Little boy touching Madagascar hissing cockroach

Did you know the Akron Zoo can come to you? The zoo offers a variety of options for bringing the wild world of animals to your school, organization or community event!

ZooMobile

The Akron ZooMobile can bring age-specific programs right to your classroom, church, library, scout troop, retirement center, community event and more! ZooMobile programs last roughly 45 minutes and include live animals from our animal ambassador program.

All programs can be customized to fit school curriculums with up-to-date lesson plans that include Academic Content Standards for Life Sciences for the state of Ohio. Ask about this option when you call to reserve your program.

Please note, that we do not offer a "petting zoo," nor do we present programs at private residences. For private events at public locations, restrictions apply.

There is limited availability in November and December. Programs are now available for 2024.


Assembly Programs

Assembly shows can be performed for up to 250 people and can be booked year-round. Assembly options feature our education animal ambassadors and allow for some student participation.

Price: $300 for first program, $150 for each additional consecutive program

Zoovivor - Have you ever wondered how some animals can survive in the earth’s harshest climates? If so, meet some of Akron Zoo’s animal zoovivors! During this assembly show, students will meet some of our animal ambassadors and learn how they out-pounce, out-slither and out-soar to survive in their native habitats. After meeting ambassador animals and learning about their adaptations, students will vote to crown Akron Zoo’s Zoovivor champion! 


Classroom & Community Programs

Classroom & Community Programs are available for up to 99 people and can be booked year-round. Programs are tailored to preschoolers (3-5 years old), early elementary students (kindergarten – grade 3) or multi-age audiences.

Prices

Summit County
  • 1-30 participants, permitted to touch animals: $120 (consecutive programs*: $85)
  • 31-99 participants, not permitted to touch animals: $200 (consecutive programs*: $180)
  • Senior citizen groups: $120 per program
Outside Summit County
  • 1-30 participants, permitted to touch animals: $130 (consecutive programs*: $95)
  • 31-99 participants, not permitted to touch animals: $225 (consecutive programs*: $200)
  • Senior citizen groups: $130 per program

Please ask for pricing for groups of 100 or more students.

*Programs must occur within 15 minutes of each other and be on the same topic to qualify for the consecutive rate.

Request Your Mobile Zoo Experience

Preschool Programs - 3-5 years old

Unfortunately, we do not do programs for children under 3. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Dress for the Season – Learn about changing seasons and how students and animals prepare for the weather!

Bust A Move - Discover the various ways animals move, and see how much you can move like them.

All Creatures Great & Small - Animals come in all different shapes and sizes. How do they compare with you?

Living Things - Explore the differences between living things and non-living things and meet a few live animals.

Fur, Feathers & Scales - Explore what makes birds, mammals and reptiles different.

Kindergarten – Grade 3

Backyard Wildlife - Discover animals who live in Ohio. Learn about their lives in their native habitat, and how people and animals can co-exist.

In Living Color - Discover the not-so-black-and-white world of animal colors.

Multi-Age Programs

Where in the World? - Explore the different places animals call home, from the desert to the rainforest.

Superheroes! - Superheroes have lots of special powers, but how many of those powers are also found in the animal kingdom?

Build a Better World - Labout why animals are becoming endangered, both worldwide and in our backyards, and what we can do to help them.

What’s for Dinner? - Learn about the food web and how all animals are connected.

Backyard Wildlife - Discover animals who live in Ohio. Learn about their lives in their native habitat, and how people and animals can co-exist.

Rainforest - Discover how the rainforest, one of the most diverse habitats in the world, is at risk and learn about its impact here in Ohio.

Endangered Species - Why do some animals thrive while others struggle for survival? Meet some animals from the zoo and explore this topic.

Summer Reading Program: Zoology at the Library - Come to the library and learn all about some wonderfully cool animals from the Akron Zoo.  Find out how zoo staff has to use places like libraries to research animals so they can share fun facts about them.

After-School Programs - Our after-school enrichment programs include 4 to 8 different sessions with fun activities and several animal ambassadors.

Custom Programs - Our Education Team will work with you to create a custom program to fit your needs.


Community Displays

The Zoo is currently evaluating our community display program and is not currently booking. In some cases, we may be able to provide presence at your community event. Please fill out the form below to submit your request.

The Akron Zoo is able to provide fun, interactive displays for community events which feature biofacts (items such as pelts, skulls, feathers, etc.). Our staff will travel to your site and set up a display table for up to three hours. Designed for all ages and recommended for larger events such as festivals and open houses.

Prices

  • Summit County: $150
  • Outside Summit County: $175

Additional Fees:

Programs that occur with any part taking place at or after 5 p.m. will have an additional $25 after-hours fee.

Programs must occur within 40 miles of the Akron Zoo.

Request Zoo Presence 

For questions or further information, contact our Programming Coordinator at programs@akronzoo.org or call 330-375-2550 ext. 8973.