Homeschool Days
👶 Ages 6–12📍 West Orange

Homeschool Days

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📍Essex County Turtle Back Zoo · 560 Northfield Ave, West Orange, NJ 07052 Get directions ↗

About this event

Welcome to the wildest classroom in NJ! Our homeschool classes offer students an opportunity to boost scientific literacy and knowledge of the natural world, and learn the importance of life-long environmental stewardship. Available to students ages 6-12, the programs include a visit to South Mountain Reservation, Reservoir, or Zoo as weather permits. These are in-person, drop-off sessions held one Wednesday per month from 11am – 1pm in the Berson Family Center. maximum capacity of 20 students. Program fee does not include separate zoo admission. Students are encouraged to bring their own supplies (note books, pens, water bottle). All Fall Dates and Themes Wednesday, September 16 | Planet of the Primates - From Bushbabies to Humans Wednesday, October 21 | Life in the Dark Wednesday, November 18 | Radical Rodents REGISTER Drop-off is at the Berson Family Center as early as 10:50am; the program begins promptly at 11am. Pick-up time is at 1pm; late pick-ups after 1pm will incur a fee of $10 for every 15 minutes late. Please make sure that your child has a refillable water bottle and is comfortably dressed to spend time outside. We will go outside, rain or shine or snow, unless there is thunder or lightning.

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More from Essex County Turtle Back Zoo

Family Campoutdoor

Family Camp

Essex County Turtle Back Zoo · West Orange

Zoo Camp for the whole family! Have a blast with us at TBZ's first ever Family Camp. It is all the fun of zoo camp, designed for everyone in your family: parents, grandparents, children, aunts, uncles, cousins... everyone over the age of 5 is welcome! Pack your day full of games, crafts, and animal encounters! Our multigenerational camp will focus on our animal families at the zoo and how your whole family can participate in conservation at home and save the world together. Date and Time Saturday, October 3, 2026 | 10am-3pm Register Here The mission of Turtle Back Zoo camp is to foster an appreciation for wildlife and the natural world through fun and educational activities. The cost of this program is $55/participant. All families welcome, ages 5 and up. This is not a drop-off program; all children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a ticketed adult. For more info email Tara Hueston at thueston@parks.essexcountynj.org

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Zoo Explorers

Zoo Explorers

Essex County Turtle Back Zoo · West Orange

Early Childhood programs encourage family learning and foster early environmental awareness. We invite young children to discover the natural world through gently structured play, art, stories, animal visits, and more. Early Childhood programming is offered monthly throughout the school year. Age restrictions apply; Pre-registration required. Zoo admission is not included with registration. Zoo Explorers is a drop-off program. Zoo Explorers Age group: 4 & 5 year olds Description: Join us as we use movement, stories, games, and crafts for these interactive, science-based lessons to learn about the wonderful and fascinating world of animals. These 2 hour sessions include supervised outings to specific areas of the Zoo as weather permits. Registration: $40 per child per class. Advanced registration and payment are required. No refunds for cancellations requested within one week of your registered session. All Fall Sessions Sunday, September 13, 2026 @10am Sunday, October 18, 2026 @10am Sunday, November 22, 2026 @10am REGISTER Meet at the Berson Learning Center For additional program information, please contact sburwell@parks.essexcountynj.org.

Ages 4–5

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