Zoo to You Programs

Blank Park Zoo has brought conservation education programs to the State of Iowa since 1990. We offer in-person and virtual outreach programs year-round for people of all ages. Zoo to You programs visit daycare centers, senior facilities, libraries, colleges and many other community organizations.

Our mission is to inspire an appreciation of the natural world through conservation, education, research and recreation. Blank Park Zoo brings this inspiration to you through “Zoo to You” programs, with our engaging and memorable education experiences. Our Zoo to You programs include hands-on activities, zoological artifacts and sometimes even live animals!

Community Programs

Availability: Year-round

Advance booking: Required 3 weeks in advance

Travel Distance: Locations up to 3 hours from the Zoo

Cost: Varies

Program Options

Presentation-style Programs

30-60 minute programs (max of 2 programs) with a scheduled start and end time and a captive audience. These programs can cover a wide variety of topics. If you have a specific topic or theme you would like us to cover, please specify on your program request form.

Cost:

First program: Polk and adjacent counties - $225
Second consecutive program (held 15 minutes after the first) - $125

Recommended audience size based on primary age of participants:

Ages 2-5 - up to 25 participants
School-aged children - up to 50 participants
Adults - up to 50 participants
Large groups (mixed ages) - up to 100 participants

Festival-style/booth programs

Tabletop or stationed events with educational games and activities booked by the hour. Live animals are not a part of these programs.

Cost:

First hour: $225
Additional hour (max of 3): $125

Virtual Programs

30-minute programs keeper chat about an animal or exhibit

Cost: $75 per program

School Programs

Availability: September - May

Advance Booking: Required 3 weeks in advance

Travel Distance: Locations up to 3 hours from the zoo

Cost: Varies

Program Options & Pricing

Bring Blank Park Zoo to your school for fun, educational experiences for students of all ages. In these interactive programs, students will engage with Zoo staff to learn about the relationships of nature and actions they can take to help protect it.

Classroom Programs - K-12 programming aligned with Iowa Core Science and Next Generation Science Standards. These interactive classroom programs are designed to enhance your curriculum using artifacts, hands-on activities, and sometimes live animals. They are designed to meet the needs of students at all levels. Programs may be adjusted to integrate standards in social studies or language arts as well.

Cost: First program - $180 / Second consecutive program (held 15 minutes after the first, max 2 programs per trip): $100
Group Size: individual classrooms (up to 30 students)
Length: 45 minutes

Assemblies – Combine classrooms for an educational enrichment experience for students. These engaging assemblies are designed to foster empathy, build connections and inspire action for nature in students.

Cost: First assembly - $225 / Second consecutive assembly (held 15 minutes after the first, max. 2 assemblies per trip): $125
Group Size: up to 100 students
Length: 30-60 minutes

Career Talks - Learn about careers at the Zoo. Live animals are not a part of these programs. Please note, career talks are typically short 20-30 minute presentations with a group of students. We are not able to accommodate career fairs.

Cost: No cost for career talks at schools in Polk & adjacent counties. For other counties, virtual career talks are available at no cost.
Group Size: Unlimited

After School – Students engage in fun, hands-on/minds-on learning with Zoo Club at your After School program. Programs can be booked for one time visits or for multi-week sessions.

Cost: First program - $180 / Second consecutive program - $125
Group Size: Up to 15 students (1 school staff member required)
Length: 60 minutes

Virtual Programs - 30-minute keeper chat with fun, educational and personal stories about the animals we all love. Students are encouraged to engage and ask questions about Blank Park Zoo’s animal residents.

Cost: $75 per program
Length: 30 minutes
Connection Requirements: Programs are offered over your choice of Zoom, Google Hangouts, or Microsoft Teams

Mileage:

Program fees listed above include mileage. For programs outside of Iowa with animals, an additional $125 travel fee will be charged due to additional permits required for travel.

No more than two programs can be scheduled on a trip. A 15-minute transition is required between programs. Additional fees may apply for any additional idle time between programs.

Disclaimer: Blank Park Zoo can travel to locations up to 3 hours away (6 hours round trip). Ambassador Animals that travel with Zoo to You programs are small animals such as small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. Please note, we do not offer a “petting zoo,” nor do we provide programs at private residences. We also do not bring live animals to festival-style/booth events.

Booking, Payment, and Cancellations

Programs must be booked at least 3 weeks in advance. Programs are not considered booked until you have received a booking invoice from the Education Office. Facility leaders are required to submit a program agreement form and photo of program space at least 2 weeks before the program date.

Space requirements: Programs with animals must be located indoors in a room with doors that can close. Facilities may request an outdoor program if the temperature is between 75-85 degrees fahrenheit (real and feels like temperature) and the program space is shaded with a barrier to prevent any approach from behind zoo staff and animals. Zoo staff and animals must be able to maintain a minimum of 10 feet space from audience members.

Payment is due at the time of the program. Some facilities may be required to pre-pay for programming at least 1 week in advance.

If you need to cancel or reschedule a program, please contact us as soon as possible. Cancellations of programs made within 1 week of the program will still be charged 50% of the program cost. Rescheduling fees may apply. Programs cancelled by Blank Park Zoo will not be charged.

Payment: Beginning September 1, 2026, payment is due at least 1 week prior to the program date.

If you need to cancel or reschedule a program, please contact us as soon as possible. Cancellations of programs made within 1 week of the program will still be charged 50% of the program cost. Programs cancelled by Blank Park Zoo will not be charged.

Click here to fill out a Zoo to You Program request. Are you a K-12 school looking for programming during the school year? Please look at the school programs information.

For more information, help or to book a program please call the Education office at 515-974-2550 or email education@blankparkzoo.org.

Zoo To You