Now is the time to book educational programming at John Ball Zoo.

The Zoo offers various educational programming for inside and outside the classroom to help local students learn about the conservation of wildlife and wild places.

“At John Ball Zoo we offer a variety of ways for all ages to learn about the conservation of wildlife and wild places in fun, engaging ways,” said Rhiannon Mulligan, education manager at John Ball Zoo. “We encourage educators to book visits to the Zoo, and take advantage of our travel options, to inspire the next generation of conservationists and learn a whole lot of other important skills.”

John Ball Zoo’s expert education materials are designed using fun, hands-on and flexible teaching methods and are developed for students ages 3 through adults. John Ball Zoo is encouraging educators to visit its Field Trip Calendar to book spring visits to the Zoo with their students. The Zoo offers free admission to K-12 Kent County school groups thanks to funding from the 2016 John Ball Zoo and Grand Rapids Public Museum Millage, and thousands of students take advantage of it each year.

For schools outside of Kent County, the Zoo offers discounted rates. Educators can also bring zoo programs to their classrooms through the “Zoo to You” program, which allows students to learn about wildlife conservation and STEM programs.

Onsite programs are also available for booking to further learning during the Zoo visit, including interactive live animal presentations, habitat engineering like a penguin and habitat design.

For those seeking self-guided experiences, the Zoo offers sample itineraries for groups to make the most out of their visit.

All of the resources for educators, including specifics about what topics are covered and how it relates to curriculum for all ages, are on the Zoo’s website.