 feet away, a bear can sniff out food from miles off, and a butterfly can taste with its feet! Animals experience the world in ways that seem almost superpowered to us. Come discover how creatures big and small use their senses to survive, explore, and thrive. Some of the world’s coolest critters have the most amazing senses!

Dates: Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday for 4 weeks  
1st-2nd Grade Secret Messages
Regular Price: $115.00
Member Price: $100.00
Shhhh! Some animals are masters of secret communication. From the biggest beasts to the tiniest insects, these clever creatures share messages in whispers, wiggles, and even colors - no sound required! Come uncover how animals “talk” without saying a word..

Dates: Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday for 4 weeks  
3rd-4th Grade Eye Saw That
Regular Price: $115.00
Member Price: $100.00
Do you see eye to eye with wildlife? Maybe, maybe not! Animal eyes are adapted to perceive their world and tell them important information to help them survive. Not all visual cues are important to all species and not all things look the same to all animals. We will learn about how different species use their uniquely adapted eyes and their sense of sight to see their world and how this sense helps them to meet their needs and survive in the world.

Dates: Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday for 4 weeks
3rd-4th Grade A Tails Tale
Regular Price: $115.00
Member Price: $100.00
A rudder, a signal, a balancer, a breaking system - tails serve all sorts of interesting functions. We will look at the science and the structure of tails and who uses them for what, the clues a tail can tell about an animal's lifestyle, and the tools that we use to help make up for not having a tail ourselves.

Dates: Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday for 4 weeks
5th-6th Grade Call Me Maybe
Regular Price: $115.00
Member Price: $100.00
Can you tell the difference between an alarm call and a friendly vocalization just by hearing it? How does an animal's color send a silent message? What does it really mean when your cat rubs its head on you? Scent, color, sound - animals use many methods to share information with their friends, foes, and neighbors. We will explore the important role that animal communication plays both within and between species. We will even look for and recognize the meaning of some common animal communications, and uncover the power of our own words and voices by sharing what we learn with our friends and family.

Dates: Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday for 4 weeks  
5th-6th Grade Habitat Heroes
Regular Price: $115.00
Member Price: $100.00
What do an alligator, a panda, and a frog have in common? They’re nature’s guardians! Some animals act as early warning signs when their homes change, others keep ecosystems running smoothly, and a few provide protection for countless creatures around them. Come find out which amazing animals fill these roles.

Dates: Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday for 4 weeks  
7th-8th Grade Animal Instincts
Regular Price: $115.00
Member Price: $100.00
Finding food, shelter, and safety are essential for an animal's survival. What about things like play and vocalizations, though? How much of what animals do is learned, and how much is instinct? We will explore the roots and causes of some of the different behaviors that animals display every day as well as how these behaviors might differ between wild and captive animals.

Dates: Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday for 4 weeks.
7th-8th Grade Be Mine
Regular Price: $115.00
Member Price: $100.00
Love is in the air this month. From stinky pheromones to musical duets and gifts of food to elaborate dance routines, animals have interesting ways of finding and winning over a mate. We'll learn about the role that sounds, sights, and smells play in animals finding each other and some of the funny and strange things that animals do to win over a prospective partner. Discover the important role conservation science plays in helping love blossom in the animal world.

Dates: Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday for 4 weeks.
 
DAYTIME PROGRAMS
These all-ages programs explore wildlife through activities and hikes as well as crafts or games in a manner that is sure to be fun for all ages. Please note that at least one adult must be registered with each group. Children under 3 years old are free.
Maple Tapping and Tasting
Regular Price: $25.00
Member Price: $20.00
Come join us at the Zoo’s Bowyer Farm for a fun afternoon full of history, hands-on activities, and storytelling all about maple tapping! This program offers a sweet peek into the history of this age-old tradition and offers an opportunity to participate in the maple tapping process. At the end, participants will be able to taste the precursor to maple syrup, fresh from the tree! This program is sure to be fun for the whole family.

Note: This program takes place at our Bowyer Farm in Mason, located at 2210 Mason Montgomery Road. This is an outdoor program—dress warmly and with comfortable walking shoes to walk approximately 1–2 miles over uneven terrain. All attendees 3 years and above must register. At least one adult must register per group. Children under 3 years are free. Price is per person.
Session Maple Tapping and Tasting: Saturday, February 21, 2026 10:00AM - 12:00PM AVAILABLE
 
EVENING and OVERNIGHT PROGRAMS
Overnight Safari Sleep with the Manatees
Price: $70.00
Spend the Night at the Zoo!

Florida is full of diverse habitats that are bursting with thousands of animal species, from walking-on-water basilisks to slow-and-steady manatees. We’ll dive headfirst into the astonishing biodiversity of these habitats, centering around the lives of our resident manatees who are a part of a rehabilitation program. Throughout the night we’ll explore a few places in the Zoo, participate in fun, educational activities, get a behind-the-scenes sneak peek, including our amazing science and research center CREW, and meet some of our animal ambassadors up-close and personal! When the night ends, you’ll doze off at our Manatee Springs building in the big open-spaced exhibit area.

 

Note: All program attendees must be 5 years and older and be registered. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a registered adult. 

This program sleeps in the Manatee Springs building. This is a beautiful open-spaced room that will be shared with other families/groups. So you will be combined with other groups for the program and sleeping.

 

Session Overnight Safari Sleep with the Manatees: Saturday, January 17, 2026 7:00PM - 9:00AM AVAILABLE
Zoo Night Hikes
Regular Price: $25.00
Member Price: $20.00
Zoo lovers of all ages can join us each season for a special night hike around the Zoo.

January & February: Winter Wonderland Bundle up and discover the Zoo after hours this winter! From playful penguins and howling wolves to energetic otters, snow-loving red pandas, and mighty bald eagles, you’ll see how animals thrive in chilly weather. Take an exclusive guided hike through the Zoo after it closes, where frosty air and glowing lights make the perfect backdrop for spotting our cold-weather champions. Along the way, dive into hands-on activities and warm up with unforgettable up-close encounters with our animal ambassadors. Winter nights have never been so wild

Note: All attendees 3 years and above must register. At least one adult must register per group. Children under 3 years are free. Price is per person.
 
HOLIDAY DAY CAMP

Enrichment Expedition (4 Year Olds–8th Grade)

Is play an important part of your day? It is to animals here at the Zoo! In this one-day camp, we will explore how both human and non-human animals use enrichment to stay healthy and learn how to get along with others. With interactive activities and observations of animals both in the Zoo and in the classroom, we will learn about how play is useful in keeping our animals happy and healthy. We will even create enrichment items for a few of our Zoo residents to enjoy.

  • Please register children according to the grade they are currently in.
  • Camps are available for 4year-8th grade only.
  • For registration you will need emergency contact and authorized pick-up information. 
4yr-Kindergarten: Enrichment Expedition
Regular Price: $80.00
Member Price: $65.00



 

1st-2nd Grade: Enrichment Expedition
Regular Price: $80.00
Member Price: $65.00


 

3rd-4th Grade: Enrichment Expedition
Regular Price: $80.00
Member Price: $65.00


 

5th-8th Grade: Enrichment Expedition
Regular Price: $80.00
Member Price: $65.00



 

 
T-SHIRTS
Vintage Camp TShirts
Price: $10.00
All t-shirts are for pickup only, at the Harold C Schott Education Building at 56 Erkenbrecher Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45249 Monday-Friday 9am-5pm, or Saturday 9am-12pm. Call 513-559-7730 when you arrive. All orders will be held for 4 business days, and then returned to inventory if not picked up. 

Gildan Brand 100% Cotton. See size chart. Get your vintage camp tshirt! Youth and Adult sizes for the whole family!
 
GIVE THE ZOO TO KIDS IN NEED
Support Low Income Students Visiting The Zoo
 
Donate today and support low income students visiting the zoo.

The Living Classroom Education Access Fund began in 2012. Since that time the fund has brought 150,000 low-income children and their teachers to the Zoo for a free, fun, standards-aligned daytime, or overnight field trip. You can give EVERY child the opportunity to be inspired by wildlife every day and enjoy the quintessential Cincinnatian experience of visiting this top zoo.

An entire grade of young people can visit the zoo for $1000.00
Provide a zoo experience to a bus full of students for $500.00
Send an entire classroom to the Zoo for $250.00
Any donation amount could help! Please donate today.

Learn more about the Living Classroom Education Fund here- http://cincinnatizoo.org/lceaf/
 
EDUCATION GIFT CERTIFICATES
Zoo Education Programs make a perfect gift. You can even redeem your Education Gift Certificate online! When making a purchase online with an Education Gift Certificate select the Gift Certificate option in the payment screen and enter the barcode number.

NOTE: Purchasing a gift certificate does not guarantee a space in programs. Sign up for our quarterly Education Program Announcement email to receive notices of new programs and when they go on sale.
$300.00 Education Gift Certificate
Price: $300.00
Gift Certificates only redeemable for Zoo Education Programs.
Gift Certificates expire 5 years from purchase.
 
$200.00 Education Gift Certificate
Price: $200.00
​Gift Certificates only redeemable for Zoo Education Programs.
Expires 5 years from order date
$100.00 Education Gift Certificate
Price: $100.00
​Gift Certificates only redeemable for Zoo Education Programs.
Expires 5 years from order date
$50.00 Education Gift Certificate
Price: $50.00
​Gift Certificates only redeemable for Zoo Education Programs.
Expires 5 years from order date
$25.00 Education Gift Certificate
Price: $25.00
For the best elves in your life. 

​Gift Certificates only redeemable for Zoo Education Programs.
Expires 5 years from order date
$15.00 Education Gift Certificate
Price: $15.00
Put a little Zoo in their stocking!

​Gift Certificates only redeemable for Zoo Education Programs.
Expires 5 years from order date
 
Promo Badge
Promo Badge 2