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A group of approximately twenty children is sitting on the floor in a educational space with slanted glass windows. Two adult educators are leading the activity; one stands near a table with materials on the left, and another is kneeling to the right, showing the children an animal hide or fur. Large murals with landscape images and informational text are visible on the back walls.

Homeschool Programs

Homeschool Discovery Day Event

Homeschool groups can participate in any of our school programs such as Discovery Lab Classroom Programs, Discovery Stops Mini Programs, Discovery Spotlight Assembly Programs, and Virtual Programs.

Community Homeschool Discovery Day Events are hosted four times a school year. These are designed for families to register separately and join with other homeschoolers across the region. A ticket to these programs will include admission to the North Carolina Zoo and participation in any of the day's activities! The North Carolina Zoo Homeschool Days for the 2026-2027 school year are all about Animal Superpowers! Join us as we explore a different kinds of animal superpowers each day! Purchase your tickets here 

 

September 3, 2026 "Super Senses" 

Kick off our Animal Superpowers year by exploring the incredible senses that help animals survive in the wild! From echolocation to extraordinary smell, vision, and hearing, students will discover how different species experience the world. The day will include age specific programs at our Solar Point picnic area, pop-up programs throughout the Zoo, and a Senses Hike, where families can engage their own senses to connect with nature in a whole new way. 

November 9, 2026 "Super Strength" 

Discover the incredible strength hidden in the animal kingdom! From animals that can lift many times their own body weight to those built for powerful bites, kicks, and grips, students will explore the science behind nature's strongest superheroes. The day will include a hands-on program, pop-up encounters throughout the Zoo, and activities that give families a glimpse of some of nature's most interesting superpowers! 

February 19, 2027 "Super Builders"

Explore the animal kingdom's most impressive architects! From intricate webs to towering mounds and carefully constructed nests, students will discover how animals build, design, and shape their environments to survive and thrive. The day will include a hands-on program, pop-up encounters throughout the Zoo, and activities that give participants an insight into the amazing structures animals engineer! 

April 15, 2027 "Super Survivors"  

Discover the remarkable adaptations that help animals thrive in even the harshest environments on Earth! Students will explore how wildlife survives in and celebrate conservation success stories that are helping protect these incredible species for the future. The day will include age specific hands-on programs at Solar Pointe, pop-up encounters throughout the Zoo, and a special hike for older students exploring conservation connections along the way! 

Please email schoolprograms@nczoo.org if you would like more information or want to be added to our monthly Homeschool Happenings email list! These visits part of our Homeschool Day Events will not count towards the free NC Homeschool visits you can receive each year to the North Carolina Zoo. 

Can NC Homeschools Visit Free of Charge?

Yes, North Carolina registered home schools can access the Zoo free of charge through individual reservations. Home schools can call 336.879.7700 Monday - Friday to make reservations. Our reservations department will verify that you are a state registered home school to complete your reservation. 

  • To ensure the best and safest possible experience for our guests, we place a daily limit on the number of free school entries allowed. If the day you wish to visit has met that limit, you will be asked to choose another date or look into booking an educational program. We are unable to provide exceptions to this rule at this time. Please review the school eligibility and reservation dates below. 
  • Eligible dates for the 2026-2027 school year are between September 14, 2026, through June 15, 2027. Blackout dates apply on some holidays and school break periods. 
  • The Zoo will take reservations starting July 1st for this upcoming school year. The school-aged children and one adult registered to the homeschool will be granted free admission.  Any additional adults, seniors or children that you bring can purchase tickets online in advance or at the gate for Zoo entry. 
  • Learn more about Field Trips to the North Carolina Zoo as a Homeschool here: Learning Experiences for Field Trips | The North Carolina Zoo.
A nature educator, a woman with glasses and a blue uniform shirt, is holding a dark snake while presenting to three young boys seated on a wooden bench. The setting appears to be an outdoor educational area, possibly at a zoo or nature center, with a dirt ground and a wooden fence/structure in the background.
EDventures at the Zoo

Looking for a wild experience for your students? The North Carolina Zoo offers various engaging educational programs for school groups visiting the Zoo. These programs enrich students' learning about animals, meet educational standards, and provide actions they can take to help protect and preserve Earth's natural resources.  Our programs value hands-on experiences and participation in STEM activities.

An older man in denim shorts and a blue collared shirt with a NC Zoo logo on it, sits on a bench, holding a tan and brown patterned snake in his hands. A small girl in a flowered dress stands in front of him, reaching out to pet the snake. Two smaller children stand in a line behind her.
Zoo to You EDventures (Offsite Programming)

Educational Programs for classrooms or assemblies that are brought to your location within 90-mile radius of the Zoo.

A woman with short blonde hair, wearing a blue NC Zoo uniform, stands in a wooden area next to a natural wooden fence holding a medium sized brown turtle in her gloved hands. She is looking into an Ipad that seems to be recording a video of her teaching about the turtle.
Zoo Classroom - Virtual Programs

We are bringing many of our education programs right into your classroom. 

 

A group of children gathered in front of a glass barrier wall, looking out into a vast field that is sprinkled with trees and large rocks. Two elephants stand near the wall looking out towards the children.
School Field Trips

The North Carolina Zoo offers unique learning experiences for children grades K-12 all the way to college. Visit the Zoo for a fun-filled trip while learning about our animals and conservation.

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