Children's Programs  The Education Department supports the conservation mission of the Zoo by offering experiences that inspire an appreciation of wildlife and an understanding of our relationship to the natural world. We have children’s programs for toddlers through 12-year-olds, featuring a rich array of activities such as wildlife crafts and games, keeper talks, Zoo tours, close-up animal encounters, and a Junior Keeper Club for youths interested in animal careers. All classes include a small snack to keep little ones going. For teens, we offer numerous volunteer opportunities. See our Calendar of Events for schedule, prices and online registration for the below programs. Infant to 5 Years Old Fisher-Price® is a proud sponsor of our toddler programs. See the latest toddler class schedule - June through August 2009 Infant to 4 years old – Jills 'n' Joeys Join the Zoo playgroup! Meet like-minded parents while letting your little ones play in a safe environment with age-appropriate toys. Parents will enjoy having a close encounter with one of our Zoo animals.  18 months to 3 years – Fun for Little Learners
Designed for young learners and their grownup, each class focuses on a different animal and includes a craft, small snack, music and a room full of exciting discoveries. Weekly topics, the same for both age groups, cover six different fascinating animals. You may sign up for one or more topics. Little Learners classes take place in the Zoo's charming Fisher-Price® Little Learners' Log Cabin. The 840-square-foot cabin nestled in a 3,000-square-foot wooded grove site in the Children's Zoo is an eco-friendly education center, made of recycled logs and lumber and filled with multi-sensory learning tools including a toddler library, tactile tables, animal-based toys and animal-designed toddler tables and chairs. 3-4 years old – ZooArt Enter the world of wild art! This 6-week series helps nurture creativity and imagination through different art mediums – paint, sculpting, acting, dancing and singing – all while inspiring your young naturalist with animal-based themes. You may sign up for the entire series or individual classes. 3 years old – Animal Adventures Filled with music, crafts, games, animal visitors and Zoo walks, this 6-week series designed for 3-year-olds and their caregivers is a natural progression from our Little Learners program. Learn about animals through the alphabet, numbers, colors, patterns and sizes. You may sign up for the entire series or individual classes. 3 years old – Critter Crack-ups Here’s a chance for 3-year-olds and their grownup to learn about babies that hatch from eggs. We combine animal visits, dances and crafts to show how hatched babies, like toads, snakes and birds, grow up. We also visit the chick hatchery in the Family Farm. 4 years old – Zoo 4 You Your child will be wild about this program! In this four-session class, 4-year-olds learn about animals that live on different continents – Africa, North America, South America, Australia and Asia. Zoo walks, classroom talks, crafts and up-close visits with our ZooMobile animals make learning fun. Questions: (415) 753-7073. 4-5 years old – Explore A… Rainforest, Swamp, Savanna, Ocean and Desert are topics in this exciting series where children visit animals adapted to live in a special habitat and then create a simulation of that habitat in their classroom. 6 to 7 Years Old 6-7 years old – Mammal Madness The Zoo has more than 75 species of mammals! Come find out what all these creatures, including humans, have in common. 6-7 years old – Love Those Lemurs Come join us as we learn all about these fascinating primates and many of the other amazing animals that live on the fourth largest island in the world - Madagascar. Class will include a hands-on visit with some of our Malagasy friends, a wild craft, and a snack. 6-7 years old – Bug Buddies Invertebrates (bugs) pollinate food plants, recycle dead plants and animals, and provide food for many larger animals, including humans. Children explore these topics through a trip to the Insect Zoo, crafts and a visit to the bone lab to see little decomposers at work. Snack provided. 6-7 years old – Habitat Heroes What makes a habitat and what do animals need to survive? In this class children are introduced to ecology, the study of how plants and animals live together in an environment. A special animal experience is included. 6-7 years old – Biofact Bonanza! Pelts and bones can tell you a lot about the life of an animal. This hands-on class shows you a myriad of pelts, bones and skulls. Learn how bones are prepared for educational use. Snack provided. 8 to 10 Years Old 8-10 years old – Radical Reptiles Explore the amazing reptiles, which have been on the Earth for hundreds of millions of years. Become a Junior Herpetologist (and learn what one is). Class includes a behind-the-scenes tour of the Animal Resource Center's herp room. 8-10 years old – Wild Wetlands Explore the wetland areas at the Zoo and learn about California wetlands. We discuss native plants and animals and how the ecosystem helps people. Children study pond life on Zoo grounds and learn about healthy wetlands through art projects and animal visitors in the classroom. 8-10 years old – Mad About Madagascar In honor of our lemur exhibit, join us as we explore the wonders of Madagascar! Many of the animals that live there are found nowhere else in the world. Class will include animal observations, up close encounters with island residents.. 9 to 12 Years Old Junior Keeper Club If you are 9 to 12 years old and interested in animals or a career in animal care, this club is for you! Join now and you’ll receive: - An official club badge with the San Francisco Junior Keeper Club logo
- The Club’s quarterly newsletter
- A Membership card
- Use of our library
- Quarterly behind-the-scenes tours with San Francisco Zoo keepers
- And a free Zoo gift!
Membership fee: $40. Please contact the Education Department to join or have a registration flier sent to you. Teens The San Francisco Zoo offered a variety of amazing volunteer opportunities specially designed for teens. Children’s Programs Contact Information: (415) 753-7073
education@sfzoo.org | 
