Home School Programs

These programs are themed to move the student through out the year from the basics of life science to specific topics. Each month’s topics will build on the previous topics but can be taken independently. These programs are themed to move the student through out the year from the basics of life science to specific topics. Classes start on the half hour so plan to check in 15 minutes ahead of time.

Registration:
Registration for Home School classes is processed on a first-come, first-served basis.  Click on the link to go straight to the on-line registration process.  If you are registering two or more children for the same day or same class, please register all of them at the same time to ensure that they will be able to attend on your preferred dates.

If you do not have computer access: Call the Education Department at 904-757-4463 ext. 122 to request registration information.  PLEASE NOTE: class space is limited and registering students on-line is the fastest way to ensure your child gets registered for the week you need.  We do not take registrations over the phone and we cannot hold spaces.

If you are mailing in your Registration Form, send it to:
            Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
            Education Department
            370 Zoo Parkway
            Jacksonville, FL   32218

You may also hand deliver the Registration Form to the PepsiCo Foundation Education Campus at the south end of the zoo’s main parking lot Monday – Sunday 9 am – 5 pm.  If you have more than one child wanting to attend the same program, please deliver all registrations together.

Or, FAX the Registration Form to 904-757-2444 24-hours a day.  Do not forget to complete all the requested credit card information and sign the registration form.  If you have more than one child wanting to attend the same program, please fax all registrations together.

Payment:
Full payment is required at the time of registration.  Electronic checks, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover cards are accepted online.  Checks, money orders, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover cards are accepted through the mail; only credit cards are accepted via FAX.

Fees:  
Members - $3.00 per child per class
Non-members - $3.50 per child per class

Members of the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens receive discounts on Education Programs and FREE admission every time they visit.  Click here to become a Member of the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens and take advantage of your discount right away.

Confirmation:
When registering on-line, you will receive a confirmation the same day via the e-mail address you provide.  If you register by mail, hand deliver or FAX your registration form, you will receive mailed confirmation within 10 to 14 business days of receiving the registration form either via regular mail or e-mail (if an e-mail address is provided).  Please do not call to check on your registration before that time.  If there is a problem with your registration, e.g., the camp is already full, you will be notified immediately.

Cancellation Policies:
Cancellations received 10 business days or more prior to your scheduled class will receive a full refund less a 10% administrative fee.  Cancellations made 9 to 5 business days prior to the first day of a class will receive a 75% refund of fees.  Cancellations received less than 5 business days before the event forfeit all fees paid.

The Education Department reserves the right to cancel or combine age groups when classes do not meet the minimum requirement of 8 students to provide the program.  Exceptions to the cancellation and refund policies will be made on a case by case basis and at the sole discretion of the Director of Education.

Frequently Asked Questions

I am new to the program.  How do you screen your staff?
All staff educators are screened for excellence in children’s programming.  All have had previous experience with children and have cleared nationwide, state and FBI Level 2 background checks as prescribed by the State of Florida’s Jessica Lunsford Act.

May I sit in the class with my child?
Our programs are designed for children who are able to be successful in group oriented programs without parent involvement.  Space in each classroom is limited and due to the popularity of the classes most fill to capacity thus not permitting extra persons to sit-in.

May younger siblings sit in on the class?
We have been conducting Home School Classes for nearly a decade.  Our classes are designed for the ages specified after experimenting with a variety of age combinations.  To make your child’s class a positive experience we do not allow younger children to sit-in with older siblings.

Where are the classes held?
All classes are held at the PepsiCo Foundation Education Campus located at the south end of the Zoo’s main parking lot.  Paying Zoo admission is not necessary to participating in class.  In your confirmation materials, you will receive a map showing you the location of the campus.

Do I have to register for all three classes on a day or for every month?
Our programs are designed to build on the knowledge gained from the previous class or the previous month.  By the end of the series, your child will have had a comprehensive experience in the life sciences, but we also recognize that home schooling schedules need to be flexible.  You may register just for one class each day or come only one month.  It is entirely up to you and your child.

Do I drop my child off or do I wait?
We ask that you stay with your child in the Education Auditorium through the brief orientation conducted at the start of class.  To accommodate those who wait we set-up the auditorium with games, storybooks, and quiet activities that entertain younger siblings.  Parents are welcome to network and visit with one another or read.  If you feel comfortable, you are welcome to take a trip into the Zoo while your child participates in class, and our staff will make sure he or she gets to the rest of the classes.  It is entirely up to you.

What about disruptive children?
To ensure an enjoyable and safe experience for all children, the zoo’s staff manages child behavior.  All children are expected to behave appropriately, and in the event of disruptive behavior, a child may be timed-out and removed from the group.  If the disruptive behavior continues, the child-care provider will be called to help find a solution.  If improvement is not realized immediately, the child-care provider may be asked to remove the child early from class and the child may be asked not to return.  In this situation, there will be no refunds for any missed classes that day.

Can you accommodate children with special needs?
Please indicate on the registration form any special needs our staff must be made aware of prior to your first day.  Special needs such as physical, academic, and social will be accommodated to the best of our ability.  Please note that the zoo does not employ specific individuals certified and trained to handle special needs children.

My child has a friend who wants to attend the same class.  How can I make sure they are together?
If your child wants to attend classes with a friend, please register both children on-line together, hand deliver, mail, or FAX both registrations together to the PepsiCo Foundation Education Campus.  This is the only way to ensure that they will be in the same program.  Due to the popularity of our programs, we cannot save spaces.

My child has a younger friend.  Can they attend the same class?
We have been conducting Home School Classes for nearly a decade.  Our classes are designed for the ages specified after experimenting with a variety of age combinations.  We would rather an older child feel like he or she is at the top of the class than a younger child made to feel at the bottom of the class.  If they must attend together, we strongly advise that you register the older child for the younger class to make the experience a positive one.

For additional Day Camp opportunities, please check out our Day Camps page.

For additional questions, please contact the Jacksonville Zoo Education Department at (904) 757-4463, ext 122 or email: education@jacksonvillezoo.org

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