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Education Overview

Our Goals

We nurture respect for animals and their habitats and promote conservation action by providing educational opportunities and experiences.

Learn with the Zoo

We offer a large variety of programs, resources and opportunities for all learners.

Inclusion Statement

We know that children of all abilities benefit when they play and learn together, and it is our goal that whenever possible they do so in our conservation education programs. Each individual program will determine the level of support needed for participation. Inclusion facilitators are available for intermittent support at our camp programs. However, if 1:1 support is required at school or in a public setting like the Zoo - where elopement risks are increased, and a 1:5 ratio is not sufficient for support and safety - we ask that families provide an aide with a verified background check.

Our goal is that every child has the opportunity to enjoy our programs with the appropriate supports needed for success. Our programs are developmentally appropriate for the set age range listed. We realize that sometimes developmental level does not correlate to chronological age. If this is the case, please reach out to us to determine the best placement for your child.

Visit our Camp FAQ page for more information about inclusion services to help determine the best program for your child. For more information, please email zooinclusion@stlzoo.org.

Education Department Illness Information and Protocols

To prevent the spread of potentially contagious diseases, the following guidelines are in place for Education programs at the Saint Louis Zoo.

Primary caregivers are the Zoo’s most important partners in keeping our learning community healthy and safe. No participant should attend any Zoo program(s) if they have experienced one or any combination of the symptoms associated with illness within the last 24 hours:

  • Fever of 100.1 F or higher
  • Chills
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Worsening cough or sore throat

If a participant has been ill with a respiratory virus (e.g. COVID-19, RSV, influenza, etc.), the participant may participate in the program if they have been fever free for 24+ hours, without the assistance of fever-reducing medication. Additionally, they will need to appropriately wear a KN95, N95 or KF94 mask through the end of Day 5 (day 1 is the first day of being fever-free without the use of medication). The mask must be worn at all times indoors while attending day or multi-day programs. Masks will be required to be worn outdoors during programs when in close proximity with others or during long exposure times. If you need assistance calculating days, please reach out prior to camp starting and our Safety and Risk Management team would be happy to assist you.
  • Masks may be required for all participants, staff, and volunteers in certain behind- the-scenes or non-public areas of the Zoo, for tours related to program experiences, to reduce the risk of zoonotic disease transfer (from humans to animals).
  • Overnight program participants who have had a respiratory virus (e.g. COVID-19, RSV, influenza, etc.) can only attend the evening portion of the overnight program, and must wear a KN95, N95 or KF94 mask at all times during the program, per the policies above.
  • There shall be no discrimination or disrespectful treatment toward individuals who wear masks or facial coverings, nor toward individuals who choose not to wear masks or facial coverings.
  • Saint Louis Zoo Preschool is following CDC COVID-19 policies and recommendations. Teachers and students will be required to wear masks indoors during times of high transmission. Masking will be optional otherwise.

Contact

The Education Department is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. We are closed on weekends and holidays. Our staff can be contacted at (314) 646-4544, option #6, or at onlineregistration@stlzoo.org. Learn more about Education in our brochure.