Eco-family Programs
Join Elmwood Park Zoo Educators for our monthly Eco-Family Programs, featuring activities that bring nature's wonders to life! Perfect for individuals and families, these engaging sessions offer a deeper dive into fascinating aspects of the natural world.
Registration is required for each program and workshop, including free programs!
2026 Eco-family programs
Great Backyard Bird Count
February 13, 14, and 15 | 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM |
This interactive experience is perfect for bird lovers of all ages and skill levels! Participants will identify and count local birds to create a real-time snapshot of where they are migrating and living. The Great Backyard Bird Count takes place across the country, and helps avian researchers gather information to better protect wild birds for the future!
This interactive experience is perfect for bird lovers of all ages and skill levels! Participants will identify and count local birds to create a real-time snapshot of where they are migrating and living. The Great Backyard Bird Count takes place across the country, and helps avian researchers gather information to better protect wild birds for the future!
FREE EVENT
| GARDENING FOR THE BIRDS |
| May 9 | 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM | DC Classroom |
| World Migratory Bird Day is officially celebrated on the second Saturday of May, and this year the focus is on how migratory birds link diverse habitats and people, while raising awareness of the need to protect crucial stopover sites from degradation caused by human development. Fly on over to the Zoo to learn how to attract and provide vital habitat for native birds and other wildlife, and plant your own native plants to help attract pollinators to your own garden or neighborhood! |
| NATURE AT NIGHT HIKE |
| July 24 | 8:30 PM - 9:30 PM | Meet at Norristown Farm Park |
| What kind of critters come awake after dark? Join educators for a nighttime investigation into the world of nocturnal invertebrates as we celebrate National Moth Week! This citizen science program is held worldwide and celebrates the beauty, life cycles, and habitats of moths. We will take an up-close look at these often overlooked, but incredibly important, animals and do a survey of nocturnal insects at the Norristown Farm Park! |
| This program is $5.oo per person. Registration is required, and payment will be taken at the start of the program. |
Monarch Madness
| August 29 | 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM DC Classroom |
| Help educators kick off the start of fall migration for the beautiful and endangered Monarch butterfly! Get a first-hand look at the different life stages of this insect, and learn about their incredible migration journey, and get a chance to provide a butterfly habitat in your own neighborhood by bringing home a host plant of your own! |
| This program is FREE. Registration is required. |
Nature Journaling
| September 12 | 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM | DC Classroom |
| Join local artist Jack Hobe for an introduction to nature journaling! This is a method used by real-life scientists and naturalists to collect data and conduct fieldwork, but it is also a great way for anyone to connect with the natural world. This is a practice that anybody can participate in, regardless of their artistic ability. Guests will learn how to tap into their creativity by incorporating diagrams, maps, notations, and many other disciplines into their journaling, using materials provided by The Zoo! |
| This program is FREE. Registration is required. |
Celebrate Bats
| October Date TBA | 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM | DC Classroom |
| Every October, we observe Bat Week, an international celebration that raises awareness of the need for bat conservation. These nocturnal creatures are often misunderstood, but they serve as valuable predators for many insects, including mosquitoes. Join educators as we kick off the celebration with hands-on activities, games, and an up-close look at these creatures of the night! |
| This program is $5.oo per person. Registration is required, and payment will be taken at the start of the program. |
OWL PROWL
| November 13 | 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM | Meet at Norristown Farm Park |
| Whooo’s awake in the dark? Join educators for a night hike to explore the sleeping forest, listen for some nocturnal feathered friends, and experience a close encounter with one of our ambassador owls. Be sure to dress warmly and put on your best listening ears! |
| This program is $5.oo per person. Registration is required, and payment will be taken at the start of the program. |
Natural Wreath Making
| December 12 | 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | DC Classroom |
| Welcome the holiday season with your own natural wreath! By using leftover branches from trees that would ordinarily be thrown out, you can create a festive and beautiful decoration without the environmental impact! Join us to make a wreath you can bring home. We will provide the evergreen branches, frame, decorations, and wire; you bring your creativity! |
| This program is $15.oo per wreath. Registration is required, and payment will be taken at the start of the program. |
