Zoo Tales

Join the Education Department for a storybook adventure. The program features animal stories, educational activities and maybe even an animal visitor!
These programs are included with Zoo admission.

WATCH NOW

Escape from the ordinary and awaken your wild side by joining the Zoo for Virtual Voyages on our social media. You can go behind the scenes, tour the Zoo, and cure your curiosity (or boredom!) with our animals, Keepers and Education staff.

Explore the Zoo’s Facebook.

What’s tweeting on Twitter?

Instantly connect on Instagram.

POWERED BY ECPI AND LIFE PRESERVE

Turn yourself into a tiger, lion or orangutan with these fun selfie filters. Download and point the Zappar app to the attached images and snap photos of you as an animal!

DOWNLOADABLE AND PRINTABLE

Check out these free, fun and educational activity sheets. Created for children ages 6 and older, but great for families and even adults!

Earth Day Activities

WATCH AND LEARN

The Virginia Zoo’s YouTube brings the Zoo right to your living room! Watch our award-winning Animeals blogs, meet and hear our Zoo Keepers talk about the animals they have the privilege of working with every day, see the latest cute baby, re-watch our virtual classrooms with Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants and more!

Start watching now.

LIGHT READING

Catch up on the latest news and exclusive Virginia Zoo stories by reading some of our most recent quarterly Zoo Review publications.

MORE READING

Continue learning about the Virginia Zoo and its animals by perusing our blogs. Meet the animals featured in our Tales of the Tails series, learn about the Zoo’s conservation efforts, discover what it takes for an animal to become an ambassador and more!

Catch up on your reading here.

With the goal of exploring the outdoors and getting a little dirty, play in natural spaces has been shown to improve physical health, support mental and emotional wellbeing, and promote life-long conservation values. Each month features a new theme and different activities.

This program is recommended for children aged PreK through 2nd grade and their favorite adult. Participants may come and go as they please throughout the program. Guided activities will run from 9:30 to 10 am and free exploration will take place from 10 to 10:30 am.

Fall Date Now Available, included with admission and no registration is required!

Want to learn a little more about the plants and animals around the Virginia Zoo? Download the app “Seek by iNaturalist” to identify different species in a snap!

Ever wanted to know an animal’s birthday? Or their favorite treat? Get insider information about the animals at our Zoo from their own keepers!

There are no Keeper Chats scheduled at this time

Come watch exciting educational presentations full fun facts and animal ambassadors! Watch animals display natural and enriching behaviors on stage to a seated audience, with a specific theme for each show.

Purpose of ZooLive! presentations

ZooLive! shows enhance the experience of Zoo guests by providing an up-close and interpreted experience while providing an engaging and enjoyable setting to learn critical, actionable conservation messages.

There are no presentations scheduled at this time

In-person option

The Virginia Zoo is not currently offering group rates for self-guided tours. You are welcome to bring your group to the Zoo. All tickets must be reserved online ahead of time for a specific timed entry. Tickets can be purchased up to 2 weeks in advance by clicking here.

In-person option

Pricing: $150 per tour (General admission for the day is included in the cost of guided tours)

Group Size: Maximum of 15 students and 2 adults (or 17 total people)

Timing: Guided tours are offered Tuesday-Thursday mornings at 9:30 am. Up to 3 guided tours (accommodating 45 students and 6 adults or 51 total people) can be booked simultaneously. Tours last 1 hour.

Program Themes: Adaptations, Animal Groups, Habitats, Zoo Careers

Audience: Groups of all ages and types (school, scout, homeschool, senior center, etc).

Virtual Program

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind-the-scenes at the Virginia Zoo’s veterinary hospital, known as the Animal Wellness Campus? Do you want to know what it takes to care for more than 700 animals daily? While we can’t physically take you inside the building right now due to health and safety regulations related to COVID-19, we can do the next best thing – a video tour!

Pricing: $50

Program Length: Receive access to a 30-minute behind-the-scenes video tour of the Animal Wellness Campus through an online portal for 30 days plus a 45-minute question and answer session with one of the Zoo’s educators. We recommend you watch the video prior to your Q&A session and send the Education Department questions ahead of time so that we can ensure the best experience possible.

Audience: There is no overtly graphic content in the video but it does show surgical procedures on animals. Due to this, we recommend this video tour for middle school groups and up. This tour is especially interesting for any group particularly interested in veterinary medicine.

Virginia Zoo is offering special Homeschool Edventures programs this fall! Participants will receive the same great Zoo Edventures program for a special price - $12 per person (ages 2 and up)! This includes all-day admission to the Zoo along with the Zoo Edventures program and some extra interactive resources spread throughout the Zoo.

Fall 2021 Dates:

• September 27, 2021: 10 am
• October 11, 2021: 10 am
• November 15, 2021: 10am

Homeschool groups are welcome to book school programs of any type, visit the School & Group page for a full list.

Virtual Program

This program will bring learning to life, as your group meets 2 different animal ambassadors and sees various bio-facts related to the program theme. Each program lasts for 30 minutes and is aligned to Virginia’s Standards of Learning. These programs can be scheduled for any grade (or age) level and can be adjusted to fit your group’s needs.

Pricing: $60 per program; Additional animal ambassadors can be added to your program, for an additional $15 per animal

Program Length: 30 minutes

Program Themes:

• Habitats From the rainforests of Africa to the deserts in Australia, explore the different habitats that animals call home.
• Adaptations What is camouflage? Why do some animals sleep during the day? This program reveals the physical and behavioral adaptations animals use to survive.
• Life Cycles  Investigate how animals are born, grow up and care for their young.
• Food Chains  + Food Webs  Compare predator vs prey and connect the links within the food chain.
• Animal Groups  Is it a mammal, reptile, bird or amphibian? During this program, students explore how scientists classify animals into different groups.
• Animal Behavior  Animal behavior plays a very important role in how we care for animals, both at the Zoo and around the world. Participants will learn about animal behavior and conduct an ethogram observation for one of the Zoo’s animal ambassadors.
• Senses  Discover how living things, including humans, sense the world around them.
• Community (Citizen) Science  Did you know you can help scientists learn more about the wildlife and habitats in your area? Join us as we introduce you to the world of community science!

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Let us know! We may be able to cover a topic that isn’t listed above.

Virtual Program

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to work at a zoo? Discover what it takes to care for the furry, feathery, and scaly friends that call the Virginia Zoo home. Each virtual program lasts for 30 minutes, includes a short presentation, and a Q&A session with one of our Zoo Educators. This program does not include a live animal encounter.

Pricing: $30 per program

Program Length: 30 minutes

Financial Aid: Title 1 and Norfolk Public Schools are eligible for a free “Career Chat + Q&A Session”. Please contact the Virginia Zoo for more information at [email protected].

Currently unavailable

All aboard and become a Norfolk Southern Express engineer! Get a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to be a part of a top Virginia Zoo attraction. As the Train Engineer of the Day, you will receive an honorary train engineer license, five FREE train rides to use throughout the year, the opportunity to work alongside the Norfolk Southern Express engineer as they conduct safety checks and morning maintenance, train whistle blowing privileges for the morning’s first departure, announcement of name over the PA system as Engineer for the Day, an engineer’s cap, bandana and train whistle, recognition at the Beazley Foundation Train Station as the Engineer of the Day, a certificate as a reminder of your special day, and admission for engineer and one guest. Additional guests may be added for additional cost.

Cost:

• Members: $89

• Non-members: $99

Read more HERE.

Days and Times Vary

Not ready to come in person yet? We understand. Contact us about making a behind-the-scenes tour a virtual experience instead!

Daily at 9:30

Come face to face with reptile giants, watch hatching and newborn reptiles being nurtured and raised, and immerse yourself in a floor to ceiling marsh habitat of the Siamese crocodile.* Learn about animal care, behavior and conservation on an up-close and personal behind the scenes tour! Be introduced to a Zoo Keeper who can share information about the animals they care for as only they know them! *Specific animals seen on the tour will vary.

Cost:

• Family of 4: $250 non-members, $200 members

• Friends of 2: $150 non-members, $100 members

• Additional adult: $50

• Additional child: $30

Max persons allowed on tour: 5 guests

Daily at 2 pm

On this tour, guests will have the opportunity to get up-close to one or more of our three rhinos! Learn more about Southern white rhinos, their conservation status, and what it takes to care for them from Zoo Keepers. Guests will get the chance to go behind the scenes and meet either Bora, Zina or Sibindi in person! Tours could be held inside their overnight barn or behind the scenes outdoors, depending on the weather. Come visit our rhino crash and experience meeting the world’s second-largest land mammal!

Cost:

• Family of 4: $300 non-members, $250 members

• Friends of 2: $200 non-members, $150 members

• Additional adult: $60

• Additional child: $40

Max persons allowed on tour: 6 guests

Daily at 9:30 am

On this tour, slow down and enjoy this private encounter with one of the Zoo’s sloths! Learn more about these creatures, their conservation status and meet the Zoo staff who take care of them. Guests will have the chance to get up-close with one of the slower-moving animals on earth, so be sure to bring a camera to capture a priceless photo opportunity!

Cost:

• Family of 4: $300 non-members, $250 members

• Friends of 2: $200 non-members, $150 members

• Additional adult: $60

• Additional child: $40

Max persons allowed on tour: 4 guests

Daily at 9 am

On this tour, guests will have the opportunity to get a closer look at the Moon Bear! Learn more about these amazing animals, their conservation status, and what it takes to care for them from Zoo Keepers. Guests will get the chance to go behind-the-scenes and see a training or enrichment session up close with our Moon Bear Chai.

Cost:

• Friends of 2: $200 non-members, $150 members

Max persons allowed on tour: 4 guests

Daily at 2 pm

On this tour, guests will have the opportunity to get up-close with these graceful giants! Learn more about these amazing animals, their conservation status, and what it takes to care for them from Zoo Keepers. Guests will also get the chance to offer giraffes Billy, Imara, Kylie, Noelle, Teddy Acacia or Tiana some of their daily diet – no ladders necessary!

Cost:

• Friends of 2: $200 non-members, $150 members

• Additional adult: $60

• Additional child: $40

Max persons allowed on tour: 5 guests

Daily at 9:30 am

On this tour, guests will get the opportunity to get a closer look at the largest of the tapir species, the Malayan tapir! Learn more about these amazing animals, their conservation status, and what it takes to care for them from Zoo Keepers. Guests will have the chance to go behind the scenes to see one or more of our tapirs up close, with the potential to watch a training or enrichment session with tapirs Rosco or Haddie and Luther. Did you know that tapirs are most closely related to rhinos and horses? Learn more on a tapir tour!

Cost:

• Family of 4: $300 non-members, $250 members

• Friends of 2: $200 non-members, $150 members

• Additional adult: $60

• Additional child: $40

Max persons allowed on tour: 6 guests

Daily at 9 am

On this tour, guests will have the opportunity to go behind the scenes to get a closer look at our bison, Lily! Learn more about these amazing animals, their conservation status, and what it takes to care for them from Zoo Keepers. This tour is a great way to meet and honor our National Mammal!

Cost:

• Family of 4: $250 non-members, $200 members

• Friends of 2: $150 non-members, $100 members

• Additional adult: $50

• Additional child: $30

Max persons allowed on tour: 10 guests

Daily at 9:30 am

On this tour, guests will have the opportunity to get up-close with these slow-moving reptile giants inside their exhibit! Learn more about these impressive animals, their conservation status, and what it takes to care for them from Zoo Keepers. Guests will get a chance to meet AJ, the Zoo’s largest and oldest Aldabra tortoise!

Cost:

• Family of 4: $250 non-members, $200 members

• Friends of 2: $150 non-members, $100 member

• Additional adult: $50

• Additional child: $30

Max persons allowed on tour: 10 guests