On-Site Programs
VIRTUAL PROGRAMS: For the 2021-2022 school year, the Saskatoon Zoo Society has gone virtual and can offer on-site programs to one classroom at a time. Online, interactive environmental education programming includes an educator from the Saskatoon Zoo Society so our programs can remain engaging and interactive.
Call us at 306-975-3395 or email us at info@saskatoonzoosociety.ca to inquire or to book.
The Saskatoon Zoo Society has limited funds available to help support schools in need. Please inquire when you call.
VIRTUAL PROGRAMS:
1. Meet the Creature (Gr 1 & 2 and 2/3 splits)
2. Habitat and Adaptations (Gr. 3/4 splits and 4-6)
3. Classification (Grades 6-8) NOTE: This program does not include a separate video for your class to watch
4. Species at Risk (Gr.7-8 and high school)
Virtual Programs include:
Interactive SMART presentation
Animal Ambassador presentation (live)
Time for class to formulate questions
Pre-taped Video tour of some of the animals in the Zoo (matches theme) – video is good for the entire day so classes can watch anytime during the day either before or after the program with the Zoo Society educator. (exception: Classification)
Cost: $85
Time: Total time varies between program and will vary depending on the questions asked. Plan for 1 hour to 1.25 hours. Meet the Creature is geared to 45 minutes.
Note: We use the Zoom platform.
ALSO available virtually:
Virtual Story Time and Animal Friends (K)
Join a Zoo Society educator for a story and a meet and greet with 2 of the Zoo’s animal ambassadors
Program runs about 30 minutes.
Virtual Owl and Owl Pellets (gr. 3 and up)
Advance Booking of 1 week is recommended for pellets
Includes: An online SMART presentation and Owl pellet dissection kit for your classroom (owl pellet dissection is self-guided by the classroom teacher. Information will be provided to assist teachers through this activity).
Cost: $85 + $3.50 per pellet (teacher to determine how many they want for their class)
Time: 45 minutes online plus 30-40 minutes in class for owl pellet dissection.
Note: We use the Zoom platform
Virtual Question and Answer (Grades 6-12)
Can’t decide what program you want? You pick 3 animals you want to visit with from our list of animal ambassadors and have your students come up with the questions for our educator. Questions and animal choices must be submitted to the Saskatoon Zoo Society 1 week prior to your program.
Call us at 306-975-3395 for more details.
$85
Onsite OUTDOOR Tours:
Programs run May & June and Day after Labour Day until mid-October (weather dependent)
Available in the winter upon request. This program is entirely outdoors, so students would need to dress for the weather.
Cost: $100 for first 30 students
Due to regulations, 30 students is our maximum number of students we can accept (we prefer to split into two groups of 15).
All participants must be masked at all times while they are with a Zoo Society educator.
Total Time: 45 minutes to 1 hour total time unless otherwise noted
There is only one indoor facility open at this time (the Meerkat house), so please ensure students are dressed to be outside for the duration of the tour. Not available during inclement weather, however, the Saskatoon Zoo Society will deliver outdoor tours in the winter (temperature considerations apply) for the brave souls that can dress for the weather! We may have access to an indoor classroom in the winter, but this will depend on other bookings onsite. Please inquire when you book.
Indoor Onsite Zoo Classroom Programs
Currently available for the 2021-2022 school year. Note: in the event COVID restrictions force us to stop delivering onsite programs, we can switch all programs to a virtual program, however we may have to look at a date change.
-onsite Programs take place at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo in the Affinity Learning Centre.
-masking is mandatory
-max number of students with our animals is 15. Classes larger than this will be split into two groups when working with our animals. The teacher is required to have a self-guided activity ready for this time (most classes opt to tour the Zoo during this time). Opportunity to use our additional classroom may be available in the event it is not already booked. Please inquire.
We offer programs that take place indoors in our classrooms at the Affinity Learning Centre.
Call 306-975-3395 to book your program.
On-site program fees are $70-$100 per group.
Please call, email or use our contact form for more information.
(Zoo admission is included when a program is booked and paid for in advance with the Saskatoon Zoo Society (note: subject to change)
1. Pre-K Story and Animal Friends
2. Meet the Creature (Gr 1 & 2 and 2/3 splits)
3. Habitat and Adaptations (Gr. 3/4 splits and 4-6)
4. Owl and Owl Pellets (Grades 4 and up)
5. Classification (Grades 6-8) NOTE: This program does not include a separate video for your class to watch
6. Species at Risk (Gr.7-8 and high school)
7. Question and Answer Program (Grades 6-12):
Can’t decide what program you want? You pick 3 animals you want to visit with from our list of animal ambassadors and have your students come up with the questions for our educator. Questions and animal choices must be submitted to the Saskatoon Zoo Society 1 week prior to your program.
Call us at 306-975-3395 for more details.
Please Note:
Most on-site environmental education programs take place at the Affinity Learning Centre. Click Here for a map to the Affinity Learning Centre.
Remember, small groups = big experiences! Our programs are designed to accommodate an average sized class (22-28 students). In most cases we cannot accommodate more than one class, at a time, in our environmental programs.
INFORMATION PACKAGE FOR ON-SITE BOOKED PROGRAMS AVAILABLE HERE
Weekend programs: subject to staff availability. Cost is higher on weekends. Email us or use our contact page to inquire.
Guided Programs
Currently Available: Virtual Programs, Outdoor Tours and Small Group Onsite programs. See above Programs for all our current offerings.
Programs below (Quarter day, half day and full day) are no longer available or have changed into the programs listed above.
Full Day Programs
Please call about the availability of this program. This program requires assistance from the Animal Care Specialists on-site and therefore requires advance booking. At least a month notice is required.
Your class needs to help the zoo keepers feed the animals! First, we need to learn about nutrition, then we need to calculate how much to feed the animals – based on some rather unique nutrition labels. It’s a fun and memorable way to learn about math and nutrition (9:30a.m.-2:30p.m.).
Call the Zoo Society at 306-975-3395 for for more information and program pricing.
Curriculum Connections:
– Grade 7: Math
– Grade 8: Math
Note: This program is under review by the education staff. Will not be offered for the 2019-2020 school year.
Half Day program (9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. OR 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.) Full Day (9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.)
The Saskatoon Forestry Farm is a National Historic Site. What a great place to learn about Saskatchewan agriculture and the role of shelterbelts grown here at the Sutherland Dominion Nursery Station. Full Day program will add in how the settlement of Saskatchewan affected the animals as well. The full day program we will look at the human impacts on the land and wildlife.
Call the Zoo Society at 306-975-3395 for for more information and program pricing.
Curriculum Connections:
– Grade 4: Social Studies (Saskatchewan)
– Grade 5: Social Studies
– Grade 6: Social Studies
-Grade 7: Science (Interactions within ecosystems)
-Grade 8: Social Studies (Significance of land on evolution of Canadian identity)
(9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.)
We all talk about Biodiversity, but what is Biodiversity? And how do scientists measure it? In this day program we study a variety of ways of looking at Biodiversity that combine real-life science with fun activities.
Call the Zoo Society at 306-975-3395 for for more information and program pricing.
Curriculum Connections:
– Grade 7: Interactions within Ecosystems
– Grade 8: Social Studies (Resources and Wealth 8.3)
(9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.)
It’s a full day at the zoo. After studying the ethics of keeping animals in cages and learning about an animal’s needs and requirements, the students will work collaboratively to design a 3D model of a zoo enclosure with its associated plants and animals.
Call the Zoo Society at 306-975-3395 for for more information and program pricing.
Curriculum Connections:
– Grade 4: Art
– Grade 5: Art
Why do we give living organisms such strange scientific names? In this program we look at the history of how scientists group living creatures and learn the why and how behind naming of a species. This is an indoor and outdoor program. Classes will get to interact with two-three animals during this program. A Zoo tour is part of the full day experience. Please ensure students are dressed for the weather.
Call the Zoo Society at 306-975-3395 for for more information and program pricing. (9:30a.m.-2:30 p.m.)
Curriculum Connections:
– Grade 6: Science (Diversity of living things)
Half Day Programs
This program looks at how animals adapt to their environment. Using their special adaptations, wildlife can survive in a variety of habitats. Note: This program runs about 2 hours.
Call the Zoo Society at 306-975-3395 for for more information and program pricing.
Curriculum Connections:
– Grade 4: Habitats and Communities
– Grade 6: Diversity of Living Things
We’ll discuss the importance of a healthy environment and human health as we discover why Saskatchewan has so many species at risk, and what we can do to help. The presentation looks at the changes in the Saskatchewan landscape and how human interaction has affected our wildlife. The species at risk program can be delivered in 2 ways: as a SMART Board presentation with discussion (approx. 45 minutes) or a SMART Board presentation with animal time and a self-guided species at risk scavenger hunt (approximately 1.5 hours). Please note this program is suitable for grade 6 and up. Younger audiences may find some material upsetting.
Call the Zoo Society at 306-975-3395 for for more information and program pricing.
Curriculum Connections:
– Grade 6: Diversity of Living Things
– Grade 7: Interactions within Ecosystems
– Secondary Level: Social Studies (The relationship of the natural environment in the development of a society, and Canadian First Nations worldview.) Note: The Biodiversity Cougar program is a better fit for high school students.
This program looks at the ecology of owls and other raptors in Saskatchewan. Unlike other birds of prey, owls cannot digest their prey’s bones. What is left behind is known as an owl pellet. These pellets are used by scientists to study the biodiversity of the owl’s habitat. Want to know how scientists do this? We’ll dissect some owl pellets to discover what is inside.This program takes approximately 90 minutes.
Call the Zoo Society at 306-975-3395 for for more information and program pricing.
Curriculum Connections:
– Grade 4: Habitats and Communities
– Grade 6: Diversity of Living Things
We’ll explore our prairie marsh to see what invertebrates call Saskatchewan home. Classes larger than 15 students will be split into groups (with the other half being self-guided unless combined with another program). This program can be combined with either a carnivore and bird of prey self-guided tour kit or an indoor “meet the creature” program to accommodate split groups (additional charges apply). This program takes approximately 90 minutes for one class. NOTE: pond dipping program is seasonal. Typically runs mid-May to third week of September (in the event of a blue-green algae growth, teachers are asked to provide a back-up choice to pond-dipping).
Example schedule:
1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. : Group 1 pond-dipping
1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. : Group 2 self-guided activity with the teacher (OR, choose an additional program for additional fees)
1:45 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. : Group 2 pond-dipping
1:45 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. : Group 1 self-guided activity with the teacher (OR, this can be your second program choice here)
Call the Zoo Society at 306-975-3395 for for more information and program pricing.
Curriculum Connections:
– Grade 1: Needs & Characteristics of Living Things
– Grade 2: Animal Growth and Change
– Grade 4: Habitats and Communities
– Grade 6: Diversity of Living Things
– Grade 8: Natural and Human Induced Changes to Water Ecosystems
In this program, we will look at the history of Saskatchewan’s grasslands and the changes in biodiversity from First Nations through to European contact. We will also look at the modern day re-introduction program for Bison, Swift Fox, and Black-footed Ferrets. During the presentation, we will also look at how the cougars were impacted throughout this time and how their population is gradually increasing and what that could potentially mean for our community. Hands-on time with two animals is included as well as a behind-the-scenes look at our cougars with a Zookeeper.
Note: This program requires scheduling with a Zookeeper – advanced booking of at least two weeks to one month is required.
Call the Zoo Society at 306-975-3395 for for more information and program pricing.
Curriculum Connections:
Environmental Science 20
Biology 30
Why do we give living organisms such strange scientific names? In this program we look at the history of how scientists group living creatures and learn the why and how behind naming of a species. This is an indoor program. Classes will get to interact with two-three animals during this program. If you wish to see the whole zoo, please book time either before or after your program.
Note: This program can also run as a full-day program. The full day program is recommended for the upper elementary classes, but is still suitable for grade 6.
Call the Zoo Society at 306-975-3395 for for more information and program pricing.
Curriculum Connections:
– Grade 6: Science (Diversity of living things)
Quarter Day Programs
This year-round program takes place in the Affinity Learning Centre at the Forestry Farm Park and Zoo. In creatures with fur, feathers, scales and slime – how do scientists classify vertebrate animals? Find out in this hands-on exploration of animal life. Groups larger than 15 students will be split into two groups. This program can be combined with a self-guided, but pre-packaged carnivore tour kit or pond dipping (seasonal activity) to accommodate classes that need to split into smaller groups. We recommended that you allow a minimum of 1.5 hours for this program.
Example schedule:
1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. : Group 1 Meet the Creature
1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. : Group 2 self-guided activity with the teacher (OR, choose an additional program for additional fees)
1:45 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. : Group 2 Meet the Creature
1:45 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. : Group 1 self-guided activity with the teacher (OR, this can be your second program choice here)
Call the Zoo Society at 306-975-3395 for for more information and program pricing.
Curriculum Connections: (any grade welcome to book this program)
– Grade 1: Needs & Characteristics of Living Things
– Grade 4: Habitats and Communities
In this program, we’ll explore the fascinating world of reptiles and discover how they survive in their various ecosystems. We’ll look at a comparison between a lizard and a Tiger Salamander. What is common between the two and what is different. Do the babies look anything like their parents? Then, we’ll dive deeper into the world of reptiles. Can a snake “smell” with its tongue? Are snakes slimy? Meet our Common Garter Snake from Saskatchewan OR our Royal Python from Africa.
This program will take approximately 1 hour.
Call the Zoo Society at 306-975-3395 for for more information and program pricing.
Curriculum Connections:
– Grade 1: Needs & Characteristics of Living Things
– Grade 2: Animal Growth and Change
Take a close up look at the life of Saskatchewan’s Porcupine and how this unique rodent survives a life high in the trees. The students will also get close up to the African Pygmy Hedgehog. This program is approximately 45 minutes.
Call the Zoo Society at 306-975-3395 for for more information and program pricing.
Curriculum Connections:
– Grade 1: Needs & Characteristics of Living Things
– Grade 4: Habitats and Communities
– Grade 6: Diversity of Living Things
Looking for something interesting for your class? Give us a call to discuss if you have specific content/themes/animals that you’d like to learn about at the Zoo!
Call the Zoo Society at 306-975-3395 for for more information and program pricing.
Kindergarten and pre-school groups (age 3 and up): This program includes a story and a visit with 2-3 socialized animals, but only during the months of November through March (Other months may also be available, but depend on staff and animal availability).
Call the Zoo Society at 306-975-3395 for for more information and program pricing.
Grade 1 Program
The Grade One Program will be offered virtually for the 2020-2021 School Year.
The grade one program consists of two to three sessions: “Meet the Creature” which looks at the various types of vertebrate animals (mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians) and their different characteristics and skin coverings. The second session is a prepared self-guided tour (new) of the carnivores and birds of prey, outside in the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo. This session includes a self-guided kit with some of our biofacts (biological artefacts), prepared questions and activities for the students. Afternoon grade one programs from October to April, include the porcupine ecology program (October to April the program runs from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.). In May, grade one programs run in both the afternoon and the morning (Porcupine ecology is included in the MORNING sessions in May: a.m. session runs 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; p.m. session runs 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.). This is a joint effort between the Saskatoon Zoo Society and the Saskatoon Public School Board. (Other school boards may book as well, directly with the Saskatoon Zoo Society).
CLICK HERE FOR FULL DETAILS ON THE GRADE ONE PROGRAM (Program information details the grade one program for all teachers, but is directed to the Saskatoon Public School Board teachers).
Other school divisions are welcome to book directly with the Saskatoon Zoo Society. Cost: $100.00 Call 306-975-3395 for more information.
Saskatoon Public School Teachers: the Saskatoon Public School Division will support the grade one program for the 2020-2021 school year through Virtual Programming. Space is limited. Public School Division subsidized program (limited to 65 spots). However, teachers can still book this program on their own. Cost: $100.00
Curriculum Connections:
– Grade 1: Needs & Characteristics of Living Things
Other On-Site Programs (Friends of the Forestry Farm Park House Tours)
Tours of the Forestry Farm Park National Historic Site are available from the Friends of the Forestry Farm House. The Friends of the Forestry Farm House invite you to experience a bit of Saskatchewan history. Come to the Superintendent’s Residence in the Forestry Farm Park for a lesson in conservation, a historical tour of the Forestry Farm House and Park, and information on the trees that shaped our province. Our trained volunteers will lead you and your students in a tour which includes information on the day-to-day operations and life at the Dominion Forestry Farm in the early part of the 20th century. The tour and activities can be tailored to a one, two, or three hour time period and may include a walking tour, a poster made with tree rubbings, and a shelterbelt model and demo.
For more information or to book your visit, please visit the Friends of the Forestry Farm House website.