Philly Zoo Launches Online Interactive Learning Program

PHILADELPHIA — In its ongoing effort to connect the public with animals, the Philadelphia Zoo has launched a new online learning program that will foster a deeper connection to wildlife discovery.

Philly Zoo to You is a new interactive online learning program featuring a direct line to Zoo experts to answer science questions.

With so many parents and students at home working together to complete online learning activities, Philly Zoo to You provides a mixture of expert support and curriculum-based activities aimed at kindergarten through fourth grade students.

Students and parents should visit the Philadelphia Zoo's website here for enhanced learning opportunities.

"The mission of the Zoo is to connect people with wildlife," said Kristen Waldron, Philadelphia Zoo’s Director of Strategic Initiatives. "When we learned that the Zoo would be temporarily closed to the public we felt it was important to create a new way for our audiences to continue to stay connected with our amazing animals and staff. What sets Philly Zoo to You apart is the combination of the personal exchange with our incredibly passionate staff and volunteers with the joyful discovery we can provide for children and their families. We have a team of experts, most of which are long-time docents of the Zoo who typically this time of year, spend thousands of hours onsite educating and inspiring our audiences. They are former biology, chemistry, social studies and science teachers, principals of schools and above all avid Zoo experts. They are well-informed and thrilled to provide this truly personalized service for students and parents alike."

Philly Zoo to You provides:

• A mix of science-related resources including animal-themed worksheets, DIY activities and coloring pages that provide loads of fun and learning while highlighting key academic connections to wildlife, habitats and the environment.
• Videos featuring an insider’s look at the Zoo plus virtual interactions with our amazing animals and the dedicated staff who care for them.
• Science@PhillyZoo enables visitors to connect directly with more than 50 Zoo experts who are on hand and prepared to answer any and all science, wildlife and conservation questions in a timely manner.

Highlights on the Zoo Experts facilitating Science@PhillyZoo personalized program:

• In addition to more than 220 years of school teaching experience, the expertise of staff and docents facilitating this program ranges from Master’s degrees in Education and Ecology to backgrounds in animal science, animal biotechnology, zoo science, and wildlife conservation.
• Facilitators have a detailed understanding of the science curriculum standards and are prepared to answer questions on animal adaptations, classification, life cycles, habitats, ecosystems, climate change, extinction and more.
• Nearly half of the Zoo experts have been at the Zoo for more than 10 years and are extremely knowledge about the animals.