March 23–May 18
Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo & Farm-in-the-Zoo
9:30–10:30 a.m.
$155 for a nine-class series
For children ages 2–4 with an adult
Overview
Join us for a morning of investigating and exploring the natural world through play. Children guide the way as they choose whether to dig in the dirt, manipulate loose parts, create a collaborative work of art, or settle in with a story underneath a canopy of colorful fabric. Learn and grow together as you play alongside a wondrous world of animals.
Registration opens Tuesday, February 21 at 10 a.m.!
Session Options
Thursday and Friday sessions are the same. Please register for only one program series.
Thursday Series
March 23 & 30, April 6, 13, 20 & 27, May 4, 11 & 18
Click here to register for Thursday Series
Friday Series
March 24 & 31, April 7, 14, 21 & 28, May 5, 12 & 19
More Information
Participant Guidelines
- Up to two adults can accompany each child during class.
- Younger Sibling/Child Policy: Children 12 months or younger are welcome to attend an older sibling’s class at no additional charge, as long as caregivers can keep them on their person or in a stroller for the duration of the session.
- Older Sibling/Child Policy: Children who have aged out of LEAP (ages 5 and older) cannot attend the class but are welcome to spend time in the space once class is over.
- Some activities will be stationed outside and we encourage participants to dress for being outdoors: rain, shine, or snow. We will have access to the buildings to store personal items, use the washroom, and shelter from dangerous weather.
Cancellation Deadline: March 10
Refunds, minus a 12.5 percent processing fee, may be issued for cancellations if requested in writing by March 10. Send email cancellation requests to learning@lpzoo.org. Refunds are not available after March 10 for any reason, including illness.
LEAP Scholarships
Lincoln Park Zoo offers partial and full scholarships which cover the cost of one nine-class LEAP series plus free parking or public transit reimbursement. Please complete and submit an application to be considered for a scholarship.
Scholarships are available for all series, even if the program is sold out. Applying for a scholarship does not guarantee a spot in a program.
Our Learning Philosophy
About Nature Play
Playing in nature engages all our senses at once. It helps us learn how to problem-solve, fosters creativity, and helps us concentrate. When playing, we feel happy and joyful, and by playing outside, we learn to love nature and thereby develop lifelong conservation values. At LEAP, activities are designed to help your child make those discoveries and begin that process of exploration in and alongside nature.
About Child-directed Play
Child-directed play is an important part of early childhood and provides many benefits across all areas of development. It is open-ended, has no “right” or “wrong” way to play, and puts the child in control of the activities. Children who make their own decisions while playing are building a sense of self-direction and self-confidence. They are constructing an understanding of the world around them and using these experiences to process and make sense of how things work.