This program is sold out. If you would like to be on a waiting list, please email [email protected]
Come be a wildlife photographer for the day and learn how images can make an impact on global conservation efforts. This class will focus on editorial photography and how we can share stories through the art of photographs. Try your hand at photographing some of our animal ambassadors up close. We'll examine some of the world's most notable animal photo journalists and connect the impact of their photographs to conservation. We will have a live virtual Q & A with Layne Kennedy, an editorial assignment photographer for the likes of National Geographic, Smithsonian, Traveler, Outside and LIFE magazines. Registration is required.
Events for Friday, August 16, 2024 - Friday, August 16, 2024
Teen Zootography Workshop and Q&A with Photographer Layne Kennedy – Feb. 13
Hands-On Homeschool – Delectable Diets – Mar. 20
1st - 6th Grades. Animals get their nutrition in a variety of different ways. Join us as we learn how an animal's diet can effect their anatomy, habitat, and conservation status! We will even prepare a few diets for our hungriest animal friends! Registration is required. Online registration is open.
Hands-On Homeschool – Endangered Species Exploration
1st - 6th grades. Bring your sense of adventure as we explore our fantastic endangered species here at the Zoo. Our travels will help us understand what makes a species endangered and how we can help. Welcome aboard our journey to impactful learning! Registration is required. Online registration is open.
Vote for CMZoo for Best Zoo & Best Zoo Exhibit
Show your support! You can vote once a day, every single day from now through 10 a.m. MT Monday, May 24. Last year, you voted Cheyenne Mountain Zoo the fourth Best Zoo and second Best Zoo Exhibit (for Rocky Mountain Wild) in North America in USA TODAY’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards Program. We have once again been nominated and need your votes!
Hands-On Homeschool – Mission: Conservation
Ages 1st-5th grades. Calling all lovers of animals and wild places! We need your help to ensure that incredible creatures stick around for years to come. Join us as we learn to protect wild animals and wild places! We will be focusing mostly on giraffes, rhinos, tapirs, and black footed ferrets. We will also learn how to make our own toad abodes!! Registration is required. Online registration is open.
Hands-On Homeschool: Wildlife Mysteries – Sept. 18
Ages 1st - 6th grades. Investigate with us as we uncover the mysteries of the animal kingdom. Why do zebras have stripes? How do butterflies migrate without getting lost? Why do gall wasps look like berries? Join us as we answer some of the most debated questions of the wild world. Registration is required.
Teens – Animal Photography 101 – Sept. 25
Ages: Middle and High School students. Come be a wildlife photographer for the day and learn how images can make an impact on global conservation efforts. Registration is required. Online registratino is open.
Teens – Raptors in Our World – (Oct. 23)
Ages: Middle and HIgh School students. Learn about the various species of raptors that are in our Colorado backyard. Registration is required. Online registration is open.
Hands-On Homeschool: Birds of a Feather – Jan. 13
Ages 1st - 5th grade. Come soar into the world of flight, feathers, and fascination as we meet some of the coolest birds around! Registration is required. Online registration is open.
Hands-On Homeschool: The Odd & Unique Part 2 – Jan. 27
Ages 6th - 8th Grades. join us for experiential learning through hands-on engagement. Naked Mole Rats, Axolotls, Walking Stick Bugs, Emus and Tapirs; these animals may seem a bit odd but they are some of the most incredible species on our planet. Come join us for Part 2 at the Zoo as we dive into the lives of some of the strangest animals and their unique adaptations. Registration is required. Online registration is open.
Hands-On Homeschool – In My Backyard
Ages 1st-5th grade. Explore the Rocky Mountains and discover what animals live right in our backyard! We will discuss local flora and fauna to discover how our closest ecosystem operates. Meet one of our local animal heroes up close as we learn how we can better protect the environment around us. Registration is required. Online registration is open.
Hands-On Homeschool – Native Predator & Prey
Ages 6th-8th Grade. Join us at the Zoo as we learn about what defines an animal as a predator or prey species. We'll discuss unique predator-prey interactions and the balance they help keep within ecosystems. Through hands-on activities and observing resident animals around the Zoo we’ll learn about the different adaptations that allow certain predator and prey species to be so successful. Registration is required. Online registration is open.
Protecting the Future Together – Member Voting
Members, the Zoo needs your help deciding which field conservation efforts to fund! Each year, we set aside $75,000 of membership revenue to fund field conservation around the world. The top three projects will receive full funding. All of your votes will help determine how we allocate the remaining funds to wildlife conservation. These funds are only possible because of your membership - your vote will help decide which conservation efforts will receive funding this year. Please check your email for a members-only link to vote!
Family Camp April – Magnificent Marsupials
All ages. Book any time in April during regular Zoo hours. Marsupials are magnificent animals! They are great at climbing, digging, and some are even great at hopping. Join us as we uncover the mysteries behind the unique marsupials at the Zoo. We will even meet Hutch, a Virginia opossum, to get an up close look at these pouched creatures. Each family will have their own EdVenture guide and time slots to keep safety our number one priority. Registration one week in advance is required.
Hands-On Homeschool – Nature’s Builders
Ages 1st-5th grade. Animals are experts when it comes to building with raw materials! Join us as we learn about nature’s construction workers and their purpose in our environment. We will even try our hand at building with natural materials. Registration is required. Online registration is open.
Endangered Species Day
Ages K - 12th Grade. Join us for this fun learning experience, where your students will enjoy peer-to-peer learning about endangered species from all over the world and dIscover how the Endangered Species Act helps wildlife through interactive stations around the Zoo! Registration is required.
Hands-On Homeschool – Ecosystem Engineers
Ages 6th-8th grade. Many animals play a crucial role in their habitats but did you know that some species can change their entire ecosystems? Join us at CMZ as we delve into the world of Ecosystem Engineers. Through hands-on activities and observing resident animals we’ll learn how certain species can alter entire landscapes. Registration is required. Online registration is open.
Hands-On Homeschool – Wild & Weird
Ages 1st-5th grade. Journey with us as we discover some of the strangest animals at the Zoo and their unique adaptations. We will meet a few of the animals up close along the way and create our own uniquely built creature. Registration is required. Online registration is open.
Saturdays for Scouts: Animal Habitats (Juniors Workshop)
What makes a good habitat for a wild animal? How do we protect the animal habitats around us? Have you ever made a habitat for an animal? Journey with us as we discover what wild animals need in their wild places and practice making the perfect animal habitat of your own for one of our smallest Zoo creatures. Registration is required.
Hands-On Homeschool – Reptile Rampage
Ages 6th-8th grade. Reptiles are some of the oldest animals on our planet, many surviving through the era of dinosaurs! Some species, such as crocodilians, still look the same as they did millions of years ago but what makes these animals so resilient? Join us at CMZ as we learn about what makes these misunderstood creatures so amazing. We’ll study their unique adaptations and possibly even meet some of our very own residents here at the Zoo. Registration is required. Online registration is open.
Teen Community Program: Teen Zootography
Ages: Middle School and High School. Join us at the Zoo as we put our photography skills to the test! Join the CMZ education team as we show you some of the basic skills needed to photograph wildlife and wild places. We will learn how photography can play a role in conservation and even try our hand at photographing some Zoo animals. *Registration will close 48 hours prior to the start of this program. Registration is required.
Teen Only Teen Starlight Safari – July 8
Ages: Middle School & High School. Join us on a unique workshop that will take you into the Zoo after hours to learn all about nocturnal animals. We’ll take an evening tour through the zoo to learn all about our animals that prefer the night and even meet a nocturnal ambassador. *Registration will close 48 hours prior to the start of this program. Registration is required.
Outdoor School: Nature Photography 101
Ages: Middle and High School. Location: Cheyenne Mountain State Park. Come explore one of Colorado Springs’ unique gems in Cheyenne Mountain State Park and learn how to capture its true beauty. Through this hands-on workshop, participants will learn the basics of photographing natural spaces and try their hand at some new techniques. Whether it’s focusing on a small portion of a plant or capturing an entire landscape, we will learn to perfect the different methodologies of outdoor photography. Registration is required.