FIELD TRIP LEADERS – this is for you! Make plans now for your students to explore the Hattiesburg Zoo with a NEW Field Trip Adventure that will guide your students through the zoo in a new educational and entertaining way.
Traverse the continents of South America, Asia, Australia and Africa on an animal-packed exploration with educational elements, interesting information and brain challenges. The best part is that your adventure can be customized to best meet the exploration levels and interests of your students.
Educational Treasure Spots
Students will be on the hunt for Eleven Educational Treasure Spots where field trip leaders and parents can scan a QR code that plays a narrated video of one of our Zoo educators sharing information about the daily diets, medical care, natural habitats, or enrichment practices of some of the animals living and thriving at the Hattiesburg Zoo. These educational and entertaining videos put the power of learning in the palm of your hand. https://www.youtube.com/@hattiesburgzoo/shorts
“People are so tied to their devices so we decided to turn that implement into a learning tool for our students,” said Jeremy Cumpton, Director of Conservation and Education. “With our Educational Treasure Spots, teachers, parents and students can quickly put their phones to use in an educational way that both teaches and entertains.” “We are definitely using technology in a positive way for this new program, and we think our field trip participants will be pleased with the result,” continued Cumpton.
Behind the Scenes Tours
Another opportunity that Field Trip Leaders will want to know about are the Hattiesburg Zoo’s behind the scenes tours, which are perfect additions to a Field Trip package, particularly for students’ grades 6th – College. Students will get to go behind the fences and into areas of the zoo that are usually only accessed by animal care team members. Behind the scenes areas available for touring (choose 1) are:
- Giraffe Barn
- Medical and Nutritional Facility
- Zebra and Zebu Barn
During the tour, participants gain in-depth knowledge about how zoo residents are cared for, fed and housed along with how they receive medical care, information on their natural animal behaviors and interesting characteristics of these species. Behind the scenes tours are available for an additional $5 per student.
Field Trip Leader Exploration Packet
Each Field Trip Leader will receive a customized Exploration Packet, which will include:
- Color-coded wristbands for all teachers, which will list the experiences your group has chosen to enjoy during your field trip.
- A Zoo Guide with tips to help your explorers make the most of their time at the Hattiesburg Zoo.
- A treasure map, which will encourage your explorers to follow the trail to reach the eleven Educational Treasure Spots (X) and point out other points of interest in the Zoo.
- A treasure for each student, which is a one-of-a-kind Hattiesburg Zoo Explorer sticker. Field Trip Leaders can hand out the stickers to students when they return to the classroom and discuss what great information they learned during their Field Trip Adventure at the Hattiesburg Zoo.
“We love our Explorer of the Wild stickers and know our students will be stoked to put them on their water bottles, backpacks or notebooks,” said Cumpton. “That will be their badge of honor for visiting the Hattiesburg Zoo.”
Fall is the perfect time to explore the Hattiesburg Zoo as the weather is starting to cool down and the animals are enjoying their outdoor habitats. Fall Field Trip groups receive free admission for all teachers. For more information and to book your Field Trip Adventure visit Field Trips & Overnight Adventures | Hattiesburg Zoo.
