Parents: Find programs for you and your kids

Animal Adventures: Surviving in the Wild

Collaboration between Meijer Gardens and John Ball Zoo

Dates: Mondays, January 30 and February 6, 2012
Time: 6:00–7:30 pm
(Ages 3 and up)

Location: Frederik Meijer Gardens

Fee: $5 members, $7 non-members, ages 2 and younger free
Laugh at winter—join us for an evening of warmth and wonder as you discover fascinating things about animals and how they survive in their environments. Perfect for preschoolers, kindergartners and their families!
• Meet four intriguing animals (mammal, reptile, bird, and amphibian).
• See live animal presentations with zoo handlers, projected on a 20-foot screen.
• Explore the tropical conservatory by flashlight.
• Participate in fun activities including animal story time and animal art activities.
• Have fun playing –What’s for dinner, Pop Up Peek-A-Boo, Frog Hop Along, Listen Up and more.
Space is limited. Reservations are required and can be made by calling Meijer Gardens at 974-5239 or John Ball Zoo at 336-4310. The deadline for each event is the Thursday prior to the event.

Summer Discovery Classes - Summer Day Camps

John Ball Zoo’s Summer Discovery Program is a unique, fun, hands-on learning experience for children, ages 3 years to those entering 9th grade! Each class follows its particular theme and uses a variety of methods to stimulate the learning process (role-playing, behind the scenes tours, games, stories, songs, and more).Click here to learn more about our 2011 programs.

Overnight Adventures

See the zoo in a new light and have a fun-filled, nocturnal learning adventure! Come to the zoo after hours and enjoy a variety of activities – sneak a peak on a guided behind the scenes tour, get an up-close look at an animal demonstration, enjoy hands-on activities and even make a little something for the animals to eat the following morning. Overnight Adventures

Twilight Tours

Experience the zoo in a new 'light'. Bring your family, flashlight and a sense of adventure for this guided tour of the zoo as the sun goes down. Learn how to use your senses at night and how animals are adapted to life in the dark. Program includes animal encounters, hands-on activities for all ages and guided tour. Twilight Tours

Teen Volunteer Program

Have a WILD summer at John Ball Zoo... become a teen volunteer! Each summer, we look for teens entering 9th - 12th grades during the summer who have a passion for carrying out the education and conservation mission of the Zoo. Through their experiences, our teen volunteers gain knowledge and skills in a unique and rewarding environment. We will post the application for our 2012 program in March. Until then, feel free to view the brochure for our 2011 program by clicking here. If you have any questions about the program, please contact Jim Swarts by phone (616) 336-4317 or email (jim.swarts@kentcountymi.gov).

Z's Zoofari Classes (Spring, Fall, and Winter Educational Classes)

Join the John Ball Zoo Society for a fun-filled encounter at the Zoo. Each encounter is designed to provide children, ages 3 to 10, with a unique look at the animals and part of the Zoo. Z's page

Self-Guided Tours and Scavenger Hunts

Click here to create a fun, interactive experience for you and your children by utilizing our self-guided tours and scavenger hunts.