Our staff is working hard every day to bring educational resources to your living rooms. We hope the information below helps you and your family connect with us, nature, and our community! Enjoy visits to the zoo, check-in with our keepers and educators, and more fun programs by visiting our Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter pages.
Help us continue to offer all the things you love about the Zoo!
Beastly Guests
Bring a zoo animal to your Zoom (Skype, WebEx, or other platform) session! Just send us the invite, and we’ll be there with the animals! We can join your work meetings, family phone calls, or your own virtual private party! Or we can provide a virtual place to meet for your special experience via WebEx. We recommend these programs be limited in their size (around 25 guest screens) so that everyone can participate!
Fee: 20 minutes with your favorite animal(s) at the Zoo is only $50
Red Panda Encounter
Meet Sherman and Mohu, our resident red pandas!
- Meet one of their keepers and learn all about this pair!
- Watch a training session or special enrichment session.
- See them get some of their favorite treats.
- Have you purchased an enrichment item from our Amazon Wish List for our animals? Maybe you’ll get to see your item in play!
Condor Experience
Meet either Mrs. Gryphus or Chavin, our gorgeous and inquisitive Andean condors!
- Meet one of their keepers and learn all about this duo!
- Watch a training session or special enrichment session.
- See them get some of their favorite food items or tour behind the scenes.
- Have you purchased an enrichment item from our Amazon Wish List for our animals? Maybe you’ll get to see your item in play!
Call a Capybara
Meet our fun lady, Candace, during this experience!
- Meet one of her keepers and learn all about the world’s largest rodent!
- Watch a training session or special enrichment session.
- See them feed her some snacks and check out those huge chompers!
- Have you purchased an enrichment item from our Amazon Wish List for our animals? Maybe you’ll get to see your item in play!
Madagascar Meet & Greet!
Meet our lemurs! We are home to ring-tailed lemurs, black and white ruffed lemurs, and crowned lemurs. These feisty friends share their home with radiated tortoises and guinea fowl, who may just pop in during your call to say “hi,” too!
- Meet one of their keepers and learn about our three species of lemurs!
- Watch a training session or special enrichment session.
- See them get some of their favorite treats.
- Have you purchased an enrichment item from our Amazon Wish List for our animals? Maybe you’ll get to see your item in play!
Meet our Bobcat Squeakers
Say “hi” to Squeakers during this fun conference call!
- Meet one of Squeakers’ keepers and learn all about her!
- Watch a training session or see Squeakers get some special enrichment.
- Have you purchased an enrichment item from our Amazon Wish List for our animals? Maybe you’ll get to see your item in play!
Goats & Chickens
Meet our three breeds of goats and check out our chickens and their coop! Maybe there will even be some fun eggs from our heritage breed hens for us to discover!
- Meet a keeper and ask some questions!
- Say “hi” to the goats and see inside their barn.
- Check the chicken coop with our keeper and meet our flock.
- Have you purchased an enrichment item from our Amazon Wish List for our animals? Maybe you’ll get to see your item in play!
Ambassador Animals Options
We have over 40 different Ambassador Animals to choose from for your program! During a Beastly Guests program we will have time for 1-3 animals, depending on the animal and your questions. What will you do?
- Meet a keeper or educator and ask some questions!
- Watch a feeding, training, or enrichment session with one of our knowledgeable staff.
- OR meet our animal through an up close handling and presentation.
- Have you purchased an enrichment item from our Amazon Wish List for our animals? Maybe you’ll get to see your item in play!
Who will you meet? Pick from the list below (if you have a preference):
- Reptiles and amphibians (pick from lizards, snakes, frogs, tortoises, and turtles)
- North American Porcupine
- Flemish Giant Rabbit
- Virginia Opossum
- Small Mammals
- Invertebrates (spiders, millipedes, hermit crabs and more)
- Mixed bag! We’ll surprise you with up to 3 different Ambassador Animals!
Cancellation Policy
The primary contact person will notify the Brandywine Zoo in writing at least 48 hours in advance in the event that a program must be cancelled.
- Cancellations received more than 2 weeks before selected program date will be given a refund and may be subject to a $25 administrative fee.
- Programs cancelled with less than 48 hours notice will not be refunded.
- Programs rescheduled less than one week from the program date are subject to a $25 administrative fee.
We will work with you to reschedule your program to another date as much as possible. Multiple reschedulings may be subject to an administrative fee.
Program Confirmation and Payment Policy
Once you submit your program registration form, a zoo educator will issue you a contract within two weeks of your submission.
Submit payment Brandywine Zoo Education Department via the provided link on your contract (you will receive confirmation receipt via email when you pay).
- Payment must be received in full by the payment due date on your contract, prior to the start of your program.
How is payment handled?
- Payment can be made using the credit card link on your contract.
- If necessary, we may receive a check, made payable to the Delaware Zoological Society. Note the purpose of your payment as “Beastly Guests” on the note line of your check.
- You may also pay, if necessary, at Visitor Services in person.
ZOOm with an animal! We will bring the Zoo to You!
Are you interested in Zooming, Skyping, or otherwise bringing the Zoo to your digital classroom or program? Schools, groups, retirement communities, or other groups that are looking for something specialized- please reach out so we can work together!
Looking for a fun and engaging educational opportunity for your class?
The Brandywine Zoo is excited to bring our animals and educators to you, virtually! Schedule a virtual program for your school, library, community center/group, and more. If you are interested in a private program or program for a corporate meeting or group, we recommend booking a Beastly Guests program.
Camp-in-a-box
GRAB YOUR ‘PASSPORT’ AND TAKE OFF ON A JOURNEY TO LEARN ABOUT WILDLIFE FROM AROUND THE WORLD!
The Continental Creatures Camp-in-a-Box is a mini version of our week-long summer camp that your kids can do at home. It includes five days of themed activities, crafts, videos, and a surprise gift for each day. (Recommended ages 6-10)
Questions? Email Camps@BrandywineZoo.org
CAMP-IN-A-BOX CONTENTS
Day 1: South America – Condors, chinchillas and more!
Day 2: Africa – Meet the new radiated tortoise, and an animal nicknamed the giraffe cat!
Day 3: Europe and Asia – We’re off to Eurasia to learn about red pandas and bees!
Day 4: Australia – Learn about some remarkable Australian reptiles1
Day 5: North America – Let’s go back home to learn about who lives in our own backyard!
The Box costs $50 (S/H included), or $40. Have more than one camper at home? More supplies can be included for $20 per additional camper.
Virtual Scout Programs
Bring all of the fun, learning, and exploration of a Brandywine Zoo Scout Program to your home! Our Virtual Scout Programs are designed to help girl scouts complete badge work at home.
Each Virtual Program includes:
- Videos with educational staff and zoo animal friends
- Activities
- Crafts
Join our iNaturalist Project or become a Community/Citizen Scientist
Did you know that you can observe and report wildlife for science?
Join our iNaturalist project, Urban Wild, and report your observations! It’s as simple as downloading the iNaturalist phone app ( iPhone and Android), joining our project, and snapping some photos! You’ll build your identification skills while contributing to our wildlife monitoring project! Find out more…
Do you own a wildlife game camera/camera trap and want to submit your photos to us?
We’d love to see what you’re photographing, even if it’s just squirrels and your dog! For more information click here, or download our camera setup guide.
Do you really love identifying wildlife photos?
Check out camera trap projects from around the globe at Zooniverse.org.
The Brandywine Zoo wants to help celebrate your birthday by Bringing the Zoo to You!
We will send you a special video of some of our lovable animals celebrating in your honor.
Reserving a virtual birthday celebration:
- We recommend registering at least 2 weeks in advance
- Please allow 5-7 days for birthday package to be shipped
- Birthday video will be emailed on the birthday date provided
- Birthday video is for the recipient only, please do not share publicly
For more information call 302-571-7788 ext. 215 or email birthdays@brandywinezoo.org
Virtual Birthday Package 1: $30
We will send you a special video of some of our lovable animals celebrating in your honor. You will also receive a birthday message, small plush animal and two guest passes to be used at a later date. Choose from one of our plush animals (Red Panda, Sloth or Bobcat).
Virtual Birthday Package 2: $50
We will send you a special video of some of our lovable animals celebrating in your honor. You will also receive a birthday message, larger plush animal and four guest passes to be used at a later date.
Scavenger Hunts, Word Searches, Bingo, and more
Downloadable World Turtle Day activities (PDF) including crafts, mazes, and word searches
Downloadable Earth Day activities: Word Search (PDF) Crossword (PDF), Scavenger Hunt (PDF) and Word Scramble (PDF)
Palm Oil Bingo: we made an informative and fun bingo game that helps you learn about Palm Oil! Can you fill the whole card?
Printable Brandywine Zoo Coloring Book: Coloring pages of many of our amazing animals including condors, toucan, burrowing owl, red panda, and more!
Illustrated by Irene Hopping (PDF)
Digital ZooKids
ZooKids, our summer-long, weekly, Sunday programs are now being brought to you virtually! ZooKids programs may include stories, crafts, activities, and other fun learning experiences! Virtual ZooKids will explore types of eaters (herbivores, carnivores and omnivores) and types of animals (mammals, amphibians, invertebrates and reptiles). We will be uploading them regularly so check back for more!
Mammals: Explore what it means to be a mammal through crafts and games in this activity sheet!
Amphibians: Discover why amphibians are so cool in this online activity sheet!
Invertebrates: What do crabs, bugs and snails all have in common? They don’t have a backbone! Learn more through fun activities and crafts.
Reptiles: There are many different reptiles so we have put together lots of crafts and games to help you explore their similarities and differences.
Omnivore: YOU are an omnivore! Discover animals that are omnivores too through these activities, videos and crafts!
Carnivores. Carnivores come in all shapes and sizes! Explore the interesting ways they find food.
Other Online Resources
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums has collected resources from all the zoological organizations in the AZA that are producing online and virtual content. Check out what other facilities are doing!
We especially like the free weekly virtual programs from the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum, Minnesota Zoo’s Learning Corner, Georgia Aquarium’s fantastic coloring pages, activities, and #FieldTripFriday, channel your inner #birdnerd with resources from the Tracy Aviary, and check out Denver Zoo’s Virtual Safari and webcams!
Educational Videos
Learn about the Brandywine Zoo and our animals through virtual keeper chats, training and Behind the Scene videos.
Capybara Keeper Talk, 4/28/20
Keepers’ Katie and Kelsey show you what it’s like to train a capybara!
Red Panda Training, 4/20/20
Curator Lynn and Keeper Courtney show us how zoo keepers train the red pandas.
Porcupine Keeper Talk, 4/9/20
Learn what North American porcupines eat and how they defend themselves with Keeper Rebecca.
Andean Condors, 3/25/20
Get a behind the scenes peek at the Andean Condor exhibit.
Ask & Answer
You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers! Write a letter to an animal and send it to us at education@brandywinezoo.org or message us on Facebook and we’ll answer it with our animals!
How did Juniper, our North American Porcupine Juniper, get her name? Hannah will answer that question and so much more!
Story Time
Enjoy virtual Story Time with our Education staff and some ambassador animals!
The Lorax Earth Day Story Time: Emily reads The Lorax to animals around the zoo for Earth Day
A Frog Thing: Join Ambassador Animal Apprentice Sarah and our horned/Pacman frog Ichigo.
Snow Rabbit, Spring Rabbit : We celebrated Bunnyfest online this year! Join Mark and our two flemish giant rabbits for a special Story Time.
The Snake Who Was Afraid of People Story Time: Join Animal Ambassador Keeper Emily and learn about snakes as our Red Tailed Boa Cusco climbs and plays on his snake board!
CELEBRATING WILD ARTISTS!
The items used in the projects below were selected because they can be reused multiple times, in multiple ways! Sometimes kids art projects generate a lot of waste. But art can be both creative and sustainable.
We want to hear how you reduce, reuse, or recycle the items in your kit! Tell us online by using the hashtag #BZWildART!
YOUTUBE VIDEOS
Story Time
Enjoy an art-themed story time! We’re reading Anywhere Artist by Nikki Slade Robinson with a lizard friend.
Learn How to Make Slime!
Check out this video where art and science meet! Learn how to make SLIME, just like animals do, and why it’s important for some animals to be so SLIMY! Note, parental supervision is recommended for this project!
ART KIT RESOURCES
Download the art activity guides for full instructions on how to use the resources in your kit. Instructions also include directions for regular household materials so you can be an artist even if you didn’t receive a an art kit!
Write Again: Crayon Recycling
Using a silicone ice cube tray you can make multi-colored crayons from little broken pieces!
Bottle Bird Feeder
A 3-D printed piece (included in the art kit) transforms a soda bottle into a bird feeder!
Mud Painting
A great temporary painting to do outside on your sidewalk or driveway!
Rain Painting
Use powdered paint and rain to create a cool work of art!
Popsicle Stick Bracelets
After using popsicle sticks to stir the slime and paints, you can add a touch of art to create a friendship bracelet.
Cookie Cutter Bird Feeder
You can use a cookie cutter to make a bird feeder and enjoy watching the wild critters that come to eat it. (All materials for this activity are not included in your kit)
Salt Dough Ornament
For another creative way to use cookie cutters, try making salt dough ornaments! (All materials for this activity are not included in your kit)
Potato Stamps
You can decorate the canvas bag as well! Try making stamps out of potatoes!