Interactive Video Conferencing

The Minnesota Zoo has received a Pinnacle Award Honorable Mention from CILC.org for our very first year of programs!

CILC.org awards Honorable Mentions to IVC content providers who’s average evaluations score is between 2.0 and 2.85 out of 3… and the Minnesota Zoo’s average was 2.84! We are incredibly pleased that our audiences have found our programs to be so satisfying, and we pledge to bring you even more fascinating distance learning opportunities in the future! Speaking of which…

Programs Currently Available:

Engineering for Animals: Exhibit Design & Beyond
Zoos have come a long way in the last 75 years: blank concrete cells with steel bars have given way to lush, naturally-inspired enclosures with live plants and jungle-gyms that put our own playgrounds to shame. During this program you’ll visit a variety of the Minnesota Zoo’s cutting-edge animal enclosures live, and learn about the smart engineering that goes into designing a modern zoo exhibit. You’ll also test your own ingenuity by whipping up exhibit designs for animals that don’t even exist yet!

To book “Engineering for Animals” on CILC, click here.

Engineering from Animals: The Science of Biomimicry
Biomimicry is the process of using nature in all its forms to inspire new solutions to human challenges. Today more scientists, engineers, and inventors are looking to nature than ever before, and during this program you’ll explore, hands-on, some of the most fascinating ways nature is shaping how humans design, build, and innovate. You’ll test your strength against some spider silk stand-ins; a friendly live arachnid might make an appearance in the studio too!

To book “Engineering from Animals” on CILC, click here.

Moose Mystery: Minnesota’s Vanishing Icon
The moose has long been a symbol of Minnesota’s wild northern territories and beyond. However, in recent years the moose’s presence in Minnesota seems to be dwindling. This program focuses on both the characteristics of the moose and its place in the ecosystem as well as the work being done by researchers attempting to confirm and explain the moose’s gradual disappearance from Minnesota. After examining the evidence and the methods used to collect it, students will deliberate on their own theories of why the moose is vanishing.

To book “Moose Mystery” on CILC, click here.

Calls from the Wild: Exploring Animal Communication
Have you ever heard a dog barking or a bird chirping and wondered what they were saying? Many researchers have wondered the same thing! This program explores some wilder examples of critter communication found in the animal kingdom— from familiar vocalizations to more exotic examples like bee dancing and chemical communication. We’ll also look at some of the creative ways scientists have learned to crack the code of animal chatter in recent years, including how prairie dogs use “grammar” and how crows spread rumors.

To book “Calls from the Wild” on CILC, click here.


Ages: 2nd grade – 12th grade and adults

*Fees:
$85.00/program for schools in Minnesota
$115.00/program for schools outside Minnesota

To book a program, contact Distance Learning coordinator Galen Sjostrom at either galen.sjostrom@state.mn.us or 952-431-9522.

*Thanks to funding in part from the Minnesota Legacy Amendment, the Minnesota Zoo is pleased to offer these programs at a discounted price of $85 for audiences in Minnesota. Regular pricing is $115 per program. Each program lasts approximately 45-55 minutes (depending on age of audience).


Check this calendar regularly to see when we’re available for programs!
Availability may not update until 24 to 36 hours after a booking.