Minnesota Zoo In Person Classes and Programs

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In Person Classes and Programs for
Field Trips

Enhance your field trip with a Zoo class or custom program! Led by a Zoo naturalist, these interactive and hands-on experiences not only engage students in learning but are also designed to support state science standards.

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Programs and Events

In Person Zoo Classes

All in-person classes are 60-minutes long and are offered at 9:30 am, 10:45 am, 12:00 pm, and 1:15 pm (depending on your arrival time) Tuesday through Friday. Classes are available from September 22, 2026 through May 14, 2027. These classes can be requested during your online field trip registration and if our schedule allows the classes will be added to your field trip order for an additional $150 per class (up to 30 students).

Classes

What's a Wetland? (grades K-2, 3-5)

Wade into the world of wetlands and discover why these muddy, marshy habitats are some of the most important on Earth. Learn how animals build homes and what special skills animals have acquired to survive in this unique habitat. Then, build a model fit for our wetland friends.

Biomimicry (grades K-2 or 3-5)

Learn how engineers are turning to nature to solve human problems through the process of biomimicry. Students act as biomimicry engineers investigating seed dispersal to solve an engineering challenge.

Animal Classifieds (grades K-2 or 3-5)

What makes a horse related to a tapir? Is a sea star a fish? In this interactive class, students learn how to sort and classify animals using scientific methods and look closer at the physical characteristics of different species.

Animal Enrichment Challenge (grades 3-5 or 6-12)

Discover how zoos use enrichment to keep animals mentally and physically engaged. Using materials and the skills you’ve learned, design and build an enrichment item while exploring how Zookeepers encourage animals to use their natural behaviors and adaptations.

Zoo Exhibit Design (grades 3-5 or 6-12)

In this interactive class, students learn about animal needs and identify the components that make a successful Zoo exhibit, then try their hands at creating an exhibit model.

Conservation Quest (grades 6-8 or 9-12)

You don’t need to travel the world to find rare and endangered wildlife! Take a walk on our Minnesota Trail as you search for some of Minnesota’s most elusive animals. Then, learn how conservationists are protecting the wildlife in our state, and engineer a solution to help some freshwater turtles!

Featuring Ambassador Animals

NEW! Critter Connection (all ages)

This 30-minute experience is all about the animals! Meet some amazing live ambassador animals as a Naturalist shares stories, information, and answers the questions you want to know. This encounter is sure to be a highlight of your trip to the Zoo!

Adaptations in Action (grades K-12)

Get ready to explore the amazing ways animals thrive in the wild! Get up close with live animal ambassadors, explore animal artifacts, and engage in hands-on activities to discover what makes animals specifically equipped to survive in their habitats. From sticky feet to super senses, this grade-inclusive class dives into the science behind how animals eat, hide, and move to stay alive.

Click here to register for your in-person field trip.

Accommodations: The Minnesota Zoo will make all reasonable modifications to policies and programs to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to enjoy all its programs, services, and activities. To request an accommodation, please contact us a minimum of two weeks prior to your visit. Submit requests to Web: MNZoo.org/Accessibility. Phone: 651.539.6596 (voice) or 1.800.627.3529 (TTY) Email: [email protected].

Guided Trail Tours (grades 5-college)

Dates: September 22, 2026 through May 14, 2027
Times: 45 minutes in duration
Fees: $50 per tour; maximum of 8 participants per group.

Led by a Zoo naturalist, this tour will engage middle and high school students in an exploration of exhibit design, animal behavior and management, Zoo careers, and conservation. Select from the Tropics Trail, Medtronic Minnesota Trail, Russia’s Grizzly Coast, or Aquariums. If you'd like to request a Guided Trail Tour to be added to your field trip, please email your request to [email protected] along with your field trip order number which you will receive after you register for your field trip.

In Person Programs

STEM Lab: Zoo Careers (grades 3-college)

• 3.5 hour program offered September through April; Monday-Friday
• Limited summer availability
• Fees: $40 per student, per day; $500 minimum (includes admission)

Explore careers at the Zoo to see how real-world STEM is applied to care for and protect wildlife! In this 3.5 hour program, participants will be led through hands-on activities, a Zoo trail tour with a behind-the-scenes visit, and an animal encounter with a naturalist to gain a deeper understanding of how science, technology, engineering, and math is used and applied at the zoo. The STEM Lab: Zoo Careers experiences can also be adjusted to support student learning goals for your group.

Please contact [email protected] to ask questions or to schedule.