Philly Zoo Offers Online Learning Experience During COVID-19

Children’s lives have been turned upside down, just as it has been for adults. School is at home and over the computer. Friends can’t be visited or played with in person, and after-school activities and sports have been dwindled down to whatever one’s front and back yard can handle.

Many schools and other educational entities have put great efforts towards creating experiences for kids during this trying and scary time.

Things as simple as a trip to the zoo aren’t available in the traditional sense at the moment, but the Philly Zoo has devised a way for kids from kindergarten through the fourth grade to enjoy the joys and educational benefits of the zoo in a new, interesting and safe way.

The Philadelphia Zoo aims to continue its teachings that foster connections between the public and wildlife. They already launched their Zoo at 2 program, but now they have an even more intricate curriculum that is geared towards kids in kindergarten through fourth grade. According to Patch, their interactive online learning program called Philly Zoo to You is meant to do just that.

The program offers a direct source for Zoo experts to respond to questions in curriculum-based activities geared towards different age groups.

"The mission of the Zoo is to connect people with wildlife," said Kristen Waldron, Philadelphia Zoo's Director of Strategic Initiatives. "When we learned that the Zoo would be temporarily closed to the public we felt it was important to create a new way for our audiences to continue to stay connected with our amazing animals and staff. What sets Philly Zoo to You apart is the combination of the personal exchange with our incredibly passionate staff and volunteers with the joyful discovery we can provide for children and their families. We have a team of experts, most of which are long-time docents of the Zoo who typically this time of year, spend thousands of hours onsite educating and inspiring our audiences. They are former biology, chemistry, social studies and science teachers, principals of schools and above all avid Zoo experts. They are well-informed and thrilled to provide this truly personalized service for students and parents alike."