Racine Zoological Society

2131 North Main Street

Racine, WI 53402

General: 262-636-9189 Education Dept: 262-636-9580

Fax: 262-636-9307

Thank you for your interest in the Racine Zoo located on the shores of beautiful Lake Michigan. Enclosed in this field trip packet you will find many informational tools to enhance the overall planning and enjoyment of your trip to the Racine Zoo. Please use it to your advantage.

A visit to the Racine Zoo can be more than a day at the park, complete with a picnic and a stroll along the beach of Lake Michigan; it can be viewing and learning about animals and their habitats. The Zoo consists of 32 acres of beautifully landscaped naturalistic exhibits, and is home to more than 250 animals representing more than 75 species. Here you will find giraffes, tigers, lions, rhinos, orangutans, kangaroos and countless more!

Once you have decided the date and time of your visit, please either call us at 262-636-9580 or email us at education@racinezoo.org. We will need to know the date, time of arrival and departure, approximate number of field trip participants and chaperones, contact person, and any special needs. We recommend one adult chaperone for every eight field trip participants. Chaperones are expected to remain with field trip participants throughout the trip at the Zoo. Providing us with this information allows us to assure adequate staffing in order to best serve your group as well as other field trips planned that day.

As you may be aware from past experiences, the Racine Zoo offers a wide array of Conservation Education program opportunities for groups of all ages. Whether its learning about bugs, animals of the world, ecosystems, or finding out about careers at the Zoo, the education staff is here to provide Zoo guests with an understanding and awareness of animals and the conservation of their ecosystems.

As an educational resource, it is our hope that the citizens of Racine and area communities will foster an appreciation for our natural world, ultimately giving them the ability to make informed decisions that will protect it from exploitation for the benefit of future generations.

In this packet you will find:

Education program information:

Educational opportunities, scavenger hunts, train rides, and animal programs are available for your trip. Please note these are very popular so you will need to arrange these extras before arriving the day of your trip. When requesting scavenger hunts be sure to indicate the grade level, so the hunt will be appropriate. You can call our Education Department directly at 262-636-9580 or email us at education@racinezoo.org.

Directions:

Directions are enclosed. Often parents or other adults that are associated with the school drive their own vehicles. You may want to consider sharing directions with them and discussing a meeting place within the Zoo campus to reduce the chance of being separated from the group. Please note: the only entrance is the front gate located on Main Street. The safest place for school buses to drop off the group is the main gate located on Main Street. Please note for field trips during spring 2008, bus drop off and pick up will be at the Augusta Street gate. Bus parking is located in the Zoo parking lot on Walton Street.

Map:

For your convenience, we recommend highlighting your predetermined meeting areas and times on the map and giving copies to your chaperones. (If you are receiving this via e-mail, it will be attached.)

Helpful Zoo Tips

• Please instruct your group that if a child or adult gets lost or separated from his/her group, the lost child or the adult party should go to the Chumba Cha Chai Gift Shop for spring 2008 or the main entrance complex. We are able to contact other staff members via radio as well as make an appropriate announcement over the Zoo's speaker system. This insures the most efficient reunion between the child and his/her group.
• Our web site offers lots of information that may help you plan and organize your field trip.
• Chaperones are responsible for supervising their group at all times. Please provide them with the necessary information in order to make this field trip fun for all.
• Dress for the weather and terrain, most exhibits are outside. The Zoo is open rain or shine. The Racine Zoo is handicap accessible.
• Lunch areas can be reserved for a fee, otherwise your group is welcome to use any of the grassy areas on the campus. To reserve a picnic site, please contact the main office at 263-636-9189 or email info@racinezoo.org. Currently, there is no refrigeration or storage available for lunches.
• Zoo rules must be followed at all times while on Zoo grounds. Violations will result in your party being ejected from the park.
• Please remind your group that feeding the animals is not allowed. Our Zoo animals are on special diets to maintain their good health. This also includes any wild animals on grounds (geese, ducks, etc.). Furthermore, please respect the wild animals on the campus by not chasing them.
• Restrooms are conveniently located downstairs in the Vanishing Kingdom Historic Main Building and near the Land of the Giants at the Chumba Cha Chai Building.
• The Chumba Chai Gift Shop is open early April to mid-October with many items field trip participants can purchase to remember their wild time at the Racine Zoo.

Directions to the Zoo

Milwaukee:

Exit Hwy 100 East

Turn right (south) on Hwy 32

Turn left (east) on Four Mile Rd.,

Turn right (south) on Main Street and the Zoo will be on your left (east) side

Illinois:

I-94 North to Hwy 20

Exit 333 East, continue on Hwy 20 to Racine downtown area

Turn left (north) on Main St.

Continue on Main St. through downtown area, crossing over the bridge

Cross three stoplights, and the Zoo will be on the right (east) in the next block

Kenosha:

Hwy 32 (Sheridan Rd.) North to Racine
Turn right at 14^th St.

Turn left at Main St. Continue on Main St. through downtown, crossing over the bridge

Cross three stoplights, and the Zoo will be on the right (East)

Parking: Turn left at Walton Ave., left onto Wisconsin Ave., left into the free Zoo parking lot.

2008 Educational Opportunities

Do you want to have a wild time at the wildest place in Racine? To schedule your educational program or to check out a teaching kit, please call (262) 636-9580. Programs are scheduled and kits are checked out on a first come first served basis. We fill up quickly! Please have several dates and times in mind when you call to schedule your wild educational opportunity! Dont forget, Zoo Members receive 10% off any educational opportunity! Be sure to mention your Zoo Membership when booking your program.

Animal Programs

All of our educational animal programs can be conducted at the Zoo or at your facility. Please see attached listing of prices. Animal programs are 30-45 minutes long unless otherwise noted.

Age Specific Programs

All Ages

• Animals of the World
• Wild Wisconsin

2-4 Year Old Programs

• Animal Senses
• Beautiful Bugs!

Kindergarten-2nd Grade Programs

• Turtle Talk
• Picky Eaters

3rd-5th Grade Programs

• Don't Hate Me!
• Bats!
• Animal Training (60 minute program)

6th-8th Grade Programs

• Careers at the Zoo
• Ecosystems
• Suitcase for Survival
• Animal Training (60 minute program)

9th-12th Grade Programs

• Careers at the Zoo
• Classy Animals
• Suitcase for Survival
• Animal Training (60 minute program)

Other Program Options

• Build Your Own Program (note: a three-week minimum is needed for this option)
• Behind-the-Scenes Tours
• Guided Tours
• Educational Outreach Booth
• Zoo Snooze (explore the Zoo at night!)
• You Belong in the Zoo: Be an Animal Care Specialist for a Day
• Birthday Parties

Teaching Kits and Curriculum Guides

• Far Traveler: A Teachers Companion to Red Wolf Recovery (Suitable for grades 1-5)
• Africa Kit (grades 2-4)
• Realm of the Tiger (grades 4-8)
• Wildlife Trade Kit (grades 6 and above)
• Oceans Resource Kit
• Coral Reef Resource Kit

Booking a Program or Reserving a Kit

To book a program or to reserve a teaching kit, please call the Conservation Education Department at (262) 636-9580. Please have several dates in mind when calling. Programs can be paid for with cash, check, or credit card. A $20.00 nonrefundable deposit and credit card number are required within 5 business days of booking your program. Full payment is due before your animal program begins.

Late Arrivals

Due to the popularity of our programs, we may not be able to accommodate your group if you arrive late. Please make every effort to call the Zoo at (262) 636-9580 if your group will be arriving late for your program. We will do our best to accommodate late arrivals, but we reserve the right to cancel or adjust program length depending on the availability of staff. No refund will be given to late arrivals.

Cancellations

Cancellations of your visit due to weather or road conditions are your decisions. However, refunds may be given due to extreme circumstances. Programs canceled 48 hours in advance will receive a partial refund. Programs canceled with less than 48 hours notice will not receive a refund. Please call us as soon as possible to let us know of any cancellations, and we will do our best to reschedule. The Racine Zoo reserves the right to cancel any program due to unforeseen circumstances for a full refund.