Education Programs

The Education Center at Micke Grove Zoo offers a range of programs that highlight a variety of species for zoo visitors and the wider local community. During the education programs, the Education staff discuss natural history, conservation impacts, and the dwindling population numbers of the zoo's animal residents in their natural habitat.

These bearded dragons are on their pathway in becoming animal ambassadors

The main purpose of these education programs is to improve the knowledge of wildlife and to increase respect for nature within San Joaquin County. Some animals, called ambassador animals, participate in these education programs. These include a female red-tailed hawk, two female African leopard tortoises, a male red-eared slider, a male Kenyan sand boa, a group of Vietnamese walking sticks, a group of Madagascar hissing cockroaches, and two male bearded dragons. 

The Education staff conduct a diversity of programs to cater to different age groups. Some of these programs are:

• Guided zoo tours: Education staff members take groups on guided tours through the zoo and share information about the zoo’s animal residents.

• Amphitheater programs: Education staff members conduct group presentations in the Zoo Amphitheater where they share key information regarding conservation issues and environmental impacts on wildlife.

• Events and at schools: Education staff members set up tables with bio facts and share information on the pet trade, illegal hunting, forest fragmentation and its conservation impacts, and some information about our animal residents.

• Virtual education programs: Education staff members conduct virtual education programs for school groups that are unable to visit the zoo.

African leopard tortoises, Nikki and Lightning are siblings and they are animal ambassadors. They are very popular with zoo visitors, especially school groups. Due to their popularity and infectious personalities, they often participate in education programs.