Parents  Instill a sense of wonder in your child about animals and the environment with our fabulous entertaining and educational programs.  We offer programs as diverse as the planet itself. From our very popular Beardsley Zoo Tots, where parents and their very young children explore the wild world of animals together, to Zoo Patrol our dynamic, weeklong summer program, to the Conservation Discovery Corps for teens, the Zoo has something for all ages and all interests.

Parents and Kids

Beardsley Zoo Tots

Enjoy animal-themed fun with your youngster! Each month we will have a different animal adventure and learn wonderful things about the creatures which share our Earth.
*Includes animal presentation, free play time with “zoo toys”, take-home craft, and story
*45-minute program is geared for children 18 months to five years, and an adult caregiver
*Second Tuesday and Wednesday of: March, April, May, September, October and November
*10:30 am or 1:30pm programs are available with pre-registration.
*$10 for Zoo members, $15 for non-members
*A credit card number is required for your reservation

Summer Programs at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo

If you love animals, the environment and learning about nature, then you’ll love our summer programs.  Children may participate in talks and activities with Zoo staff, animal-related games and crafts, behind the scenes tours, hands-on-learning and more!

Zoo Patrol: The Zoo has been running its very popular Zoo Patrol for sixteen years. Children get a fun week of zoo-based activities, tours, and behind the scenes experiences. Each day patrollers tour an area of the zoo (Rainforest, Predators, Farmyard, Hoofstock) and have a special presentation by our keeper staff.  For more information or to register, please click here.

Just 4 Teens:
Investigate Zoo careers with our many teen programs.  We offer seasonal as well as year long programs including Internships, our popular Conservation Discovery Corps and our Explorer Post that will inspire and motivate teens looking for a hands-on experience to see if Zoo life is for them.