Preschool Program Offerings

Children will learn a little geography and come to understand that like the animals, we all come from some place and we all live somewhere. Where do we live: in a house, on a street, in a town, in a state, in a country, on the Earth? Are any of us from far-away places? We will meet examples of animals from a variety of habitats around the world such as an African Fat-Tailed Gecko or New Caledonian Giant Gecko, a Soft-Shelled Turtle (Pancake Turtle), a Green Tree Python, and a South American Chinchilla. We will discover that some animals live underground, in a tree, on the land or in the water.

Children will explore the diversity of local wildlife we might find right in our own backyard! We’ll discuss the difference between a pet and an animal that lives in the wild. We’ll meet animals indigenous to North America such as an Alligator Snapping Turtle or a Common Snapping Turtle, an Arizona Mountain King Snake, a Rabbit, and a Sonoran Desert Toad. We will explore their differing habitats as well as learn how animals from other parts of the world have come to call the United States home.

Like humans, animals have many methods of locomotion. We get from place to place by walking, running, flying on airplanes and driving in cars. Some of us use other methods to move around such as wheelchairs, scooters and bicycles. Animals too have a variety of ways to get where they need to go! Animals swim, glide, dig, slither, climb, jump and hop. They move for many reasons such as to find food and to escape predators. The ability to move is often essential to their survival. We will meet Animal Ambassadors representing different methods of locomotion such as a Sugar Glider, a baby Snapping Turtle, an Indian Sand boa and a Lionhead Rabbit.

Nighttime in the Animal Kingdom

Children will take a nighttime journey through the fascinating night life of the animal kingdom! With this captivating program, we will help children to understand the differences between “nocturnal,” “crepuscular” and “diurnal” animals (animals that are active at different times of the day) by providing live examples of each. We'll discover what these amazing creatures do while we are tucked tightly in our beds dreaming! Many nocturnal critters have highly developed senses of hearing and smell, and specially adapted eyesight to help them navigate with the light of the moon and the stars . . . We will explore the night-time activities and adaptations with live Animal Ambassadors such as a Red-eyed Tree Frog, a Ball Python, an African Hedgehog and a New Caledonian Giant Gecko.

 

It’s the arboreal life for some. Meet a lizard that changes color, a frog with suction cups, a marsupial that can glide, and a snake with a prehensile tail. Children will understand the value, beauty and diversity of tree-dwelling creatures and will meet Animal Ambassadors such as a Veiled Chameleon, a Sugar Glider, a Cuban Tree Frog and an Emerald Tree Boa.

With four distinct layers to the forest, and trees three times our largest, the rainforests of the world are host to the majority of life on this planet. This mystical place comes to life with our live Animal Ambassadors as we explore the layers of a rainforest and meet animals representative of rainforest regions around the globe. We’ll meet amazing rainforest creatures such as a Red-Eyed Tree Frog, a beautiful Green Iguana, a Jungle Carpet Python, a baby Red-Foot Tortoise and a South American Chinchilla.

 

Animals dig into the surface of the Earth for many reasons. In nature, many of these creatures are contributing to the success of others by creating homes for them, tilling the soil, and in some cases even planting the seeds of important plants and trees. Some dig to lay their eggs, others to find or hide food, many to escape the extremes of heat and cold, while some are permanent underground residents. Children will meet a young African Sulcata tortoise, an Indian Sand boa, a Soft-shelled Turtle, and a Ferret as we explore the subterranean realm and some of the animals that call it home. 

Insects and amphibians have an amazing common bond . . . the incredible change of life called metamorphosis. With a variety of live amphibians and insects, children will meet real life examples of creatures that go through this fascinating transformation. With Animal Ambassadors such as an Axylotl, a giant African Bullfrog, a local Spotted Salamander & Eastern Newt and a Madagascar Hissing Cockroach, children will learn about the wonders of these animals' incredible life cycles.

Not only humans have discerning tastes – animals do too! Children will learn about the many & varied foods that our Animal Ambassadors eat. We’ll meet a banana-eating Red-foot tortoise, a Surinam Toad who favors insects and Chinchillas who have a craving for craisins. We will also prepare a special salad for our Animal Ambassadors to eat.

With a curious group of Animal Ambassadors, children will discover that there are some similarities and distinct differences between the way we “see” the world and the way our animal neighbors do. Knuffle Bunny will help us to learn about our ears and a Chinchilla, will help us to learn about whiskers and a sensitive touch. A Guatemalan Milk Snake, will help us to learn about our tongues, and the nocturnal Leopard Gecko will help us to learn about the beauty and value of eyes.

Preparing for Winter

Animals prepare for winter in a variety of ways. Some animals migrate, some get new fur coats, some hibernate and some store food to last through the winter. We will explore the ways in which different animals prepare for the challenges of the winter season while meeting Animal Ambassadors such as a Flemish Giant Rabbit, a Ferret, an African Bullfrog, and a Duck.