For more information, including pricing, for any program or to schedule a program, please email the Education Department at salisburyzooed@gmail.com or call 443-944-0636.
Community Programs
Wild Party
Invite a few Wild Surprise Guests to your next party!
-Cost includes the facility rental of the education center, an animal wildlife encounter of three animals, a surprise gift for the birthday child and a craft for guests to take home.
-Time slots are offered in the morning and afternoon on the weekend
-Food and Add-On options may be ordered through the zoo Beastro Cafe
Ed(ucation) Talks
Get an up close look at one of our Education Ambassador Animals and find out details about their diet, adaptations and classification. There is always an opportunity provided to ask questions. Educators can be found on the stage each weekend with one of our Ambassador Animals for a quick chat.
Story Time Animal Encounter
Program themes are tailored to preschool aged children. Presentations will help expand little ones’ imagination and knowledge of the animal world. Educators will provide an animal story and Ambassador related presentation. Schedule a story time topic that meets your needs and interests year round. These can be done virtually, live at your location or on zoo grounds.
Pre-School/Toddler Activity Kits
Kit topics include Woodland Creatures, Ocean Animals, Pollinators and Amphibians and Reptiles.
Subjects and Learning Milestones covered include reading, math, science, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, art, music and dramatic play.
For more information about the Educational kits, email our Education Department.
To fill out the contract, go to Pre-School-and-Toddler-Kit-Contract.docx
Once you fill out the contract, please email it for approval.
On-site Programs
Hands-on Classroom Programs:
- Classification-Vertebrates
- Aimed for students K-5, this lesson explains how scientists classify items. After this lesson, students will be able to identify the vertebrate classes and how to sort animals into their appropriate class.
- Adaptation-Camouflage
- This lesson is designed for students from preschool thru 5th Younger students (PK-1) will learn to identify the uses of camouflage and why it is important. Higher grade levels (2-5) will learn about camouflage and then apply this knowledge to survival which will assist them in mimicking a given pattern.
- Diet-Food Chains/Webs
- Students will learn about prey and predator with this lesson, as well as how to categorize between a carnivore, herbivore, and omnivore. Students will also learn about the food chain and natural systems that occur based on what living things eat. This lesson is designed for students K-5.
These programs are approximately 45 minutes in length and have a limit of 30 participants. The cost is $80 in Wicomico County, $90 for groups in Maryland, and $100 for out-of-state groups.
Stage Presentation:
This 30 minute presentation exhibits three animals, a bird, mammal, and reptile. This lesson can be tailored to your topic of study. There is a limit of 30 participants and the cost is $70 in Wicomico County, $80 for Maryland groups, and $90 for out-of-state groups.
Guided Tour:
A Wildlife Interpreter guides your group through the zoo. Students will learn about the species on exhibit and will be reinforced of concepts such as classification, adaptation, habitat, and natural resource conversation that are taught through our hands-on classroom programs. The cost is $5 per person for school groups in Maryland and $6 per person for all others with a $50 minimum.
Self-Guided Tour Teacher Packet:
Teachers receive a packet of materials with pre and post activities and lesson ideas. Teacher leads the group through the zoo at your own pace while conducting activities.
School Programs (Off-Site)
Zoo-to-U:
If you cannot come to us, we can bring the zoo to you. Each program uses the zoo’s education animal collection. Several of these programs offer a hands-on component. Approximately 45 minutes in length. Limit 30.
- Animal Presentation
- Presentation of four animals; usually a bird, mammal, amphibian, and reptile
- Classroom Program
- Theme-specific, interactive programs that use the zoo’s education animal collection. Topics include:
- Classification-Vertebrates
- Students learn how to classify items, how to identify the vertebrate classes and how to sort animals into their appropriate class.
- Adaptation-Camouflage
- Students learn the uses and importance of camouflage, and then use this to mimic a given pattern.
- Diet-Food Chains/Webs
- Students learn about carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores, prey and predator, and the food chain.
- Classification-Vertebrates
- Theme-specific, interactive programs that use the zoo’s education animal collection. Topics include:
Zoo-to-U Display:
The Zoo brings a display with live animals and bio facts to your event!
Display includes:
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- Animals in tanks
- Animals we handle for the group
- Display board
- Handouts with information on the Salisbury Zoo animals and programs
Summer Camp Program Offerings
*The Salisbury Zoo will be offering a program specifically for summer camps visiting the Salisbury Zoo. The program incorporates a zoo program and guided tour highlighting specific exhibits within the zoo with a variety of themes to choose from.
-20 people maximum per program. If maximum group number is higher, it will be required to do multiple program rotations.
Themes
I-Spy Tour: (K-2nd grade)
Using the concept of the “I Spy” game, students learn about various adaptations of the animals in the zoo.
Dinner is Served: (K-5th grade)
Who is the producer? Who is the consumer? Campers will describe how animals at the zoo exchange energy with each other. Learn about the dietary needs of animals that are part of the food web within the zoo.
Junior Zookeeper Camp
Who wants to be a zookeeper? Go behind the scenes to learn what working in a zoo is all about. Assist keepers in exhibits, and find out what enrichment is and how it is used. Learn about some of the conservation projects the Zoo focuses on, and discover how exhibits are designed and built for specific animals.
This camp runs from Monday-Friday, July 31-Aug. 4, and it is for campers entering sixth through eighth grades. Hours are 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Campers can be dropped off at 8 a.m. and after-care is offered from 2-4 p.m. The cost is $150 for Friends of the Salisbury Zoo members and $200 for nonmembers. There are limited openings, and registration is available on a first-come, first-served basis. To register, email salisburyzooed@gmail.com.