Minnesota Zoo ZOOMS STEM Design Challenge

ZOOMS STEM Design Challenge

The ZOOMS STEM Design Challenge presented by Flint Hills Resources offers students a chance to develop a solution to a ‘real’ problem faced by Zookeepers and staff at the Minnesota Zoo. From designing an enrichment, to building a model of a renovated animal exhibit, the problem will challenge students to use their science and math knowledge, creativity, problem solving, and research skills during the engineering design process in order to best solve the problem and present a solution. Selected students are invited to showcase their design challenge solution in the ZOOMS Design Exhibition in March at the Minnesota Zoo!

2025-2026 ZOOMS STEM Design Challenge

If you are a grade 3-12 teacher looking for ways to engage your students in authentic integrated STEM, join the ZOOMS STEM Design Challenge presented by Flint Hills Resources for the 2025-2026 school year! Participation is completely free! ZOOMS teachers receive access to digital resources, support throughout the school year from Zoo staff and access to free teacher trainings. To learn more about the ZOOMS design challenges for this school year, view the Enrichment and Exhibit Design Challenge Guidelines below.

Sign up your class to participate by clicking the ‘Classroom Sign Up - Click Here!’ link below the design challenge descriptions by Friday, November 14th, 2025. If you would also like to attend a ZOOMS teacher training, please register by visiting the Professional Development webpage linked in the section below.

ZOOMS Design Challenge Teacher Training Options - FREE!

Learn about the design challenges and the animals your students will be designing for! Hear directly from the Zookeepers, visit the animal spaces, and learn about resources you can use to support your students!
*If you plan to attend a training, you will need to BOTH register for the training on the Zoo’s professional development website and sign up your class to participate using the ‘Class Sign Up Now’ form linked below the design challenge descriptions.

STEM at the Zoo: Intro to the ZOOMS Design Challenge

*Design Challenge class sign-up not required to attend.
If you are a new teacher who has never done the ZOOMS challenge before, this training will overview how to use the Zoo to teach STEM, overview the ZOOMS Challenge process, and allow teachers a chance to practice supporting activities such as animal behavior ethograms, enrichment exploration, exhibit use studies, and more. This training is meant to give teachers broader knowledge of the Zoo before participating in the ZOOMS Challenge trainings in the fall.

In the spring of 2024, the Zoo welcomed five male California Sea Lions to their new habitat in Discovery Bay. The youngest, Flynn and Hudson, are highly energetic one-year olds from Sea World San Antonio. The older sea lions, JoJo from Queens Zoo, Clyde from Bronx Zoo, and Theo (Clyde’s son) from Central Park Zoo, have all made themselves at home. Bringing together these new animals at the Zoo has been a huge undertaking for Zookeepers and animal care staff who have had to learn their personalities, unique needs, and work hard to form relationships with each sea lion for training and husbandry. These intelligent and athletic marine mammals have made great progress in their new home, even participating in the new Sea Lion Discovery presentation to show off their amazing natural behaviors! Because they are quick learners, and very fast swimmers, Zookeepers are looking to find ways to keep them busy and mentally engaged while helping them continue to adjust to their new home.

As Zoo leaders envision the future of the Minnesota Zoo, a wide range of exciting ideas are being imagined—new animal experiences, immersive habitats, and innovative ways to connect guests with wildlife. As they explore these possibilities, they’re seeking inspiration to bring some of these concepts to life. One such idea is a reimagined indoor/outdoor sea lion habitat in Discovery Bay, expanding into the current plaza area. With the recent arrival of five energetic male sea lions—Clyde, Theo, JoJo, Hudson, and Flynn—this is a timely opportunity to explore how a new habitat could meet their needs, provide engaging experiences for guests year-round, and support Zookeepers in delivering exceptional care for this intelligent and playful species.