Home School Programs
Home School Programs (August - February)
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’ Education Department offers a variety of education classes specifically for home-schooled students living along the First Coast (Northeast FL and Southeast GA). This unique opportunity allows students to get up close and hands-on with animals in a nurturing, learning environment with their peers.
All classes are developed based on age groups and curricula suitable for the age group. Hands-on with animals, artifacts, additional learning aides, and take home activity packets reinforce and complement the each topic. Class size is limited to the first 25 students to register.
2009 Registration Form
2010 Registration Form
DUE TO AN OVERWHELMING RESPONSE, WE HAVE ADDED THURSDAYS TO OUR PROGRAM LINE-UP. Our 5-7 and 8-10 year old programs are near capacity on Tuesdays & Wednesdays and with the addition of Thursdays, we will be able to accommodate everyone this season! Click on the updated schedule and registrations above.
Registration
Registration for all programs is processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Complete a separate registration form for each child. We do not take registrations over the telephone.
Waiting Lists
Due to the overwhelming popularity of our Home School Classes (especially for 5 – 7 and 8 – 11 year olds), we do compile waiting lists if preferred classes fill. If an opening becomes available, we will contact you by telephone. Please make sure the registration form includes current daytime, evening and cell phone numbers.
Payment
Full payment must accompany your registration form. We accept checks, money orders, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover cards. Checks and money orders should be made payable to the Jacksonville Zoo.
If you are mailing in your Registration Form, send to
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Education Department
370 Zoo Parkway
Jacksonville, FL 32218
You may also hand deliver the Registration Form to the PepsiCo Foundation Education Campus at the south end of the zoo’s main parking lot Monday – Sunday 9 am – 5 pm. If you have more than one child wanting to attend the same program, please deliver all registrations together.
Or, FAX the Registration Form to 904-757-2444 24-hours a day. Do not forget to complete all the requested credit card information and sign the registration form. If you have more than one child wanting to attend the same program, please fax all registrations together.
Deadline
Deadline for registration is 5 p.m. the Thursday before the week of scheduled classes. Classes for 5 – 7 and 8 – 10 year olds fill quickly, so register early to avoid being shut out.
Fees:
Members: $3.00 per child per class
Non-members: $3.50 per child per class
Members of the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens receive discounts on Education Programs and FREE admission every time they visit. Become a Member today to take advantage of the reduced rate!
Day Camps
For additional program opportunities for 6 year olds and up, please check out our Day Camps page.
Home Educators
Teacher Workshops provide training and curricula to improve your skills as a home educator. For our current listing of upcoming workshops, please visit our Teachers page.
Frequently Asked Questions
I am new to the program. How do you screen your staff?
All staff educators are screened for excellence in children’s programming. All have had previous experience with children and have cleared nationwide, state and FBI Level 2 background checks as prescribed by the State of Florida’s Jessica Lunsford Act.
May I sit in the class with my child?
Our programs are designed for children who are able to be successful in group oriented programs without parent involvement. Space in each classroom is limited and due to the popularity of the classes most fill to capacity thus not permitting extra persons to sit-in. Adults unknown to us and who have not been screened are not allowed to attend programs.
May younger siblings sit in on the class?
Our classes are designed for the ages specified after experimenting with a variety of age combinations. To make your child’s class a positive experience we do not allow younger children to sit-in with older siblings.
Where are the classes held?
All classes are held at the PepsiCo Foundation Education Campus located at the south end of the Zoo’s main parking lot. Paying Zoo admission is not necessary to participating in class. In your confirmation materials, you will receive a map showing you the location of the campus.
Do I have to register for all three classes on a day or for every month?
Our programs are designed to build on the knowledge gained from the previous class or the previous month. By the end of the series, your child will have had a comprehensive experience in the life sciences, but we also recognize that home schooling schedules need to be flexible. You may register just for one class each day or come only one month. It is entirely up to you and your child.
Do I drop my child off or do I wait?
We ask that you stay with your child in the Education Auditorium through the brief orientation conducted at the start of class. To accommodate those who wait we set-up the auditorium with games, storybooks, and quiet activities that entertain younger siblings. Parents are welcome to network and visit with one another or read. If you feel comfortable, you may leave the campus to visit the Zoo or run errands while your child participates in class, and our staff will make sure he or she gets to the rest of the classes. It is entirely up to you.
What about disruptive children?
To ensure an enjoyable and safe experience for all children, the zoo’s staff manages child behavior. All children are expected to behave appropriately, and in the event of disruptive behavior, a child may be timed-out and removed from the group. If the disruptive behavior continues, the child-care provider will be called to help find a solution. If improvement is not realized immediately, the child-care provider may be asked to remove the child early from class and the child may be asked not to return. In this situation, there will be no refunds for any missed classes that day.
Can you accommodate children with special needs?
Please indicate on the registration form any special needs our staff must be made aware of prior to your first day. Special needs such as physical, academic, and social will be accommodated to the best of our ability. Please note that the zoo does not employ specific individuals certified and trained to handle special needs children.
My child has a friend who wants to attend the same class. How can I make sure they are together?
If your child wants to attend classes with a friend, please hand deliver, mail, or FAX both registrations together to the PepsiCo Foundation Education Campus. This is the only way to ensure that they will be in the same program. Due to the popularity of our programs, we cannot save spaces.
My child has a younger friend. Can they attend the same class?
Our classes are designed for the ages specified after experimenting with a variety of age combinations. We would rather an older child feel like he or she is at the top of the class than a younger child made to feel at the bottom of the class. If they must attend together, the older child should be registered for the younger class to make the experience a positive one for both students.
CANCELLATION & REFUND POLICIES:
Cancellations received 10 business days or more prior to your scheduled class will receive a full refund less a 10% administrative fee. Cancellations made 9 to 5 business days prior to the first day of a class will receive a 75% refund of fees. Cancellations received less than 5 business days before the event forfeit all fees paid.
The Education Department reserves the right to cancel or combine age groups when classes do not meet the minimum requirement of 8 students to provide the program. Exceptions to the cancellation and refund policies will be made on a case by case basis and at the sole discretion of the Director of Education.
