Because You Live Here!

Junior Zookeeping

Junior Zookeeping is a one-of-a-kind experience available during the summer for children interested in learning more about animals and their care! EARTH ltd works with Southwick’s Zoo to provide this program which allows children the opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at how animals are cared for at the zoo and what it takes to be a zookeeper. Junior Zookeepers assist with diet preparation, create enrichment, and more. We offer three Junior Zookeeping programs, each for a different age group: ages 6-9, ages 10-13, and ages 14-17.

Nature Explorers: Ages 6-9

Pricing Per Session
Non-Members: $99/child
EARTH ltd Members: $79/child

The Nature Explorers program focuses on all the things that are essential to caring for an animal in a zoo environment. Students will learn about diet preparation, enrichment building, and habitat design for the many different types of animals that call Southwick’s Zoo home, and they will even get the chance to meet some of them up close!

Wildlife Keepers: Ages 10-13

Pricing Per Session
Non-Members: $99/child
EARTH ltd Members: $79/child

Animals come in all shapes and sizes, and so does their management! Students will have the opportunity to learn about the specific diet, cleaning, and training needed to properly care for the diverse groups found at Southwick’s Zoo while getting the chance to encounter many of them up close. The Wildlife Keeper program offers sessions focusing on specific animal types.

Wildlife Keeper Session Topics (click to expand)
  • Herbivores: What does a rhino eat? How do you care for a giraffe? How do you get a porcupine to use its brain? Come learn about our plant-eating pals and help plan their diet, make them some enrichment, and get an up-close and personal experience with some of our favorite herbivores!
  • Carnivores: Meat is on the menu! How does a lion hunt? Does a snake really unhinge its jaw? How do you train an alligator? Learn how we feed, enrich, and train some of our biggest and smallest carnivores.
  • Primates: From daily enrichment to complicated diets, come and learn about what specialized care is required for these highly intelligent animals! Students in this program will help us put together enrichment for a variety of primates and learn how special each species is while getting the chance to see them up close.
  • Birds: What does it take to care for the closest living relatives of the dinosaurs? Why don’t they fly away? How do they communicate? Come and learn how we care for a variety of highly specialized birds from macaws to owls!

Conservation Keepers: Ages 14-17

Pricing Per Session
Non-Members: $149/child
EARTH ltd Members: $129/child

Zookeepers do more than care for their animals; they also help support conservation efforts around the world. Students in this program will learn how zoos and their keepers help to contribute to the conservation and science community while also learning how keepers apply it to their daily work. From enrichment, training, diets, and education: science fuels them all! Students will also learn about the many paths to becoming an animal care specialist from the zookeepers themselves! The Conservation Keeper program offers sessions focusing on specific animal types.

Conservation Keeper Session Topics (click to expand)

The Conservation Keeper program offers sessions focusing on specific animal types:

  • Herbivores: What does a rhino eat? How do you care for a giraffe? How do you get a porcupine to use its brain? Come learn about our plant-eating pals and help plan their diet, make them some enrichment, and get an up-close and personal experience with some of our favorite herbivores!
  • Carnivores: Meat is on the menu! How does a lion hunt? Does a snake really unhinge its jaw? How do you train an alligator? Learn how we feed, enrich, and train some of our biggest and smallest carnivores.
  • Primates: From daily enrichment to complicated diets, come and learn about what specialized care is required for these highly intelligent animals! Students in this program will help us put together enrichment for a variety of primates and learn how special each species is while getting the chance to see them up close.
  • Birds: What does it take to care for the closest living relatives of the dinosaurs? Why don’t they fly away? How do they communicate? Come and learn how we care for a variety of highly specialized birds from macaws to owls!

Program Notes

 
  • Children must be registered online at least 24 hours in advance. Full payment is due at the time of registration.
  • If you cannot attend your program, you must call or email the EARTH Discovery Center at least 48 hours before the start of the program for a full refund or transfer.  
  • No-show no-notification will NOT receive a refund or transfer. 
  • Late arrivals cannot be accommodated. This program begins before the Zoo opens to the public.
  • Each session has a limited number of spots available. The registration page will show the remaining spaces for each date.
  • Please read carefully and make sure you are registering your child for the appropriate age group. Each session is for a specific age group. If you register a child for the incorrect age group, your registration will be canceled and refunded.
  • We recommend that children wear appropriate footwear, such as sneakers, for walking around the zoo.
  • Children should bring a small backpack or other bag to carry a water bottle and snack.
  • Pick up and drop off for Junior Zookeeping will be located at the EARTH Nature Center.
  • Please remember that this is a program for children, and parents do not accompany and participate during sessions. Junior Zookeeping includes zoo admission for the participating child, but not for parents/guardians. However, parents are welcome to explore the zoo as a paid guest after the zoo opens at 10:00am.

NOTE TO EARTH MEMBERS: To apply your member discount, enter the email address connected to your EARTH Membership as your promo code. *Must be a current EARTH member at the time of purchase to receive the member discount. Discounts cannot be applied retroactively.

EARTH Nature Center
67 Vineyard Street
Millville, MA 01529