“Education should consist of a series of enchantments, each raising the individual to a higher level of awareness, understanding, and kinship with all living things.”  - Author Unknown

The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is home to over 1,400 species of animals and 1,000 species of plants from around the world.  It is also the field trip destination for nearly 100,000 school students, teachers and chaperones every year from as far away as Columbia, SC & Savannah, GA, Orlando & Tallahassee, FL.  Whether you are studying Life Cycles and Adaptations or Animal Behavior or Ecosystems, there is plenty to see and do while visiting the Zoo.

Click here to learn more about Field Trips
Click here to learn more about On-site Education Programs
Click here to learn more about Outreach, a program that brings the animals to you
Click here to learn more about Your Visit

SEASONAL WARNING: March, April & May are the busiest months for school visits.  Nearly 50,000 or 50% of our annual field trip attendance occurs during these spring months.  It is strongly recommended that if you want to schedule a field trip during this time that you make your reservation in January or February.  We also recommend that you visit in the fall and winter to avoid the spring rush.

Lesson Plans

If you have a lesson plan that includes the Zoo, WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!  Faye East, Kindergarten teacher at Crystal Springs Elementary, has generously provided us with a sample lesson plan.  Click here to view and download a Kindergarten Lesson Plan.

Scavenger Hunts

The Education Department has prepared a variety of scavenger hunts to help you maximize the educational resources at the Zoo.  All of the answers may be found in animal graphics and identification panels at the exhibits.

Click here for the Basic Scavenger Hunt
Click here for the Basic Scavenger Hunt Answer Sheet

Click here for the Freshwater Food Web Activity in Play Park
Click here for the Play Park Scavenger Hunt & Answer Sheet

Click here for the Upper Elementary Culture Scavenger Hunt
Click here for the Upper Elementary Culture Scavenger Hunt Answer Sheet

Click here for the Upper Elementary Animal Population Dynamics Scavenger Hunt
Click here for the Upper Elementary Animal Population Dynamics Scavenger Hunt Answer Sheet

Click here for the Upper Elementary Habitats & Geography Scavenger Hunt
Click here for the Upper Elementary Habitats & Geography Scavenger Hunt Answer Sheet

Click here for the Secondary Scavenger Hunt for Range of the Jaguar

Are you using The Great Water Odyssey™ curricula from the St. Johns River Water Management District for 3rd, 4th & 5th Grades?

Click here for The Great Water Odyssey™ Scavenger Hunt in Play Park

Teacher & Educator Workshops

Whether you are a classroom teacher, home schooling parent or a museum educator, Teacher & Educator Workshops are geared to meet your science needs.

Throughout the year we offer Project WET (Water Education for Teachers), Project WILD (Wildlife in Learning Design) and Project Learning Tree Workshops at the Zoo.  If you are interested in having any or all of these workshops held at your school or museum, we are able to coordinate and facilitate them to suit your needs.

Visit this page often to find out when the next workshop is scheduled.

If you are interested in The Great Water Odyssey™ curricula from the St. Johns River Water Management District for 3rd, 4th & 5th Grades, please feel free to contact Mary Sullivan at gwoptraining@bellsouth.net.

If you have any questions, please contact the Education Department at (904) 757-4463 ext. 122.