The Utica Zoo Home School Program is a STEM-based program that utilizes age-appropriate activities, crafts, activities, as well as live animals to teach attending children about a range of animal-related topics. Our home school class may be used to fulfill a science credit, depending on specific grade level or requirements. Home school is open to all students (K – 12th grade).

The Utica Zoo is fully chartered as an education facility by NYSED and all lessons and activities will adhere to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and include take home worksheets as well as a list of resources for further learning. The lessons will be geared towards students in 2nd to 6th grades but all ages can participate. The cost is $18.00/child per class and participants must preregister. For more information please email zak.hughes@uticazoo.org. The fun starts at 11 AM in our Visitor Center and runs for 90 minutes.

*We ask that students for these classes bring their own notebook* 

• Sunday, July 6, 11 AM – Oceans (HS-ESS3-4)
  Only a small fraction of our planet’s surface is land, the majority is covered by our oceans. This class will explore what life is like in the deep, the differences between ocean zones, and some of the incredible adaptations necessary to sustain life underwater.
• Sunday, July 27 –  Underground Living (HS-ESS3-1)
  Creatures can thrive anywhere, even underground. Living below the surface is not without its challenges, but animals find a way. This class will explore the extreme lengths, and depths, animals go to in order to live their lives in the dark of the underground.
• Sunday, August 10 – Photosynthesis in animals?! (5-PS3-1)
  When we hear the word photosynthesis, most of us automatically think of plants. However, there are plenty of other organisms that use this process to produce food, even some animals. This class will explore how and why some species have adopted this technique. 
• Sunday, August 24 – Through Animal Eyes (4-PS4-2)
  Animals use their senses in ways we can’t even imagine, especially their vision. Animal eyes are incredibly complex structures, allowing them to see things far better, or far worse, than we can. This class will explore both ends of the spectrum, as well as how eyes work in the first place.