Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden®

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

Zoo Troop

zoo troop graph
Click to see the Zoo Troop Model of Youth Development

Our once-a-week for 4 weeks series classes for toddlers through 8th graders develop curiosity, create empathy, encourage healthy social skills, and grow self esteem. Immersed in fun, educational, wildlife-rich experiences,  Zoo Troop fosters caring, confident young people who know and love the wild world around them.

We explore a new interactive topic each series, where we identify specific steps or skills that your child will achieve, and 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.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: The Cincinnati Zoo’s Education Department has updated its cancellation and refund policy, effective for all programs starting January 3, 2022. Programs cancelled by the registrant at least two weeks in advance of the program date may now receive a refund. Refunds or credits are no longer available for programs cancelled by the registrant within two weeks of the program date.

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Zoo Troop

These four-week series encourage the development of important skills and values, while discovering our amazing wildlife and wild places. Zoo Troopers will enjoy wonder-building hands-on activities, close encounters with animals, Zoo hikes, and child-led projects.

Apologies – Ticket swill open April 24 12pm

MORE DETAILS

kids tortoiseFor Toddlers (18-36 months old)

Programs to foster your child’s natural sense of wonder about animals with a focus on encouraging empathy. For our Toddler-Kindergarten Zoo Troop we: build confidence, develop curiosity, promote sense of belonging, increase comfort in unfamiliar surroundings, and instill respect for wildlife, themselves, and others.

Note: Plan for one adult to stay with your child during these classes.
Cost: Members: $85 / Non-Members: $100

I Spy…

Our world is full of places to discover and explore and our toddlers are doing just that! Join us for a four-week series as we explore our world by  getting out into the Zoo and looking up, down, and all around! You and your child will explore the outdoors, meeting animals who live in the water, underground, in the soil, and way up to the sky. Each week we’ll discover these animals through live encounters, Zoo hikes, and dramatic and exploratory play.

Dates
Saturdays for 4 weeks in June.

  • Saturdays, June 3, 10, 17, 24 | 9:30–10:15 a.m. or 11:00–11:45 am
Animal Tales

Do you know what The Very Busy Spider was doing all day long? Can you imagine all the creatures that live in The Tall, Tall Grass? Have you every asked, “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” During this series, your Zoo Trooper will move and explore our world like the animals in our books through dramatic play, meeting animals in the classroom, and exploratory hikes through the Zoo!

Dates
Saturdays for 4 weeks in July.

  • Saturdays, July 8, 15, 22, 29 | 9:30–10:15 a.m. or 11:00–11:45 am

americorp with snakeFor Pre-Kindergarteners (ages 3-4 years old, and 5 years going into preschool in fall)

Programs to foster your child’s natural sense of wonder about animals with a focus on encouraging empathy. For our Toddler-Kindergarten Zoo Troop we: build confidence, develop curiosity, promote sense of belonging, increase comfort in unfamiliar surroundings, and instill respect for wildlife, themselves, and others.

Note: Plan for one adult to stay with your child during these classes.
Cost: Members: $85 / Non-Members: $100

Art of Nature

It’s time to use our own creativity to explore the great outdoors! Come outside with us to create our own art projects and discover the fascinating art palette nature has to offer! Each week of our series we will meet animals face-to-face inside and around the Zoo, as we get hands-on with nature in our own backyard.

Dates
Saturdays for 4 weeks in June.

  • Saturdays, June 3, 10, 17, 24 | 10:00-11:00am
Reading and Romping

Can you hoot for mom like the Owl Babies? Are you as colorful as The Mixed Up Chameleon? Can you move your body like an animal From Head To Toe? Through animal encounters, hands-on activities, and exploring the Zoo, your Zoo Trooper will begin to understand how the animals in these books are connected to the animals in the world around us!

Dates
Saturdays for 4 weeks in July.

  • Saturdays, July 8, 15, 22, 29 |10:00-11:00am

General FAQs

Can we bring a younger sibling to Toddler or PreK?

Young children who are not yet mobile and will be in a carrier or be held for the class may attend the Toddler or PreK programs with the adult and registered Zoo Trooper. For younger siblings that are mobile, we ask that they are either registered for the age appropriate class along with their own accompanying adult, they remain home, or another adult can take them into the Zoo during the class. We understand this may cause some inconvenience for families, but for the best class experience for you and your Zoo Trooper, we do ask for mobile younger siblings to not attend with their older sibling.

What supports are available for children with developmental, intellectual, or physical disabilities?

The Cincinnati Zoo strives to make environmental education accessible for all people.  In-classroom resources such as visual schedules, fidgets, timers, noise-cancelling headphones, and more are available for participant use throughout the program.  Educators receive training on how to support children of all need types.  For more information about how Zoo Troop may best serve your participant’s specific needs, please contact [email protected].

Will the class spend time indoors/outdoors?

All classes will have dedicated classroom space for drop-off/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.

Can I visit the Zoo while my child is at Zoo Troop? Can we visit the Zoo after our class?

Adults and families of Zoo Troopers may visit the Zoo while their child is in class, or after their class.

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. Non-members will have to purchase entry to the Zoo. 

When do you have Zoo Troop series throughout the year? When do they go on sale?

Toddler and PreK

  • We have 7 series of Toddler and PreK throughout the year: January, February, April, June, July, September and October.

Kindergarten-8th Grade

  • We have 5 series of Kindergarten-8th Grade throughout the year: January, February, April, September and October.
  • In June and July, have your Zoo Trooper join us for summer camp.

Sale Dates

  • All Zoo Troop classes go on sale about 6-8 weeks before the start class. January and February go on sale at the same time, June and July go on sale at the same time, and September and October go on sale at the same time.

How can I find out when programs go on sale?

Join our quarterly Program Announcement Email to get updates on program details and when they go on sale. We love to keep you up-to-date about what’s happening in Education for the whole family!

Note, this is not the same Z-mail newsletter that comes out biweekly.

Health & Safety

What do you do for inclement weather?

Programs occur rain or shine. In case of extreme weather, the Cincinnati Zoo will contact all participants via email by 8:00am the day of the program. If a program is cancelled due to extreme weather the Zoo will do it best to create a make-up class or will refund for cancelled days.

Safety During COVID-19 & Mask Policy (*updated 1/1/23)

We are committed to continuing to inspire our guests every day!

Class Capacity

  • Toddler: Classes limited to 10 children and 1 adult per child. One adult is required to attend with each child.
  • PreK: Classes limited to 10 children and 1 adult per child. One adult is required to attend with each child.
  • Kindergarten-8th Grade: Classes limited to 12 children. No adults attend these programs.

Masks

  • *Mask may be required for specific animal encounters. If needed, they will be provided.

Waitlist/Cancellation/Credits FAQs

What is the waitlist? Can I waitlist for every session? How likely is it to come off the waitlist?

  • What is the waitlist? How does it work?
    • When a program sells out, the waitlist automatically turns on. When space becomes available for a session, we will call/email the first person on the waitlist for that session. If they want it, they get it; if they don’t, or do not respond, we move to the next person on the waitlist.
  • Is there a charge for waitlist?
    • There is no charge to be placed on the waitlist.
  • Will you contact me if I don’t get into Zoo Troop?
    • You will only be contacted if a space becomes available for your Zoo Trooper.
  • How close to start date do you contact people?
    • We will contact waitlisted Zoo Trooper up to 2-3 days before the start of the series..
  • I got a call/email that my Zoo Trooper is off the waitlist. How do I confirm their spot and make payment?
    • To make a payment for a program, please call us at 513-559-7730. Our system does not allow us to charge cards that have been used for other orders (or even the same order), so we must get your payment information.
  • I got a call/email that my Zoo Trooper is off the waitlist, but I have another child that is still on the waitlist. What should I do?
    • We recommend taking the spot that is offered, and keeping your other Zoo Trooper waitlisted. If you do not take the spot, it will be offered to the next on the waitlist, and another spot may not become available later.
    • You can receive a full refund if you cancel your program at least two weeks in advance.

Can I change dates/topics/age groups?

You may make changes to the program at any time before the start of the program, as long as there is room in the date/time you are looking to change to. Please call us at 513-559-7730 or email us at [email protected].

Can I cancel a registration? (*updated 12/1/21)

The Cincinnati Zoo’s Education Department has updated its cancellation and refund policy, effective for all programs starting January 3, 2022. Programs cancelled by the registrant at least two weeks in advance of the program date may now receive a refund. Refunds or credits are no longer available for programs cancelled by the registrant within two weeks of the program date.

To cancel or reschedule a program, please call us at 513-559-7730 or email us at [email protected]. We can make a refund directly back to the payment type used. For credit cards, refunds will go back directly to the original credit card as long as the purchase was not more than 120 days from the refund date. For cancellations made over 120 days from the purchase date, we will need to mail a check. Checks can take 2-3 weeks to process (though usually less).

I have a gift certificate/class credit. How do I use it?

Gift certificates are great because they can be used for any of our education programs. To use your certificate, you will need the order number and certificate number. Go through your registration as normal. When you get to the final payment screen, just above where you enter your credit card information, check the box that asks if you’d like to use a gift certificate. Check the box, and enter your certificate/credit information.

Up to 6 certificates can be used per order. If your credit is for less than the total balance, you will then enter your credit card information. If your credit has a remaining balance, that balance will remain on that same certificate/credit and can be used at any time- remember, they never expire!

Received a credit, but can’t find your email? Contact us at [email protected].

CALL OR EMAIL: 513-559-7730 OR [email protected]

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