Friday, July 18, 2025

Virginia Zoo offers free educational programming to eligible schools this fall. Here’s how it works

(WYDaily/Courtesy of Virginia Zoo)
(WYDaily/Courtesy of Virginia Zoo)

Virginia Zoo virtual school programs offer “memorable, fun and a highly educational way to learn about animals and conservation,” and now Title 1 and Norfolk Public Schools are eligible to virtually attend a new “Career Chat and Q&A Session.”

Those two-way conversations with Zoo Educators give insight on what it’s like to work at a zoo.

“Because in-person field trips, outreach events, and classroom programs are not a viable option this fall, we had rethink our approach,” said Michelle Lewis, education manager, in a news release. “Our mission is to engage our community to take action to save the world’s wildlife and the environment, and that means meeting them where they are, whether it is at the Zoo, at school, or in their own living rooms,” Lewis added.

The Education team is also offering other virtual programs for a minimal cost that allow students to explore the zoo like never before.

There’s also a live, interactive virtual “Zoo Tour.”

Zoo officials said participants can lso “bring learning to life” with a Classroom Program by virtually meeting two animal ambassadors and seeing biofacts.

New “Scout Badge Workshops” are offered through Google Classroom and allow participants to complete badge requirements at their own pace, with different badges available monthly, according to a news release from the zoo.

Each program includes science lessons aligned to Virginia’s Standards of Learning. Virginia Zoo school programs also fit curriculum requirements in North Carolina and private schools.

Paid programs range in cost from $30-$60 and last 30-45 minutes, zoo officials said.

The programs are not just limited to school students; they make “perfect activities for retirement centers, nursing homes and other organizations.”

To book a program or learn more, click here. All programs are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

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John Mangalonzo
John Mangalonzohttp://wydaily.com
John Mangalonzo (john@localdailymedia.com) is the managing editor of Local Voice Media’s Virginia papers – WYDaily (Williamsburg), Southside Daily (Virginia Beach) and HNNDaily (Hampton-Newport News). Before coming to Local Voice, John was the senior content editor of The Bellingham Herald, a McClatchy newspaper in Washington state. Previously, he served as city editor/content strategist for USA Today Network newsrooms in St. George and Cedar City, Utah. John started his professional journalism career shortly after graduating from Lyceum of The Philippines University in 1990. As a rookie reporter for a national newspaper in Manila that year, John was assigned to cover four of the most dangerous cities in Metro Manila. Later that year, John was transferred to cover the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines. He spent the latter part of 1990 to early 1992 embedded with troopers in the southern Philippines as they fought with communist rebels and Muslim extremists. His U.S. journalism career includes reporting and editing stints for newspapers and other media outlets in New York City, California, Texas, Iowa, Utah, Colorado and Washington state.

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