Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden®

Home of the world famous hippo Fiona. Family friendly Zoo committed to inspiring visitors with wildlife and saving species.

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Zoo Troop
We are now offering both an in-person program and new Virtual Zoo Troop programs online!

These 4 week long, age-appropriate classes for toddlers through 8th graders are designed to develop curiosity, create empathy, encourage healthy social skills, and grow self esteem. Participants will be immersed in fun, educational, wildlife rich experiences designed to develop knowledge and life skills.

Toddler and PreK participants must participate with an adult to enjoy all the action.  To encourage independence, Kindergartners and older are not accompanied by adults and for in-person programs they are dropped off before and picked up after each adventure!  Join the club and hang with the Troop!

SAFETY DURING COVID-19

By limiting visitor capacity and implementing health and safety measures recommended by state officials, the community can take in the beauty of the botanical garden in a safe way. We are committed to continuing to inspire our guests every day! Employees are required to wear masks. Masks are required for children 6 years old and older in all buildings and high congestion areas per City ordinance effective July 9, 2020. Masks are also required to feed the giraffes.

  • Toddler and PreK classes will be limited to 10 children (and 10 adults). One adults is required to attend with each child.
    • Adults are required to wear a mask when indoors, or in high traffic exhibit areas.
  • Kindergarten classes will be limited to 12 children. No adults attend these programs.
    • We require children to wear a mask during the animal encounter portion of the program due to close proximity.
  • 1st-8th Grade classes will be limited to 12 children. No adults attend these programs.
    • Zoo Troopers are required to wear a mask when indoors, or in high traffic exhibit areas.
  • Adults are required to wear a mask when indoors, or in high traffic exhibit areas.
  • All Zoo employees are required to wear a mask at all times.

More About Zoo Troop

In each series we will identify specific steps or skills that your child will achieve along with a key purpose statement. The same knowledgeable Zoo instructor will teach each week of the Zoo Troop series which will allow your child to form a positive relationship with their instructor.

Join the Zoo Troop as we explore a different fun and interactive topic every month and foster caring, confident, and inspiring young people who know and love the wild world around them.

Who can participate?
  • Ages 18 months old through 8th grade. We divide age groups by grade bands. We offer the following grade bands: Toddlers (18-36 months old), Pre- K, Kindergarten, 1st-2nd Grade, 3rd-5th Grade, and 6th-8th Grade.
When are Zoo Troop courses available?
  • When you register for Zoo Troop you will be asked to select the day of the week you would like to come to every week. Currently Zoo Troop is offered on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, or Saturdays.
How much is Zoo Troop?
  • Zoo Troop series are 4 weeks long.
  • Cost for series vary based on Grade Band. See below for the cost of each.
Where does Zoo Troop take place?
  • In-person Zoo Troop at the Zoo occurs in the Harold C. Schott Education Center. Confirmation materials will be received once you have registered. Virtual Zoo Troop is online. Once you register you will be sent information on how to join the online Zoo Troop class.

Zoo Troop

zootrooptoddlersFor Toddlers (18-36 months old)

Cost: Members: $65 / Non-Members: $80 (An adult must accompany child. No charge for accompanying adult.)

Register for In-Person
Movers & Shakers

Does your child like to jump, hop, crawl, or climb? Come learn how animals are movers and shakers and discover how animals get from place to place, using their bodies to maneuver. We'll learn about animal locomotion while we move around the Zoo, meet animals, and act like animals with our friends.

IMPORTANT:Please plan for one adult to stay with your child during these classes. We require adults accompanying their children to classes to wear masks to be in compliance with the governor's guidelines.

Steps
1. Discover how animals need to move around just like we do.
2. Meet animals up-close and use our eyes to examine their bodies.
3. Make new friends and explore our world together.

Purpose
When I've finished this Zoo Troop adventure, I will have discovered how animals have different means of locomotion to fly, hop, climb, and crawl! I will have had the opportunity to learn how animals move to meet friends, find food, and seek our shelter.

Dates
Choose a day for every week for 4 weeks.
In person at the Zoo
• Tuesdays October 27, November 3, 10, and 17: 9:30-10:15am or 11:00-11:45am
• Wednesdays October 28, November 4, 11, and 18: 9:30-10:15am or 11:00-11:45am
• Saturdays October 31, November 7, 14, and 21: 9:30-10:15am or 11:00-11:45am

No virtual Zoo Troop experience available.

zootroppprekFor Pre-Kindergarteners (ages 3-4 years old)

Cost: Members: $65 / Non-Members: $80 (An adult must accompany child. No charge for accompanying adult.)

Register for In-Person
Virtual Program now available for PreK and Kindergarten! See information below.
Ani-Moves

Have you watched a caterpillar inch across a leaf or a rabbit hop through the grass? From crawling like a caterpillar to hopping like a bunny, we will mimic the movement our animal friends make and learn about what makes them special. Join us in this four week series as we discover how animals can fly, jump, hop, swing, and dive!

IMPORTANT: We require adults accompanying their children to classes to wear masks to be in compliance with the governor's guidelines. Please plan for one adult to stay with your child during in-person and virtual classes.

Steps
1. Discover how animals move around from place to place.
2. Meet animals and observe their special body parts used for locomotion.
3. Make new friends and explore our world with them.

Purpose
When I've finished this Zoo Troop adventure, I will have learned that animals have special adaptations that allow them to move in many different ways.

Dates
Choose a day for every week for 4 weeks.

In person at the Zoo
• Tuesdays October 27, November 3, 10, and 17: 10:00-11:00am
• Wednesdays October 28, November 4, 11, and 18: 10:00-11:00am
• Saturdays October 31, November 7, 14, and 21: 10:00-11:00am

Virtual
• Virtual programming is back! See information in section below.

zootroopkindFor Kindergartners

Cost: Members: $70 / Non-Members: $85

Register for In-Person
Virtual Program now available for PreK and Kindergarten! See information below.
I Like to Move It

Do you scurry like a squirrel or swing like a siamang? Do you run like a rhino or paddle like a penguin? We'll hike through the Zoo and meet some new animal friends as we discover (and try out) all of the amazing ways animals move through their world.

IMPORTANT: Parents are encouraged to allow their children to experience these classes independently. We require children attending class to wear masks during animal demonstration to be in compliance with the governor's guidelines.

Steps
1. Explore the many different types of animal locomotion.
2. Discover the important role an animal's body plays in the way it moves through its habitat.
3. Investigate how our bodies help us to move and then use them to move like some of our animal friends.
4. Develop our communication skills and gain confidence while making friends.

Purpose
When I've finished this Zoo Troop adventure, I will understand how animals (including humans) use their bodies to move through their world.

Dates
Choose a day for every week for 4 weeks.
In person at the Zoo
• Tuesdays October 27, November 3, 10, and 17: 10:00-11:30am
• Wednesdays October 28, November 4, 11, and 18: 10:00-11:30am
• Saturdays October 31, November 7, 14, and 21: 10:00-11:30am

Virtual
• Virtual programming is back! See information in section below.

zootrop1or3For 1st-2nd Graders

Cost: Members: $70 / Non-Members: $85

Register for In-Person
Walk This Way

Creep with eight legs, crawl with six legs, sprint with four legs or walk with just two...join us on this journey as we investigate how animals move! In each class, we will explore animal movers around the Zoo, challenge ourselves with activities and experience up close animal encounters.

IMPORTANT: Parents are encouraged to allow their children to experience these classes independently. We require children attending class to wear masks to be in compliance with the governor's guidelines.

Steps
1. Discover that animals have physical adaptations that allow them to move.
2. Meet animals up-close and study the body parts that assist them in locomotion.
3. Make new friends and work with others.
4. Gain confidence and develop our communication skills while having fun.

Purpose
When I've finished this Zoo Troop adventure, I will have learned that animals have physical adaptations that allow them to move in their habitats.

Dates
Choose a day for every week for 4 weeks.
In person at the Zoo
• Tuesdays October 27, November 3, 10, and 17: 10:00-11:30am
• Wednesdays October 28, November 4, 11, and 18: 10:00-11:30am
• Saturdays October 31, November 7, 14, and 21: 2:00-3:30pm

Virtual
• Virtual programming for the fall is cancelled

zootropfirstFor 3rd-4th Graders

Cost: Members: $75 / Non-Members: $90

Register for In-Person
Animals on the Move

From gibbon brachiation to penguin paddling, we will take a look at animal locomotion and learn about the adaptations that allow animals to move in different ways. We will also test some of our locomotion skills and see how we measure up when compared to some wild movers and shakers around the Zoo.

IMPORTANT: We require children attending class to wear masks to be in compliance with the governor's guidelines.

Steps
1. Discover the important role an animal's body plays in how and where it lives.
2. Compare human and animal movement skills
3. Make new friends and discover our voices as we learn together.
4. Discover what role we play in our environment.

Purpose
When I've finished this Zoo Troop adventure, I will have more knowledge about how animal and human bodies are adapted to certain ways of movements and habitats.

Dates
Choose a day for every week for 4 weeks.
In person at the Zoo
• Tuesdays October 27, November 3, 10, and 17: 10:00am-12:00pm
•
• Saturdays October 31, November 4, 17, and 21: 1:30-3:30pm
Virtual
• Virtual programming for the fall is cancelled

six8For 5th-6th Graders

Cost: Members: $75/ Non-Members: $90

Register for In-Person
Prowl Like a Predator

Whether you hunt with talons or teeth, stealth or speed, when you are at the top of the food chain, you have to be fierce. We will explore the meat-eaters of the mountains, carnivores of the canopy, savanna stalkers, and polar prowlers to learn how predators in different habitats are specially adapted to find and/or catch their food in the places they call home.

IMPORTANT: We require children attending class to wear masks to be in compliance with the governor's guidelines.

Steps
1. Investigate the special physical and behavioral adaptations of predators.
2. Identify the adaptations that are specific to predators hunting in different habitats.
3. Learn how our skills compare to those of some predators.
4. Make new friends and work on our cooperative and problem-solving skills.

Purpose
When I have finished this Zoo Troop adventure, I will have honed my problem solving abilities and used teamwork to explore the adaptations of predators while learning to better appreciate their role (and my own) in an ecosystem.

Dates
Choose a day for every week for 4 weeks.
In person at the Zoo
• Tuesdays October 22, 29, November 3, 10, and 17: 10:00am-12:00pm
• Wednesdays October 28, November 4, 11, and 18: 10:00-12:00pm
• Saturdays October 31, November 7, 14, and 21: 1:30-3:30pm
Virtual
• Virtual programming for the fall is cancelled

3For 7th-8th Graders

Cost: Members: $75 / Non-Members: $90

Register for In-Person
Animal Olympians

We often focus on who is the strongest or fastest human, or which person can jump the highest or the farthest. This series will focus on how those Olympian talents apply to the animal kingdom and how these athletic skills translate into survival skills for wildlife. We will even test our own skills against those of our animal Olympians to see who would bring home the gold.

IMPORTANT: We require children attending class to wear masks to be in compliance with the governor's guidelines.

Steps
1. Explore which animals use speed, agility, and strength to give them a survival advantage.
2. Learn about the special physical adaptations an animal must have to achieve Olympian level skills.
3. Make new friends and work together to achieve our goals.


Purpose
When I have finished the Zoo Troop adventure, I will have developed problem solving and teamwork skills and will build my confidence in my own voice and ideas as I discover how I can share my knowledge with others.

Dates
Choose a day for every week for 4 weeks.
In person at the Zoo
• Tuesdays October 27, November 3, 10, and 17: 10:00am-12:00pm
• Wednesdays October 28, November 4, 11, and 18: 10:00-12:00pm
• Saturdays October 31, November 7, 17, and 21: 1:30-3:30pm
Virtual
• Virtual programming for the fall is cancelled

Virtual Zoo Troop

zootroppprekFor Pre-Kindergarteners (ages 3-4 years old)

Cost: Members: $70 / Non-Members: $85 (An adult must accompany child. No charge for accompanying adult.)

Register Here!
Ani-Moves


Have you watched a caterpillar inch across a leaf or a rabbit hop through the grass? From crawling like a caterpillar to hopping like a bunny, we will mimic the movement our animal friends make and learn about what makes them special. Join us in this four week series as we discover how animals can fly, jump, hop, swing, and dive!

IMPORTANT: We require adults accompanying their children to classes to wear masks to be in compliance with the governor’s guidelines. Please plan for one adult to stay with your child during in-person and virtual classes.

Steps
1. Discover how animals move around from place to place.
2. Meet animals and observe their special body parts used for locomotion.
3. Make new friends and explore our world with them.

Purpose
When I’ve finished this Zoo Troop adventure, I will have learned that animals have special adaptations that allow them to move in many different ways.

Dates
Choose a day for every week for 4 weeks.

Virtual 
• Fridays, October 30, November 6, 13, and 20: 11:00am-12:00pm

zootroopkindFor Kindergartners

Members: $70 / Non-Members: $85

Register Here!
Ani-Moves


Have you watched a caterpillar inch across a leaf or a rabbit hop through the grass? From crawling like a caterpillar to hopping like a bunny, we will mimic the movement our animal friends make and learn about what makes them special. Join us in this four week series as we discover how animals can fly, jump, hop, swing, and dive!

IMPORTANT: We require adults accompanying their children to classes to wear masks to be in compliance with the governor’s guidelines. Please plan for one adult to stay with your child during in-person and virtual classes.

Steps
1. Discover how animals move around from place to place.
2. Meet animals and observe their special body parts used for locomotion.
3. Make new friends and explore our world with them.

Purpose
When I’ve finished this Zoo Troop adventure, I will have learned that animals have special adaptations that allow them to move in many different ways.

Dates
Choose a day for every week for 4 weeks.

Virtual 
• Fridays, October 30, November 6, 13, and 20: 11:00am-12:00pm

FAQs & Policies

Zoo Troop

What will be required to attend Zoo Troop?

Prior to entering the building, a Zoo employee will conduct a temperature check using a touchless thermometer, on all children and adults.
Children may be required to wear masks during Zoo Troop. See more information below.
Adults will be required to wear masks while indoors and in high-traffic areas.
Zoo employees are required to wear masks at all times.

Are Zoo Troopers required to wear a mask?

According to state and local guidelines, masks are now required for children six years and older.

  • Toddler and Pre-K Zoo Troopers are not required to wear masks.
    • Adults accompanying a child are required to wear masks while indoors and in high-traffic areas.
  • Kindergarten Zoo Troopers are required to wear a mask during the animal encounter portion.
  • 1st-8th Grade Zoo Troopers are required to wear a mask while indoors and in designated high-traffic areas.
  • Adults are required to wear masks while indoors and in high-traffic areas.

Zoo Educators will remind participants when it is time to put masks on and when masks can be taken off. We know this is an adjustment for young children and we will do everything we can to make them feel comfortable throughout the program.

Are there any exceptions to adults wearing masks ?

Any adults accompanying their child in the Toddler or PreK class must wear a mask inside and in high traffic areas. Due to the nature of the Zoo Troop experience, it is our priority to keep all attendees, animals and staff safe. Live animal encounters allow attendees to be up close and personal with a variety of animals, including mammals that may be susceptible to the disease. If the intended adult accompanying the child in class is unable to wear a mask, we ask that a different adult that is able to wear a mask attends with the child. If that is not an option, we kindly ask that the adult and child refrain from attending classes for the time being. If your child is in PreK, you may consider registering for virtual Zoo Troop.

Can a younger sibling come with us to the Toddler or PreK class?

Due to the guidelines issued by the State of Ohio, we must adhere to the child/adult ratio and minimum square footage per child in the class. Therefore, we cannot have additional siblings attend class without being registered. The exception is young children who are not yet mobile and therefore will be in a carrier or be held for the entire class. If your registered child has a sibling that is mobile, we ask that you leave the sibling with another caregiver or register them for their age-appropriate Zoo Troop class. We offer Zoo Troop classes for children 18 months – 8th grade. We also ask that each child in the Toddler and PreK class only has one adult attend the program with them.

How many participants will be in a group?

  • Toddler and PreK classes will be limited to 10 children and 10 adults.
    • Since we require one adult with each child, this class will be held in a large indoor space.
  • Kindergarten-8th Grade classes will be limited to 12 children. No adults attend these programs.

Will Zoo Educators be wearing masks during class?

Zoo staff are required to wear a mask at all times. Educators may take their masks off to drink water but will stay distanced during these moments.

What is your cleaning protocol for Zoo Troop?

The Cincinnati Zoo staff will be cleaning shared spaces (like bathrooms) at least once an hour with approved COVID-19 cleaning supplies following CDC guidelines. Staff will take Zoo Troopers to private bathrooms for hand washing throughout the program and/or utilizing hand sanitizer.

Will Zoo Troopers be socially distanced?

It is not currently a guideline for children to maintain 6’ distance within their group for an entire program. All Zoo Troop groups will remain a safe distance apart at all times, and shared spaces will be disinfected between use.

While in the Zoo, visitors will not be allowed to come in contact with any Zoo Troopers. A safe distance will be maintained between groups and others. The Zoo currently limits the number of guests allowed entry to limit crowd size.

Zoo Troopers will be using private restrooms not accessible to the general public.

Will my child be around members of the public?

The Zoo will be open to the public during Zoo Troop. Currently, the Zoo is carefully managing the number of guests allowed in the park to keep crowd size small. As part of Zoo Troop we will be leaving our private classrooms and taking hikes around the Zoo to visit animal habitats. During these hikes, there will be members of the public also visiting these same indoor and outdoor spaces. Zoo educators will do their best to maintain a safe distance between children and the visiting public. Children will be using private restrooms not accessible to the general public. When children are in their classrooms visiting with animals, playing games, etc. they will be in their own space away from the general public.

Will the class spend time indoors?

All classes will have dedicated classroom space for drop-of/pick-up, animal encounters, and occasional project/craft work.
As before, Zoo Troop spends the majority of the program outdoors for activities, hikes, and games.

Zoo Troop Drop-Off and Pick-Up Changes

  • All participants will park in the Education parking lot and be temperature checked using a touchless thermometer upon arrival.
  • Toddler and Pre-K Zoo Troopers and their adult will head into their classroom.
  • Children who attend class independently will now be escorted by their adult to their classroom.
  • Adults dropping off will not be able to remain in the Education building. They may leave Zoo grounds, wait in the lot, or make an online reservation and visit the Zoo. See more information about visiting the Zoo below.

Can I visit the Zoo while my child is at Zoo Troop?

Adults and families of Zoo Troopers may visit the Zoo while their child is in class. To visit the Zoo, you must make an online reservation. Members will receive free admission. Online reservations should be booked early as capacity is limited and your preferred time slot is not guaranteed. Without a reservation, you cannot visit the Zoo.

Guests visiting the Zoo will need to move their car from the Education parking lot and may park in the Vine Street parking lot and enter through Vine Street Village or the Erkenbrecher Entrance.

Virtual Zoo Troop

How long is Virtual Zoo Troop?

Every Virtual Zoo Troop program is jam packed with interactive activities to keep your child engaged and learning about wildlife from the comfort of your home!

  • Pre-K Virtual Zoo Troop programs are 45 minutes long each week, for 4 weeks.
  • Kindergarten-8th Grade Virtual Zoo Troop programs are 1-hour long each week, for 4 weeks.

What happens during Virtual Zoo Troop?

Each week will follow the same general schedule to provide you and your child a predictable routine for the month. Each week includes an introduction with an activity or game, 1-2 animal encounters in the classroom, virtual hikes through the zoo and ends with a suggested craft or project. During each program, you will have 2-3 Zoo Educators interacting with Zoo Troopers. Zoo Troopers will be able to ask questions and interact with the Educators and other Zoo Troopers.

What platform is used for Virtual Zoo Troop?

We will be using Zoom as our platform for class each week. Check your Zoo Troop Ticket for the link to the Virtual Zoo Troop Portal and password.  The portal will contain links to the Zoom meetings, recordings of past Zoo Troop weeks, and resources, including a PDF that explains the basic features Zoo Troopers will need to know how to use during Virtual Zoo Troop.

More about the Virtual Zoo Troop Portal.

All registered Virtual Zoo Troopers have access to the Virtual Zoo Troop Portal one week before the start of the series, during the series, and one week after the series. The link and password is provided on your ticket. Each series will have a separate password to access the Virtual Zoo Troop Portal. The Virtual Zoo Troop Portal contains links to the Zoom meeting, recordings of the live Virtual Zoo Troop, and resources for Zoo Troopers, such as an instructional PDF on Zoom features that will be used.

If the Virtual Zoo Troop Portal information is not located on your ticket, please contact [email protected] to have a new ticket sent to you.

Will my child need supplies for virtual Zoo Troop?

Your child may need a few simple supplies for their class such as paper and a writing utensil. At the end of PreK and Kindergarten classes, the instructor will show you an optional craft that you and your child can work on after class! We will let you know if any other supplies are needed.

I’m worried about screen time.

We totally understand and respect parents’ concern about increased screen time for children of all ages. We are an environmental education organization that wants to see children spend more time outdoors and less time in front of screens. Our goal is to provide content and activities that leaves your kids begging to go outside and collect things and observations they can share with us and their peers in the following weeks’ Virtual Zoo Troop online classroom.

Can my child see their friends in a virtual zoo troop class?

Yes! If participants allow their camera to be turned on during the program, they will be able to see and be seen by other friends in class. We encourage cameras to be turned on to help create an interactive experience during our zoo troop sessions.

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