Saint Louis Zoo
With the City of St. Louis’ purchase of the 1904 World’s Fair Flight Cage from the Smithsonian Institution, the lengthy process of establishing a permanent zoological park in Forest Park began. In 1910, a group of interested citizens formed the Zoological Society of St. Louis, and by 1913 the City had set aside a total of 77 acres in Forest Park for a zoo. Just as when it was founded as a “forever free to the public” institution, today, “The Zoo” attracts more than 3 million visitors annually and is recognized by Parents Magazine as one of the top three zoos in the U.S. for children.
The Zoo provides exceptional opportunities for children to safely connect with animals and the natural settings in which those animals live. In addition to the element designed specifically for children - The Children’s Zoo . The Children’s Zoo’s offers numerous children’s activities that nurture respect for animals and their habitats, as well as promoting environmental conservation - such as the “Just Like Me’ play area, sliding through the river otter enclosure, crawling through the Frog Surround, and climbing a tree house.
Children’s Experiences At The Saint Louis Zoo
The Zoo’s Education Department offers numerous children’s programs (both on- and off-site) that nurture respect for animals and their habitats, as well as promoting environmental conservation. Tens of thousands of school-aged children and adults participate in classroom presentations, tours of the Zoo grounds, overnight adventures, and outreach programs provided by the Zoo’s Education Department during the school year. In addition, programs are offered on weekends and during the summer months for children and adults of all ages, designed to bring the excitement of learning about wildlife and nature to St. Louis area residents. Visitors to The Zoo will find experiences that will educate and entertain them in every corner of the grounds - from informative signs to interactive displays to encounters with theatrical interpreters. Of course, just observing behaviors of the many wonderful animals can be very educational and/or entertaining.
The Zoo’s Education Department also works closely with classroom teachers and area libraries by loaning instructional materials - such as hand-on learning kits, videos, and activity books - and making other resources available to allow area educators to integrate conservation education into their curricula. This mission is primarily accomplished through the Library and Teacher Resource Center available through The Zoo’s website.
The most-recently-added “attraction” for children at The Zoo is the Zoomagination Station. Located on the upper level of the Living World this staffed play area offers younger children the chance to create, explore, investigate, and imagine the ways in which they can interact with nature and the animals that inhabit nature. Specifically, the Zoomagination Station contains the following major elements - Backyard Wildlife Experience, Animal Care Corner, Animal Habitat Creation, Zoomagination Theater, Discovery Boxes, Cubs & Pups Pad, and Animal Exploration.