Tulsa Zoo Programs
Tulsa Zoo Education Programs encourage curiosity about the natural world while helping participants become environmentally conscientious and scientifically literate citizens. Created and presented by zoo education professionals, our programs include valuable information, biofacts & visual aids, and experiences with ambassador animals.
For more information on any of these exciting educational opportunities or are you ready to book a program? Please reach out to our Education Department at [email protected].
Nature Buddies
Enjoy the seasons with your toddler (ages 0-3 years) as you meet with a zoo educator to start building a connection with nature. This is a fun and interactive sensory experience that will allow parents and their children to bond during hands on nature-based activities and close-up encounters with zoo ambassador animals. Help to develop environmental consciousness and work on fine tuning skills like eye hand coordination and working cooperatively with friends.
*Please note: these activities are designed to be fully immersive, and participants will be exposed to water, soil, paint and other sensory experiences.
Tuesday, February 27 from 10:30-11:30 a.m.: Sold Out
Tuesday, April 30 from 10:30-11:30 a.m.: Sold Out
Tuesday, September 24 from 10:30-11:30 a.m: Sold Out
Tuesday, November 19 from 10:30-11:30 a.m: Sold Out
$10 per child registered
Cox Nature Exchange
The Cox Nature Exchange, located inside Robert J LaFortune WildLIFE Trek Life in the Cold, is open daily 10am-3pm! Stop by to look at our natural collection (including rocks, fossils, sea life and animal parts) or trade in natural treasures found while exploring nature, outside of Tulsa Zoo grounds. If you have any questions about our program, please contact us at [email protected] or call us at (918)-669-6218. We can’t wait to see what you find!
How does it work? It’s easy as 1, 2, 3!
Take a walk in the woods, in your back yard or keep your eyes open while you’re on vacation. Look around for something that sparks your interest like a cool rock, fossil, plant, insect or shell and bring it to the Exchange. Bring no more than 5 items at a time. Leave the rest where they are, nature still needs them!
Our trained staff and volunteers will initiate a discussion about your item; together we will learn what it is, where it came from and what purpose it serves. The trader will then earn points for the item plus the knowledge they share or learn about their items while at the Exchange.
We encourage research to be done at home about the item. The more you know, the more points you’ll earn. Reports, journals, posters and pictures are all great tools to share what you have discovered.
Use your points in our well stocked swap shop like money. We’ll put your earned points in your very own account; the points never expire. Spend some, save some; it’s all up to you! (Please note: no dollar value is assigned to the points.)
Things to keep in mind before your visit to the COX Nature Exchange.
We cannot accept items that are protected by law. This includes items from city, state or national parks (including from zoo grounds), bird items (like feathers, nests or eggs) or cultural items (like arrowheads).
Walking Tours
Make your zoo visit even more memorable with a Walking Tour! Explore some of the zoo’s animals with a knowledgeable professional guide. This unique walking tour experience offers insight into the animal world with engaging stories, interesting facts, and animal observations of some of Tulsa Zoo’s most popular animals.
$9 per person (ages 3 and older) plus zoo admission. (Zoo members will receive a 100% discount applied for the admission portion of the total at check out when you sign into a verified member profile account.)
Maximum participants: 20
This 45–60 minute tour focuses on our Tropical American Rainforest complex.
On this walk visitors will not only learn about our specific animals, but they will discover the conservation efforts of these species in the wild. Learn fun facts and little-known details about the wide variety of animals that live at our zoo.
- Tours will run rain or shine, so please dress accordingly. All tour tickets are non-refundable.
- Visitors will start their adventure at the globe where their knowledgeable interpreter will begin the tour.
- This is a walking tour and moderate standing, and walking will be required over a 45–60 minute period.
- Tours do not include touching live animals or behind-the-scenes access.
- Tickets are only valid for the tour date/time that you select.
- A link to your tickets will be sent in a separate email. Please have them printed or ready on your smartphone before you arrive at the Admissions booths.
