👶 Ages 6–12📍 West Orange

Homeschool Days

Name: Homeschool Days
Start: 2026-09-16T11:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-09-16T12:00:00-04:00
Location: Essex County Turtle Back Zoo

📆Wed, Sep 16 · 11:00 AM

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

🏷Price on the venue's site ↗

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

science

Wonders of the Wild

Sat, Sep 12 · 1:00 PM

Essex County Turtle Back Zoo · West Orange

Turtle Back Zoo is an amazing classroom! Our Wonders of the Wild program offers children an opportunity to participate in supplementary science and nature-themed programs and projects that facilitate scientific literacy and life-long environmental stewardship. Available to children age 6-12, this program includes a visit to the South Mountain Reservation, Reservoir, or Zoo as weather permits. These are in-person, drop-off sessions held in the Berson Family Center from 1-3 PM. Fee is $40/person per session, with a maximum capacity of 10 students in each class. Program fee does not include separate zoo admission. All Fall Dates and Themes Saturday, September 12 @1pm | Animal Training Saturday, October 10 @1pm | Weird, Creepy, and Unique (wear your costume!) Saturday, November 14 @1pm | Ungulates Register Here Drop-off is at the Berson Family Center as early as 12:50pm; the program begins promptly at 1pm. Pick-up time is 3pm; 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 in light rain or snow as long as it is safe. Severe weather including thunder and lightning will keep the group indoors for the duration of the program. For more information email Crystal Chapman at cchapman@parks.essexcountynj.org.ntynj.org.

Ages 6–12

Zoo Explorers

Sun, Sep 13 · 10:00 AM

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

outdoor

Zoo Mini Camp

Mon, Sep 21 · 9:00 AM

Essex County Turtle Back Zoo · West Orange

Join us at Turtle Back Zoo for some wild fun! We offer mini-camps throughout the school year on days that coincide with many of the major school holidays. The camp day runs from 9am-4pm and is available for ages 5 to 10. Campers should bring their own snack and lunch. We do our best to host a tree nut-free environment for our campers. We receive and comply with guidance from our local health agencies regarding COVID-19 and all other health and welfare concerns. Upcoming Mini Camp Dates Monday, September 21, 2026 Monday, October 12, 2026 Tuesday, November 3, 2026 Thursday-Friday November 5-6, 2026 Ages 5-7 Registration Ages 8-10 Registration Cost Mini camp costs $100/day. You may register for one day or multiple. Extended care is not available during any mini camp session. The mission of Turtle Back Zoo camp is to foster an appreciation for wildlife and the natural world through fun and educational activities. To further our mission of conservation, education, and stewardship, campers will be introduced to the extraordinary world of animals, nature, and science. Children will enjoy age-appropriate camp activities that include games, teacher-led lessons, behind-the-scenes visits, up-close animal encounters, hands-on science demonstrations, and fun crafts. Additional Information and Cancellation Policy Cancellation policy: Refunds are guaranteed for cancellation requests made in writing least 3 weeks prior to the start of program. For requests made within 3 weeks of the start of camp, refunds are not guaranteed. Sign-in Procedures: Campers must be signed-in and -out by an authorized adult each day of camp. Authorized adults must present a physical copy of a government-issued photo ID in order to pick-up campers. What to Bring: Please ensure that your child has a snack, lunch, refillable water bottle, and is dressed comfortably for the outdoors. We will go outside rain, snow, or shine, as long as it is safe. Curriculum: Lessons and materials are not provided in advance of camp. An example of the daily schedule is shown below; days vary per age group, animal availability, weather, etc. 1. Check-in2. Discovery Activity/Game3. Lesson4. Snack5. Zoo Visit6. Lunch7. Animal Presentation8. Lesson9. Craft/Science Demo10. Zoo Visit11. Take-home Activity/ Game

Ages 5–103-week course

Homeschool Days

About this event

More from Essex County Turtle Back Zoo

Wonders of the Wild

Zoo Explorers

Zoo Mini Camp

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