A tiger lies on the ground behind glass, closely observed by two young girls who are sitting and looking at the animal, with their reflections visible in the glass.

TEEN PROGRAMS

For high school students

Upcoming Programs

Zoo Careers Exploration Day

Date: Saturday, May 9th, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. 
Age: 13 – 18 years
Cost: $20.00 per youth

A group of children excitedly watch and point at baby turtles inside a glass enclosure at an aquarium or science center. The turtles are in tanks under bright lights.

Join us this spring to explore diverse career pathways and learn firsthand what Woodland Park Zoo is all about. You’ll hear from a career panel of zoo professionals from all over the zoo and have a chance to ask them questions in a post-panel mingle session. Leave with some tips about educational paths and experiences that can help launch you into a zoo or conservation career. After the program is over, you will be able to explore the zoo for the rest of the day on your own!

Scholarships available. Email classes@zoo.org, for more information.

Register

TEEN Trips +

About Teen Trips+

Teen Trips+ are our newest iteration of career-connected learning experiences. These programs pair a themed program with a field trip to Woodland Park Zoo. Students will gain an insider’s perspective on the many diverse pathways to a career in conservation, and on the work happening at Woodland Park Zoo to benefit wildlife.

  • Hands-on activities that allow students to take a deep dive into the different types of work and talents it takes to keep the zoo thriving.
  • Explore the zoo like a pro as you investigate how the zoo promotes empathy for wildlife, cares for animals, showcases sustainability, and supports conservation work around the world.
  • Each program lasts about an hour with a maximum of two programs a day. Afterward, your group will have a self-led exploration of the zoo for your remaining visit.

Eligibility

Teen Trips+ is an add on to a self-guided field trip for eligible groups.

Group Size and Cost

Groups will need to register as a field trip.

Field Trip Pricing:

  • $100 Booking Fee
  • $11 per student/chaperone

Program Pricing:

Groups larger than 41 students will need to purchase 2 Teen Trip+ programs.

  • $150 for one program
  • $225 for two programs

Financial assistance is available

Registration

Once you have booked, our school’s team will reach out to you with further details and information within one week. If you have additional questions, please contact us via email at schools@zoo.org

Register

To register, please use the booking link below. For up-to-date program availability, please view the calendar in the booking link.

Teen Trips+ Program Themes

Zoo Careers

Grades: 9th – 12th
Participants: 20 – 80
Time: 90 minutes per program

A woman in a green sweater speaks to a group of people outdoors in front of rocky terrain. The listeners, including children and adults in jackets and hats, face her as she gestures with one hand.

This program features activities that immerse students in the many professions that bring Woodland Park Zoo to life. By exploring the creation of the new Forest Trailhead exhibit, students discover careers in animal care, horticulture, design, education, and sustainability. Working in teams, they design their own exhibit and present their ideas, gaining insight into how the zoo promotes empathy for wildlife, cares for animals, and supports global conservation. Students will also explore the zoo like professionals, uncovering how each department contributes to its mission of protecting wildlife and inspiring conservation action.

Zoo Science Exploration

Grades: 9th – 12th
Participants: 20 – 40
Time: 90 minutes per program

A person in a green jacket holds an open yellow detector device with visible batteries and a screen, next to a small plastic case containing a paper insert.

Have you ever wondered what it takes to run a zoo? Interested in trying out some of the common and easy-to-use tools used by zoo staff to get our jobs done? Come join a zoo educator as you explore some hands-on activities that explore the world of zoo science and conservation. This program includes hands-on activities that highlight the tools and tasks used in the many professions that bring Woodland Park Zoo to life, and shows how staff use the data they collect to make decisions. Students in this program will work in small teams as they rotate through a variety of stations to complete a task, record their data, think about what that data means, and make recommendations or complete a challenge using that data.

Animal Wellbeing at the Zoo

Grades: 9th – 12th
Participants: 20 – 40
Time: 90 minutes per program

A woman wearing a mask and gloves holds a small brown baby animal wrapped in a towel, while a masked veterinarian examines the animal in the background.

Come find out all about how we here at Woodland Park Zoo care for animals and monitor animal well-being in this program that explores animal training using operant conditioning, the five freedoms of animal welfare, and how zoo staff collect data to monitor each individual animal’s wellbeing. Students will get a chance to learn about the animal professions directly involved in animal care, practice a bit of operant conditioning with each other in small teams, explore elements of our zoo habitats that provide for an animals wellbeing, work in teams to propose innovative ways we could improve a habitat for a species,  and build out a  common tool called an ethogram and explore using it to monitor an animals activity in an exhibit space at the zoo. 

cancelation policy

Programs and Classes Cancelation Policy

A minimum of 2 weeks notice is required for cancellation refunds. We are unable to offer refunds or credits for cancellations less than 2 weeks prior to the program date.

Registration fees are non-refundable. 

Woodland Park Zoo reserves the right to cancel a program at any time. Should this occur, a credit or refund will be issued.