School Field Trips and Educational Programs
Please refer to our COVID-19 Policies for details about our safety procedures for each program. Protocols are subject to change and may vary with program type. If you have any questions about our COVID-19 policies or programs, please contact our office at education@animalcenter.org 858-756.4117 x318.
We can also provide these programs virtually at a reduced price! Click here to learn more.
If you are looking for a way to cut down on bus costs and scheduling headaches, let us bring the animals to your classroom! Click here for information on our year-round outreach programs.
Year-Round Field Trips to Helen Woodward Animal Center!
Interacting with animals is a fun and unique way for students to learn about the world around them. We offer a variety of programs that give kids in San Diego the chance to meet cute critters while learning lessons that complement their grade level’s NGSS and incorporate STEM.
Year-round field trips to the Center are offered for preschool, elementary, middle and high school classes. Call us at 858-756-4117 ext. 318 or email education@animalcenter.org to book a program!
Field Trip Information
Grades/Ages: Preschool–High School
Cost: $14.95 per child for 90 minutes OR $11.95 for 60 minutes ($75 minimum)
*Adult chaperones are admitted free of charge for the purpose of supervising children at a ratio of 1:5. Extra chaperones are $5 each.
Details: 90-minute programs include interactions with 4 animals plus a STEM activity.
60-minute programs include interactions with 3 animals plus a STEM activity OR interactions with 4 animals and no activity.
We can also provide these programs virtually at a reduced price! Contact us at education@animalcenter.org to find out more details about these 60 minute (or less) virtual lessons.
Lesson Details
Preschool and Elementary School Lessons All Grades: “Remember Me Thursday®” – Discuss pet overpopulation and how we can make positive change for orphan pets by remembering pet adoption. This lesson comes with a special teacher’s kit to continue the lesson throughout the year. We encourage your class to celebrate with Helen Woodward Animal Center’s Remember Me Thursday® event in September! You will meet a dog, parrot, guinea pig and goat. Preschool and Kindergarten: “Plants and Paws” – Understand the needs of plants and animals and how they’re connected to each other and their environment. You will meet a dog, rabbit, chicken and sheep. 1st Grade: “The Wonderful World of Animals” – Discover the different ways that animals interact with the world and why these interactions vary depending on the species. You will meet a parrot, guinea pig, bearded dragon and mini donkey. 2nd Grade: “Home is Where the Heart Is” – Explore different habitats and discover the types of animals that live in each one. You will meet a chinchilla, leopard gecko, parrot and hermit crab. 3rd Grade: “Learning about Life Cycles” – Investigate the many unique life cycles of animals and why it is appropriate for their environment. You will meet a bearded dragon, frog, dog and chicken. 4th Grade: “The Senses of Survival” – Dive into the animal world where our five senses have gone wild and learn how animals perceive the world. It can be similar to the way we do, or it can be very different! You will meet a snake, Madagascar hissing cockroach, rabbit and parrot. 5th Grade: “You Are What You Eat” – Explore the food web and how everything in our ecological community is connected. You will meet a snake, rabbit, dove or pigeon and Madagascar hissing cockroach. Species may vary depending on animal health, safety and availability.
Middle School Lessons All Grades: “Remember Me Thursday®” – Discuss pet overpopulation and how we can make positive change for orphan pets by remembering pet adoption. This lesson comes with a special teacher’s kit to continue the lesson throughout the year. We encourage your class to celebrate with Helen Woodward Animal Center’s Remember Me Thursday® event in September! You will meet a dog, parrot, guinea pig and goat. 6th Grade: “System Overload” – Understand the way that animals have adapted, or failed to adapt, to the environmental changes that humans have created with the growth of civilization. Discuss ways we can improve our energy usage and be more aware of our actions on the ecosystem. You will meet a frog, duck, mini horse and California desert tortoise. 7th Grade: “We’re All in This Together” – Discuss some of the ways people impact the world around them and what we can do to provide positive change. You will meet a blue-tongued skink, millipede, rabbit and parrot. 8th Grade: “Diversity by Design” – Classify animals into different groups based on their external characteristics and understand how this isn’t the only method. Plus, understand how even animals in different classifications can have similarities. You will meet a parrot, hermit crab, frog and guinea pig. Species and activities may vary depending on animal health, safety and availability.
High School Lessons All Grades: “Remember Me Thursday®” – Discuss pet overpopulation and how we can make positive change for orphan pets by remembering pet adoption. This lesson comes with a special teacher’s kit to continue the lesson throughout the year. We encourage your class to celebrate with Helen Woodward Animal Center’s Remember Me Thursday® event in September! You will meet a dog, parrot, guinea pig and goat. 9th–12th Grades: “Biodiversity and Beyond” – Analyze how organisms maintain life through diversity and how they adapt to their surroundings. You will meet a hermit crab, snake, parrot and alpaca. 9th–12th Grades: “Wild at Work” – Most people think of veterinarians when they think about careers with critters, but there are so many options out there! Discover all of the unique careers that allow you to work with animals! You will meet a dog, rabbit, mini horse and parrot. Species and activities may vary depending on animal health, safety and availability.
Feel free to call us at 858-756-4117 ext. 318 or email education@animalcenter.org with any questions.
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