How the zoo helps kids learn

Megan Raposa -

This is a paid piece from the Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium.

Simplified: A new effort from the zoo and the Promising Futures Fund will bring more learning opportunities to historically underserved kids. It's just one of many ways the Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium emphasizes the importance of literacy and learning.

Why it matters

  • The Great Plains Zoo (GPZ) and Promising Futures Fund have worked together for several years to give kids opportunities to experience the zoo through field trips and scholarships for zoo camps.
  • That partnership will take a more focused look at improving literacy through a new initiative funded by a grant from the Mary Chilton Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Foundation.
  • The program – which will be piloted this year at Garfield Elementary School – will help tie what kids are learning in their classroom to what they experience on field trips to the zoo and the Butterfly House and Aquarium (BHA).
"This really opens up the door for us to not just inspire kids to be more excited about reading, but also to get more excited about animals, nature and conservation, as well," GPZ/BHA Director of Education Leigh Spencer said.

Tell me more about the new program

Kindergarteners at Garfield will have three opportunities this year to interact with animals while also learning basic literacy concepts.

  • In the fall, students will get to visit the Butterfly House and Aquarium.
  • Then in the winter, the zoo will bring the Zoomobile to the kids' classrooms.
  • And finally, in the spring, kids will get to go on a field trip to visit the zoo.

It's a program that's unique to Sioux Falls, Spencer added.

"This is a chance for our midsize zoo in Sioux Falls to do something innovative that potentially could inspire other zoos to look at similar types of partnerships," she said.

The hope is to continue the program into first grade, and eventually expand to all of the elementary schools served by Promising Futures Fund.

"Anything we can do at the earliest grades to get these kids to be more passionate about reading sends them on a pathway to success," Founder Steve Hildebrand said.

Hildebrand also noted that because this program primarily serves students from low-income families, it's giving kids a chance to visit the zoo who maybe otherwise wouldn't be able to.

How else is the zoo supporting learning?

The zoo's education programs have grown significantly over the last decade, Spencer said, and they're providing outreach for all ages.

  • During the school year, the zoo hosts ZooCub classes for kids ages 5 and under. Every class includes a lesson and story, hands-on exploration, a special animal encounter and a tour of the zoo.
  • There are also regular "Bookworms" story times and animal encounters for young kids.
  • Last year, the zoo began hosting programming for homeschool families including open house-style events in the spring and fall.
  • Girl Scout troops can work with the zoo to earn badges.
  • Summer camps reach kids age 4 to 11.
  • The Junior Zookeeper program involves kids 12 to 18, and kids are able to learn hands-on how to care for farm animals and some of the zoo's animal ambassadors.
  • And the Zoomobile reaches the community through a wide variety of events for all ages.
"We're trying to inspire a love of animals," Spencer said.

What happens next?

The pilot program with Promising Futures Fund will kick off this fall.

Long-term, the zoo is also looking to expand education opportunities even further with a new education center as part of its master plan, Spencer added.