Access Our Education Programs, Classes and Camps

The Zoological Society of Milwaukee’s Conservation Education Department offers a welcoming and inclusive environment for all guests. We believe everyone has the right to access the Zoo and our educational offerings. We continuously work to provide financial aid opportunities for our education programs, classes and camps.

Learn how to apply below.

Access Our Education

Individual Financial Aid

Thanks to the generosity of several individuals, foundations and corporations, the Zoological Society of Milwaukee is able to provide financial aid to qualified households. To qualify, families must be considered low income as defined by the Department of Health & Human Services, experience unemployment or other hardships, or be participating in a government benefits program.

Financial aid funds do not include transportation assistance but do include admission to the Milwaukee County Zoo for the scholarship recipient.

Class registration is based upon availability; application approval does not guarantee a spot in a requested class.

If you have questions, please email us at education@zoosociety.org or call 414-258-5058.

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Schools and Community Groups

Through grant support, the Society engages with thousands of children from historically underrepresented neighborhoods in the Milwaukee area to provide Conservation Education programming at a significantly reduced rate to the schools or community centers. Programs help students foster an empathetic connection to wildlife and identify their role as individuals, community members, and world citizens.

  • Science programming for K-12 offered at the Zoo or at school (Zoo to You) serves many schools in economically challenged neighborhoods. “Zoo to You” provides hands-on programs for schools not able to travel to the Zoo.
  • Our innovative, in-depth Animal Ambassador partnerships incorporate science, empathy and social-emotional learning with multiple visits for students in 2nd, 3rd and 4th grades. Animal Ambassador partnerships are set for this school year.
  • The Society provides summer Zoo Camps for children attending metro-Milwaukee community centers. Partnerships are set for this summer.

If your school or community group is interested in learning more about our Zoo to You program or becoming a potential future partner in our Animal Ambassador program or Zoo Camps, please contact education@zoosociety.org.

To read more about how the Zoological Society and the Milwaukee County Zoo are working to make the Zoo more accessible, check out this page.

Thanks to our donors!

Bernie Peck

The Zoological Society is grateful for the multiple donors that make our financial aid a reality. Their support allows us to offer educational programming to hundreds of children and teens each year. Our financial aid program started with the Bernard J. Peck Memorial Scholarship. Bernard “Bernie” Peck was a well-known Milwaukee philanthropist and a longtime supporter of the Zoological Society of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County Zoo. After his death in 2015, his family established the scholarship to honor his legacy. Since then, more people, foundations, organizations and companies have stepped up to help.