Santa Barbara Zoo launches early education program for young kids
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The Santa Barbara Zoo is launching a play-based early education program for young children to help meet the growing education needs for families in the area.
The Zoo is expanding its existing Outdoor Ed program to the public by adding Early Explorer, a play-based program geared for kids age 3 to 5.
Early Explorers will learn a deep appreciation for the natural world through gardening, outdoor play, exploration, and discovery in the Zoo’s 28-acre outdoor “classroom.”
Students are placed in mixed-age groups in a student to teacher ratio of 9 to 1 and will participate in train rides, animal encounters, and art
Schedule options vary from full-time to part-time. For more details and to register, click here.
The Zoo’s existing Outdoor Ed program is also opening enrollment to traditional public school students interested in a one day a week alternative to independent, at-home learning. The program was established in 2014 and was typically offered as a homeschool program.
Outdoor Ed is an outdoor, hands-on, experiential program open to all students age 3 - 15. Over each 8-week session, students explore scientific topics via recording observations, evaluating problems, and developing solutions. Students who participate in the Outdoor Ed program will learn in small groups and will be placed by age.
Safety measures will be in place during each session. Outdoor Ed will be held outside in designated zones away from the public and will be following all health and safety guidelines.
The Zoo’s first session is already full, but registration is now open for the second session, which begins November 9 - January 22 . For full details and to register, click here.
