STROLLER SAFARI
Stroller Safari registration is now open for Spring 2025!
Join us for a fun musical program for our youngest zoo visitors!
Stroller Safari is a 30 minute guided tour around the zoo for young learners and their adult. Each session will begin with a familiar nursery song before touring the zoo with one of our knowledgeable educators. (This program does not include any animal encounters or behind-the-scenes experiences.)
Classes
Join us on select Tuesday and Wednesday mornings at 9:30 am.
- Seals on the Bus – 4/29, 4/30, 5/27, 5/28
- Henry Vilas Had a Zoo – 5/6, 5/7, 6/3, 6/4
- If You’re Cappy and You Know It – 5/13, 5/14, 6/10, 6/11
- I’ve Been Working at the Vilas Zoo – 5/20, 5/21
Ages
Stroller Safari is designed for children 0 to 2 years old and their adult.
Pricing
$5 for each child/adult pair (or for each stroller) per class
Preregistration required.
PRESCHOOL PRIDE
Preschool Pride registration is now open for Spring 2025!
Welcome to Preschool Pride at Henry Vilas Zoo! Like a lion pride that cares for a group of cubs, we are excited to spend some time with you and your little one! Preschool Pride is a one hour parent-child program where we make new discoveries about animals through play and imagination.
Waiting List availability!
Due to increased demand for Preschool programming, we now have waiting lists. If you see that a session you are interested in is full, add your preschooler to the waiting list by clicking the ‘register’ button and filling out the form.
If we see there is enough interest in a particular session, we may be able to open another, later class on the same day.
Adding your preschooler to the waiting list does not guarantee a spot in the program. There is no cost to be on the waiting list. You will not be charged until you accept a spot in the program.
Classes
Join us on Friday or Saturday mornings from 9 to 10 am.
Note: Certain Saturdays have an additional 10:15 to 11:15 class.
Each week has a new theme.
- Giraffing Me Crazy – Friday 4/4 or Saturday 4/5
- On the Animal Trail – Friday 4/11 or Saturday 4/12
- Animal Noise Hoot-en-neigh-ny – Friday 4/18 or Saturday 4/19
- Zoo-per Heroes – Friday 4/25 or Saturday 4/26
- Animal Tales – Friday 5/2 or Saturday 5/3
- The Many Shapes at the Zoo – Friday 5/9 or Saturday 5/10
- The Mane Attraction – Friday 5/16 or Saturday 5/17
- Big and Small – Friday 5/23 or Saturday 5/24
- Animal Zoo-vement – Friday 5/30 or Saturday 5/31
Ages
Preschool Pride is designed for children 2 to 4 years old.
Pricing
$18 per class
Henry Vilas Zoo Members at the Family level or above receive a 10% discount.
Zoo Conservation Club Members receive early registration and a 10% discount on Preschool Pride programs.
Not yet a member? Sign up for our Conservation Club membership today!
WHAT IS YOUR EDUCATIONAL APPROACH FOR PRESCHOOL PRIDE?
Our Preschool Pride program is child-centered and play-based, in line with the current research on early childhood education. That means:
- We acknowledge that in early childhood, the empathy children feel for animals is best nurtured through play
- Children learn the most when they have options when it comes to activities they want to participate in
- We recognize the importance of imaginary play in young children
- We encourage you to follow your child’s lead and join in the child-directed play
- We emphasize building on children’s curiosity and listening to their questions about nature. Sharing information in this context helps children make sense of the world and helps them feel ownership over their new discoveries
WHAT WILL WE DO DURING PRESCHOOL PRIDE?
Here is what a typical class looks like:
- Welcome: We welcome children to the class with introductions, expectations, a song, and a thematic story.
- Free play: Children can choose to explore our animal-themed activities relating to the topic of the day, including: toys, sensory bins, games, and a craft project. This time is purposely unstructured to allow for exploratory and inquiry-based learning.
- Zoo or animal exploration: Depending on the topic, we’ll either explore a part of the zoo that relates to our theme for the day, or we’ll meet an education ambassador animal in the classroom.
- Wrap-up: We’ll conclude our time together by singing our preschool song and reviewing the highlights of the day.
HOW BIG ARE YOUR CLASSES?
Our classes are limited to 10 children. One adult can bring up to two registered children. We offer a discount for siblings and for Zoo members.
Due to limited space in the classroom, we kindly ask that only registered participants and one adult attend these classes.
For questions, please email us at education@henryvilaszoo.gov or call 608-283-1610.