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 some creative playtime with your toddler (ages 0-3 years) as you meet with a zoo educator to start building a connection with nature in this free play, fun and interactive sensory experience. Parents and their children can bond during hands-on nature-based activities and close-up encounters with zoo ambassador animals. Help introduce a love for nature and develop important skills like eye-hand coordination and working cooperatively with friends.
*Please note: these activities are designed to be fully immersive, and participants may be exposed to water, soil, paint, and other sensory experiences.
Cost: $10 per child registered
2025 Dates and Times
Wonderful Winter – Tuesday, January 28 from 10:30-11:30 a.m.: SOLD OUT
Love Bugs – Tuesday, February 25 from 10:30-11:30 a.m.: SOLD OUT
Fabulous Forests – Tuesday, March 25 from 10:30-11:30 a.m: SOLD OUT
Flower Power – Tuesday, April 22 from 10:30-11:30 a.m: Register
Summer Seafari – Tuesday, May 20 from 10:30-11:30 a.m: Register
Wild Wonders – Tuesday, September 23 from 10:30-11:30 a.m: Register
Fall Frenzy – Tuesday, November 18 from 10:30-11:30 a.m: Register
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).
Education Animal Holding Behind-the-Scenes Tours
Make your zoo visit even more memorable with a Behind-the-Scenes Tour of our Education Animal Holding facility. Tours are 45 minutes to one hour and take place weekly on Saturdays at 10 a.m. starting March 8.
Tour tickets are $30. Members receive a $5 discount.
Please sign in to receive your membership discount.
To ensure a positive experience for our guests and animals, tickets are limited to 10 guests per tour. Guests must be at least 3 years old to participate.
Ambassador Animal behind-the-scenes tours will meet in the Helmerich Discovery Center lobby (located behind the gift shop) on Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. and tour of the Education Animal Holding facility at Tulsa Zoo.
On this tour, visitors will learn fun facts and little-known details about the animal ambassadors that live at our zoo. Guests may not touch ambassador animals, but will have the opportunity to have your picture taken near an animal.
- Tours will run rain or shine, so please dress accordingly.
- All tour tickets are non-refundable.
- Visitors will start their adventure at the Helmerich Discovery Center lobby (located behind the gift shop) where their knowledgeable interpreter will begin the tour.
- Tours conclude with an education animal ambassador encounter.
- 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.
