Build Your Own Program

The Conservation Education staff is ready and willing to help build a program to suit your needs. Please note that a three-week minimum advanced notice is needed for this option. We will work with you to develop a program for your young group's specific needs. Depending on the program built, live animals and animal artifacts may be used. Additional fees may apply to the regular animal program cost.

Behind-the-Scenes Safari

Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes at the Zoo? Here is your chance to tour several areas not open to guests. Get a very up close and personal look at the Zoo's educational animals. See animal care specialists preparing special diets for our animals. Compare the Zoo's refrigerator to yours at home. See where the world's tallest land animal lives. In addition, safari participants get the opportunity to feed one of our amazing animals! This safari and Careers at the Zoo program greatly complement each other. This program requires a minimum of 4 people and a maximum of 15 people. One of the group members must be 18 years of age or older. Also, tour participants must be a minimum of 6 years old. This program is filled with live animals and animal artifacts. The tour lasts approximately 60 minutes. This program is only available at the Racine Zoo.

Guided Tours

Have a member of the Conservation Education Department lead your group around the Zoo. Tours are available for specific exhibits, as well as many others. Guides can also lead you around for a more general tour. There is a 15 person maximum for guided tours. One group member must be 18 years of age or older. This program is only available at the Racine Zoo. 

You Belong in the Zoo: Be an Animal Care Specialist for a Day

Have you ever wondered what the job of an animal care specialist was like?   Do you want to find out how a zoo operates on a day to day basis?  Here's your chance to try the job out!  Be an animal care specialist for a day at the Racine Zoo! You will be assigned to work with two specialists for two hours each.  The four hour adventure will be spent assisting specialists with food preparation, feeding, cleaning, enrichment preparation, and anything else that might happen!  You will even get a chance to feed one of the Zoo animals by hand!  It is a chance to see what happens behind-the-scenes at your amazing Racine Zoo.  You must be 14 or older to participate.  Please wear closed toe shoes and clothes you don't mind getting very dirty.  You will be doing the things that animal care specialists do, and who knows what you might encounter!  To commemorate this special day, participants will receive a completion certificate and a picture with an animal.  The Animal Care Specialist for a Day is available to one person per day on the first Saturday of every month.  This program is only available at the Racine Zoo.