Homeschool 6th-8th Programs

Homeschool students in grades 6-8 will enjoy our Gateway classroom programs which include time outdoors on zoo grounds with animals, too! Grades 6-8 students only, no families or siblings are allowed to attend the program in the classroom. Families are welcome to visit the zoo during the program, with one adult and one child offered free entry (all others in the group pay zoo entry). Register online a minimum of one week before the program date. No full refunds, 50% refund if cancellation is more than one week ahead of the program. No refunds if cancelled less than one week in advance of the program. 15 students maximum per session. $40 per student, includes zoo entry. Members receive at $10 discount in checkout. See note below about the member discount.

Note for zoo members: If you are registering a student for this program and they are covered by your membership, log into your account (look on the navigation bar above for 'My Account'). The system will verify your membership once you are logged in and you will receive $10 off per student automatically in checkout if your membership is current.

Dates and Topics (each date is a separate registration session)

• Oct 5 – Zookeeping 101: Part of the Alaska Zoo’s mission is providing care for orphaned and injured wildlife. Learn the basics of animal husbandry and get a behind-the-scenes look at our animal care facilities.
• Oct 26 - Animal Nutrition: What kinds of foods do animals eat? How does the zoo feed all the animals in our care? Students will learn about animal nutrition and have the chance to come up with a diet plan for an animal of their choosing.
• Nov 16 - Skull Sleuths: Learn how to identify animals based off clues from their skulls!
• Dec 14 - Winter Birds: Some birds head down South for the winter, while others stay here. What kinds of birds stay in Alaska during the winter, and how do they survive?
• Jan 11 - Fossils of the Far North: Learn about paleontology and the dinosaurs of the 49th state!
• Jan 25 - Introduction to Microscopy: Students will be introduced to the world of microscopy and gain hands-on experience using microscopes.
• Feb 8 - Animal Anatomy: Students will study the different aspects of animal anatomy, including organ systems and their functions. This class is a great introduction to anatomy before the Dissection Lab!
• Feb 22 - Dissection Lab (register for this separately): In this class, students will work in groups to dissect an organism. They will learn safe lab practices, label organs, and utilize microscopes to get a closer look at tissues.
• Mar 8 - Zoo Clues: Learn how to identify wildlife based off of their tracks, scat, and other clues they leave behind.
• Mar 29 - Nature's Artists: Explore some of nature’s artists and see how animals make art that mimics our own.
• Apr 12 - Conservation in Action: You don’t have to be a professional scientist to make a difference! Learn about ways to contribute to local conservation projects and practice your research skills.

Questions? Email [email protected].