Come to Brookfield Zoo
for a Connections Class
In addition to planning for your own summer courses, it is time to plan for your students.
If you have students in the summer, start planning your summer trip to Brookfield Zoo. Classes are offered for students preschool age through late elementary. Check out the exciting options below and plan a day at Brookfield Zoo.
Classes are offered from June 2 though September 28.
Summer Connections classes are designed to help children from preschool through late elementary school learn more about conservation, animals, and how to relate to nature. New classes are being offered this year to add to your summer enjoyment and learning. Plan to bring your class or group to the zoo this summer and join the fun!
Animal Encounters
Due to space limitations, the class is available only on the following dates: 6/19, 7/7, 7/17, 7/21, 8/4, and 8/18. Preschool through Grade 3; 30-minute class; cost $3.00 per student.
During this 30-minute indoor class, students will meet and touch live animals. Information will be adjusted for the ages of the students. The children’s interest and questions will lead the discussion about the animals’ features, how they are alike and how they are different. Students will meet two animals during the class.
Bears
Preschool through Grade 1; 50-minute class; cost $3.50 per student. Offered Monday through Friday.
Celebrate “Year of the Bear,” as designated by Polar Bears International, by coming to Brookfield Zoo’s Bear class. Students will investigate artifacts and compare themselves to bears. After an introduction to bears, students will follow their instructor to the Bear Grottos at Brookfield Zoo to talk about our live bears.
Note: In case of bad weather, remember to dress appropriately. The class runs rain or shine!
Giraffes—Head to Toe!
Kindergarten through Grade 2;50-minute class; cost $3.50 per student. Offered Monday through Friday.
Come learn why giraffes are “head and shoulders above the rest”! Giraffe artifacts and engaging activities will help you see how you measure up to this tallest of land animals. A chance to observe Brookfield Zoo’s giraffes will top off your day.
Note: In case of bad weather, remember to dress appropriately. The class runs rain or shine!
Nature Hikes
Grades 1 to 4 and 5 to 8; 50-minute class; cost $3.50 per student. Offered Monday through Friday.
Instructors will lead students on a hike to explore the Indian Lake trail (Brookfield Zoo’s woods and lake area) while looking for evidence of local wildlife. Hands-on experiences with local animal artifacts will enhance the experience. Binoculars will be available for use or feel free to bring your own.
Note: In case of bad weather, remember to dress appropriately. The class runs rain or shine!
Butterflies
Grades 2 to 5;1 ½ hour class; cost $5.00 per student. Offered Monday through Friday. Learn by touching with your eyes!
This is an inquiry-based class that includes a visit to the Brookfield Zoo Butterflies exhibit. Topics will include the life cycles of a butterfly, similarities and differences between moths and butterflies, and other interesting information about our beautiful daytime flyers. Note: In case of bad weather, remember to dress appropriately. The class runs rain or shine!
To Reserve a Connections Class
Classes fill quickly so check your schedule to choose a few possible dates and give us a call!
To reserve your class, call (708) 688-8367. You DO NOT need to fill out a self-guided field trip form. A minimum class size of 12 students is required with a maximum class size of 30. Reserving your class at least two weeks in advance is strongly suggested.
For more information on the Zoo’s hours of operation, attraction fees, address, or directions, please go to www.CZS.org.
Parking Bus parking/admission is $10.75
Car/van parking/admission is $8.00
Adult-Student Ratio: For all Connections classes, groups are required to have a minimum of one adult for every five students.
Cancellations: If you need to cancel or change a reservation, please call (708) 688-8367 as soon as possible. PLEASE NOTE: There will be a $35.00 fee for any Connections class cancellation that is not rescheduled.
Medical Waiver: We strongly recommend you have a medical waiver form completed for each child and bring it with you to the Zoo. It would be an essential document in the unlikely event of an accident. You can find a medical waiver at www.CZS.org with our Zoo Camp information.
If you have a problem or are running late on the day of your zoo trip: Please call (708)688-8367 or (708)688-8223 and let us know your estimated time of arrival. We’re looking forward to seeing you at Brookfield Zoo!
Summer is also a great time to continue your education. Come to Brookfield Zoo and have fun learning with us.
Science and Literature Series: Reading Our Landscapes
Please note: Each title is a separate two-day class. Each teacher receives a book. All classes meet from: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; $140 per class,1 Benedictine University science credit per class ($115 per class to be paid with a separate check at the first class), 3 CEUs per class
Incorporate reading of fiction and non-fiction books as you learn about our Northern Illinois surroundings. Learn how your students read their own local landscapes and develop a “sense of place” for their natural heritage.
The Salt Creek Watershed
June 14 (at Brookfield Zoo) and 21 (at Fullersburg Woods Nature Center)
Salt Creek runs through Fullersburg Woods and forms a border for Brookfield Zoo. The creek and its watershed were created by glacial and climatic forces, and the area has been the home to mastodons/mammoths, Native Americans, settlers, farms and suburbanites. We will focus on the natural and human history of the area, and the stories we learn from the creek itself.
Changing Landscapes
July 12 (at Spring Valley Nature Center) and 19 (at Brookfield Zoo)
Explore our area as it was before the settlers and as it is now. Learn how restoration projects work. How did the land your home or school stands on look 100 years ago? Can you find and recognize the remnants of native habitats in your area?
Our Changing Prairies
July 30 (at Brookfield Zoo) and August 6 (at Fermilab)
Illinois is the Prairie State, where the richest soil in the world hosts a diverse community of plants and animals. In the Prairie, what roles do the plants and animals play? Find out by participating in quadrat studies, inquiry explorations, writing and journaling.
Remembering the Farm
August 2 (at Geneva Park District) and 9 (at Brookfield Zoo)
Now surrounded by suburban development, the remnants of Peck Farm host us for the first day as we learn about the family farms that populated our state. Day 2 takes you to Brookfield Zoo and visits to the farm animals which populate the farms we all imagine!
Looking at the Landscape: Who Belongs?
October 25 (at Benedictine University) and November 1 (at Brookfield Zoo)
Our landscapes are filled with many plants and animals. Some are native but many are non-native residents, which may complement or possibly overrun our own native species. Learn to lead your students on nature walks and local explorations, appreciating and identifying the inhabitants of the “urban forest” we have created.
How to Register
Send a check (made payable to Brookfield Zoo) to: Teacher Workshops, Brookfield Zoo, 3300 Golf Road, Brookfield, IL 60513.
Please be sure to include your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address, as well as the name of the class for which you are registering. (Teachers outside the recommended grade ranges are welcome to attend and adapt materials for their own use.)
Did You Know You Can Get Graduate Credit?
Optional graduate credit is available for all classes.
- Aurora University credit is available for $100 per hour or $75 per hour for multiple-hour classes. (Some classes carry science credit.)
- Benedictine University science credit is available for $115 per hour.
- Please register with National Louis University. (Many classes are offered.)
Continuing education credit is available free for all classes.
- Graduate classes offer three CEUs per graduate hour. (Three CEUs = 15 CPDUs = 15 hours of professional development.)
- Classes and events that are fewer than 15 hours offer one CPDU per contact hour.
Refund Policy
- All class fees include a $25 nonrefundable registration fee.
- Class fees, minus the $25 registration fee, can be refunded or transferred to another teacher class if we receive notice of this request at least five days prior to the date of the original class.
For more information, contact Lanis Petrik at lanis.petrik@czs.org.