virtual trip bronx zoo

15 Fun Virtual Zoo Field Trip Options

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Fun field trips to the zoo are awesome, but sometimes it just isn’t possible to go. That is okay though!  As long as you have access to the internet, you can take your kids on a virtual zoo field trip at any time. 

Maybe the zoo you want to visit is too far away. Or maybe one of your kids is sick.  Sometimes the weather doesn’t cooperate. Perhaps zoo admission tickets are just not in your budget right now. 

Whatever the reason, a virtual zoo tour for kids can be a great alternative to a traditional field trip.

A virtual field trip has lots of advantages:

• It is free – some zoos offer a virtual field trip rate, but every zoo listed here offers free online options
• You can visit multiple zoos in one day, regardless of location
• See just the animals you are interested in
• No need to pack a bag full of snacks, bottled water, and sunscreen
• You can ‘visit’ every day
• You are not limited to zoos just in your area
• It is quicker – there is no traveling, walking around, or time spent dealing with crowds
• See wild animals from the comfort of your own home

Taking a virtual zoo field trip can be a great motivator for kids.  I admit that sometimes I offer this ‘reward’ for finishing schoolwork. They finish their lesson and then go on a virtual zoo field trip to visit their favorite animals.

Virtual zoo field trips can include webcams, live cameras, and live streams on their Facebook page.

Take a Virtual Zoo Field Trip

I listed the animals that are featured on webcams at each zoo because, if your kids are anything like mine, they want to see a specific animal. It is also handy for times when kids love different zoo animals.

Updated 9/23

1. Smithsonian National Zoo

(Planning an in-person visit to the National Zoo?  We went all the time when we lived in Northern VA!  Check out my post full of tips to make the most of the National Zoo .)

Check out these animals on the National Zoo webcam:

• Naked Mole Rats
• Cheetah cub
• Giant Pandas

The zoo offers printable zoo webcam bingo cards to encourage kids to watch the wild animals for a while.

2. Greenville Zoo

3. milwaukee county zoo.

• Humbolt Penguins
• Lake Wisconsin

4. Chattanooga Zoo

• Snow leopard

5. Houston Zoo

• Giraffe (This is my favorite live zoom cam for giraffes!)
• Elephant (most visible between 10:30am and 3:00pm CDT)
• Leafcutter Ant
• Giant River Otter

6. San Diego Zoo

• Panda (the pandas have recently returned to China, however, there is a prerecorded video available)
• African Penguins
• Burrowing Owl

Related Post: Great And Tango Makes Three Penguin Book Activities

7. Oakland Zoo

• Grizzly Bear
• Mountain Lion

The Oakland Zoo offers a variety of free lesson plans for multiple grade levels.

8. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

9. kansas city zoo.

• Bornean Orangutan (currently on the critically endangered species list )

10. Woodland Park Zoo

(We visited the Woodland Park Zoo when we lived in Washington.  Don’t let the small number of webcams fool you.  It is a huge zoo!  Check out my tips for a successful visit to the Woodland Park Zoo if you live in the Seattle area.)

• Grizzly Bears

Woodland Park Zoo offers downloadable educator resources to help students of all ages learn about these amazing animals.

11. Alaska Zoo

An educational polar bear activity packet is available to download.

12. Detroit Zoo

• Snow Monkeys

13. Zoo Atlanta

14. bronx zoo.

The Bronx Zoo offers a few great digital resources. My favorite are the Quests. Kids click an interactive map to learn about a region of the world and the animals who live there.

15. Edinburgh Zoo

Many zoos also offer virtual programs for small groups hosted by zoo educators, but they can come with a steep price. I suggest taking advantage of all the free educational resources first. Find all of the activity ideas by visiting the education department section of the web page.

If you decide to book an official program, get together with a few other families to make the expense more reasonable.

Do you know of any other zoos with webcams?  Leave it in the comments and I will add it to the list so more families can enjoy the animals.

Visit a zoo today!

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Welcome! My name is Jennifer. I am a teacher at heart. Before my children were born I was a public school teacher. Now, I am a homeschooling mom of two.

As i was looking though the zoos i was thinking i have never heard or seen them and i thought ” those are so cool” and i just really was paying attention to the animals and i saw a few that i new,And i thought is was cool and interesting to find more zoos to go and explore.

I like the San Diego because they have some animals I like!Like: Panda, Kola Bear, Penguins & Tigers! Maybe in Woodland Park Zoo should have more animals because it only has 3 types of animals and you could put more like the San Diego Zoo!But I really like this site.

Thank you. This is an excellent resource. I can have my students visit the zoo as part of their remote learning experience.

I am glad it helped 🙂

the cats are so cute

but of corse they can be deadly

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30 Best Zoo and Safari Virtual Field Trips

by Sara Ipatenco

The coronavirus has thrown teachers across the country for a loop. Teaching from home is like nothing educators ever imagined, and being at home makes hands-on educational activities like field trips nearly impossible. Fortunately, many zoos and animal parks around the world offer virtual field trips. Though not as entertaining as the real thing, virtual visits to zoos can enrich your curriculum and give students a break from the virtual classroom.

Here are 30 of the best zoo and safari field trips out there. No permission slip required!

1. San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA

Students can watch live cams of all their favorite animals, including koalas, hippos, elephants, tigers, and more. The Kid’s Corner also offers a wide variety of educational videos hosted by zookeepers. Each video gives facts about different types of animals, so if your students are interested in ocean invertebrates, baby animals, or animal helpers, the San Diego virtual experience is the place for them.

2. Denver Zoo, Denver, CO

Not only is the Denver Zoo the first zoo to use natural enclosures for their animals instead of metal cages, but it also offers a virtual classroom so students can learn about animals in an up close, educational way. In addition to watching animals and zookeepers, students can also participate in the Animal Academy. As part of the Animal Academy, students can earn a virtual Spots and Stripes badge with correct trivia answers!

3. Monterey Bay Aquarium

If you have some future marine biologists in your classroom, the Monterey Bay Aquarium offers a wide variety of live cams. Your students can watch otters, penguins, and jellyfish in action, or they can take a trip through a kelp forest, the open sea, or a shark habitat. For any bird lovers, the aviary cam offers and up close and personal look at many kinds of beautiful birds. You might also consider one of the 45-minute guided virtual tours the aquarium offers specifically to educators.

4. Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, IL

The Sea Curious online program at the Shedd Aquarium is designed to answer kids’ questions about underwater animals in a fun and engaging way. Each episode answers a question through an adventure around the aquarium. Students might learn what powers different animals have, what animals do at night, why some animals are slimy, or why animals lose their teeth.

5. Houston Zoo, Houston, TX

Students can see a huge variety of animals interacting with their habitats via a web cam field trip through the Houston Zoo. The live web cams offer an up-close glimpse of many types of animals including playful elephants, busy insects, curious monkeys, and majestic pink flamingoes. Your students will enjoy seeing the animals play, sleep, take baths, and eat their meals.

6. National Zoo, Washington, D.C.

At the National Zoo, students can view many web cams to see animals in action. Students can learn about big cats, elephants and naked mole rats. The National Zoo also has one of four panda enclosures in the United States and students will be able to see several giant pandas, including the baby panda that was born in August 2020! Students also have access to webinars and self-guided learning experiences to enhance their virtual trip to the National Zoo.

7. Philadelphia Zoo, Philadelphia, PA

The Philadelphia Zoo offers a Philly Zoo at Two live presentation. The program showcases different animals and lets students ask questions about what they are learning. The zookeepers provide interesting facts about each animal to pique your students’ curiosity about different species. If you can’t login in at 2:00, the website keeps an archive, so your students have access to these virtual experiences at any time. If you have some penguin-lovers in your group, the Philadelphia Zoo also offers a Penguin Point cam so students can see these playful creatures in action.

8. The London Zoo, London, England

From watching animal antics to seeing zookeeper videos to tuning in to web cams, students can learn a lot about animals with virtual programs offered through the London Zoo. Students can watch the lemurs eat a snack, hear squirrel monkeys talk, see a baby penguin, or watch the giraffes’ afternoon tea being prepared. The London Zoo also offers Zoo School, which provides a large variety of age-appropriate and printable resources to further enhance your virtual trip to the zoo.

9. Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Los Angeles, CA

Get to know the animals at the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens through their virtual field trip videos. Watch something exciting like a baby gorilla riding on his mom’s head or a colony of busy bees! Calm yourself down as you view as a koala munching on leaves or hippos lazily floating in the water. For a more formal field trip experience, students can take a choose-your-own adventure virtual tour of the entire zoo.

10. Zoos Victoria, Australia

Encompassing three different zoos, Zoos Victoria offers virtual tours of all their locations. A virtual trip through the Healesville Sanctuary will show students animals from the woodlands to the wetlands, including kangaroos, dingoes, koalas, and platypuses. At the Melbourne Zoo, students can see lions, elephants, gorillas, and underwater creatures. A virtual visit to the Werribee Open Range Zoo will get students up close with monkeys, hippos, and cheetahs. Zookeeper talks and virtual animal encounters will round out any online field trip.

11. Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta, GA

Zoo Atlanta offers many at-home resources to keep children learning. After taking an exciting virtual tour of the zoo, students can also view Zoo2You videos to discover more about different animals. Online virtual Facebook events, storybook readings with the animals, and a free mobile game allow children to explore animals even more.

12. Milwaukee County Zoo, Milwaukee, WI

The Milwaukee County Zoo offers a self-paced virtual experience through several live web cams. Students can watch polar bears, jaguars, lions, tigers, and other animals in a variety of habitats. Another camera shows students what’s happening in Lake Wisconsin. Students can drop in any time to see what their favorite animals are up to.

13. Edinburgh Zoo, Edinburgh, Scotland

The Edinburgh Zoo is the first zoo in the world to house penguins, and students can have a virtual experience with these magical creatures via live webcams. The zoo also features pandas, tigers, koalas, and lions. This zoo also offers guided virtual tours and online learning experiences.

14. Dublin Zoo, Dublin, Ireland

A virtual field trip to the Dublin Zoo allows students to visit elephants, penguins, and animals from the African Savanna via webcams. Along with the webcams, students can also access the online animal encyclopedia, which provides kid-friendly information about the hundreds of species living at the zoo.

15. Indianapolis Zoo, Indianapolis, IN

The Indianapolis Zoo brings the zoo to you with a variety of webcams. Students can watch live streams of walruses, penguins, macaws, and tigers. Digital field trips are also available through the Indianapolis Zoo. Your students will get to see many of the most popular exhibits and gain a wealth of knowledge about the animal kingdom along the way.

16. The Alaska Zoo, Anchorage, AK

In addition to a live polar bear webcam, students can also view a variety of YouTube videos showing animals in their homes and interacting with zookeepers. Visit the Learning Yurt to see videos and learn more about central Asian animals, including snow leopards, Bactrian camels, Tibetan yaks, and golden eagles. The Learning Yurt offers crafts and games to go along with a virtual visit.

17. Bronx Zoo, New York, NY

Live from the Bronx Zoo, students can virtually interact with lemurs, langurs, and penguins. Visit the sea lion pool to watch these playful creatures in action! Make a virtual stop by Ocean Wonders and see the sharks sliding gracefully through the water! Jungleworld and the Seabird Aviary are additional virtual exhibits students can enjoy. Students can also book private Zoom sessions to get the chance to come face to face with many of the animals who make the Bronx Zoo home.

18. National Aquarium, Baltimore, MD

Visit an underwater zoo with a virtual field trip to the National Aquarium. Enjoy the Pacific Coral Reef or head over to Shark Alley. Additionally, see a diverse variety of species in the Tropical Rain Forest and Amazon River exhibits. All virtual exhibits at the National Aquarium encourage students to watch animals in action and learn about their natural habitats.

19. Reid Park Zoo, Tucson, AZ

Tune in to live webcams of elephants, giraffes, grizzly bears, lemurs, and lions. As students watch these animals in action, they can also click on the links to learn more about each animal to complete their virtual field trip.

20. Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta, GA

Take a virtual dive into the beautiful underwater world of the Georgia Aquarium. Live webcams allow students to watch graceful fish, playful sea otters, silly beluga whales, fierce little piranhas, and more. Convenient links to animal facts on their website create instant learning opportunities!

21. Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach, CA

The Aquarium of the Pacific boasts the largest tropical reef habitat exhibit and is modeled after the natural reef in Palau. Students will get to see a wide variety of colorful tropical fish, jellyfish, sharks, sea otters, and sea lions.

22. WildEarth, Africa

Give your students the ultimate safari experience with WildEarth. Through daily live safaris, students can see leopards, lions, cheetahs, and hyenas in their natural habitat. These experiences include guided walks with experts, drones, cameras, and balloons to help students escape to the wild African savanna. There is also a section dedicated to safaris geared toward children ages 4-18.

23. African Animals Watering Hole, Central Kenya

Located in the highlands of Kenya, the Mpala Research Centre watering hole reveals animals socializing while getting a drink or taking a bath. A virtual trip to the watering hole allows students to see elephants, crocodiles, hippos, giraffes, and other native animals playing in the water!

24. Balule Nature Reserve, South Africa

Enjoy the view from a hidden safari camera at the Bulule Nature Reserve in South Africa. The solar powered camera gives students a glimpse into the natural habitat of some of Africa’s most majestic animals, including lions, rhinos, giraffes, and elephants. Students might also catch a glimpse of more exotic African animals like the antelopes, genets, and warthogs.

25. Asilia, Capetown, Africa

Take a safari from the comfort of home or school with short video clips of African animals in their natural surroundings. Students can view popular and well-known African animals like lions, hyenas, and elephants. Additionally, they may join a walking safari, a boating safari, or see if they can catch a glimpse of any animals as they watch the sunset.

26. Olifants River, Emangusi, South Africa

A camera set on the banks of the Olifants River in Emangusi, South Africa, enables students to watch crocodiles and hippos in action. Students might also see elephants and giraffes grazing along the river. Baboons, impalas, waterbuck, and owls have also been known to make an appearance here.

27. Tembe Elephant Park, South Africa

Home to some of the world’s largest elephants, this virtual field trip allows students to watch the elephants and enjoy the sounds of the wild. Students may also see lions, rhinos, buffalos, and leopards. A night visit will reveal what these animals do when the sun goes down.

28. GRACE Forest Corridor, Democratic Republic of Congo

For students interested in gorillas, this is the safari for them. Students will get to watch gorillas in their natural habitat. A virtual trip here will give students the chance to see gorillas interacting with each other, finding food, playing, and relaxing with long afternoon naps. An evening visit might even give students the opportunity to see the gorillas building themselves night nests.  

29. Winged Creatures in 360 Degrees, Detroit, MI

This field trip takes visitors to three different locations to learn about animals with wings. Students will get to see penguins, raptors, and bats. Throughout the trip, students can view animal habitats and learn how human behaviors impact animals, their homes, and the climate where they live.

30. Channel Islands Kelp Forest, Ventura, CA

Take a peaceful virtual field trip through the kelp forest off the Channel Islands in California. Hundreds of marine species live in the kelp forest, so students are sure to see many exciting and interesting creatures swim by. Watching the kelp sway gently through the water can also be quite soothing.

Children can learn so much from visiting zoos and animal parks. Fortunately, there are many virtual ways to experience these educational locations without leaving the comfort of the classroom or desk chair at home!

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Virtual Field Trips: Zoos, Aquariums, Farms and Safaris

Take a virtual field trip to see all sorts of animals without leaving home. You can visit zoos, aquariums, farms, and even go on a virtual safari all in the same day!

We’ve rounded up an amazing list of zoos, aquariums, farms and nature preserves that have webcams, live streams, and youtube videos you can watch to learn more about animals. We’ve also included links to online lesson plans and activities for those families wanting to create a richer learning experience from their virtual field trips.

What is a Virtual Field Trip?

Field trips are awesome learning experiences because they get you out of the classroom and take you into an immersive environment. On a virtual field trip , you open a window to explore outside your home or classroom. You can simply observe, or you can add to the experience with some educational information or activities to go along with it.

The list we’ve compiled below is pretty extensive, so be sure to bookmark this page so you can come back to it.

Zoo Virtual Field Trips

Modern zoos are an amazing blend of entertainment and education, coupled with research and conservation. When you visit a zoo, you not only get to see and learn about animals you are unlikely to encounter, but you are also supporting efforts to protect wildlife and the planet.

Wildlife Curriculum

Try one of these resources to add to your virtual field trip experience.

• Virtual Field Trip Guide
• Free Zoo Field Trip Questions
• World Wildlife Federation’s “ Wild Classroom ” – They have 5 “days” of activites set up. There are also 9 educational toolkits currently available.
• National Wildlife Federation Lesson Plans and Webinars – broken up by topic and specifies appropriate grade level.
• Free Digital Versions of Ranger Rick Magazines – Through June 2020.
• Animal Books you can read or have read to you online
• Teacher Guides and Saving a Species Video Series + teacher toolkit from SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment.

San Diego Zoo (USA)

One of the most famous zoos in the world offers live webcams of baboons, penguins, apes, tigers, koalas, burrowing owls, elephants, polar bears, giraffes, and condors.

There is also archived webcam footage of pandas.

Houston Zoo (USA)

The Houston Zoo has webcams that let you look in on the giraffe feeding platform, the gorilla habitat, the elephant yard, the rhino yard, the chimp window, and even leafcutter ants!

The folks at the Houston Zoo have also been bringing the Zoo to You on their facebook page every weekday at 11am Central Time.

Kansas City Zoo (USA)

The Kansas City Zoo has live webcams showing two types of penguins, giraffes, and polar bears. The penguin cams are listed as separate cameras, but both show the same view. At the time of this post, the polar bear cam was not working.

Zoo Atlanta (USA)

We were fortunate to get to visit Zoo Atlanta a few years ago and we loved seeing the pandas! It’s so nice to know we can drop in and see Ya Lun and Xi Lun from home.

In addition to the webcam, Zoo Atlanta has three at-home learning guides for pre-k to 4th grade, as well as some animal games and crafts .

Philadelphia Zoo (USA)

Visiting the Philadelphia Zoo is unique because the animals are literally all around you as they have paths they can use to go over the walkways. When you can’t visit in person, you can view the penguin point webcam.

In addition, the Philadelphia Zoo has started doing Facebook Live sessions called “Philly Zoo at 2” at 2pm EDT daily.

Milwaukee County Zoo (USA)

On Zoo View TV, you can drop in on the Milwaukee County Zoo’s residents such as Polar Bear, Jaguar, Lions, Hyenas, Tigers, and Penguins… and even fish.

Elmwood Park Zoo (USA)

The Elmwood Park Zoo in Pennsylvania has a giraffe live camera from 10am-5pm EDT. They have also been going live on their facebook page with Zoo School from 11am-11:30am on weekdays.

Reid Park Zoo (USA)

The Reid Park Zoo in Arizona lists zoo cams for grizzly bears, lemurs, lions, elephants, and giraffes. Their zoo site also has a few zoo activity packets that were designed to be completed after a visit to the zoo, but could be done from home, as well.

Detroit Zoo (USA)

The Detroit Zoo in Michigan has live cams and videos they call “Virtual Vitamin Z” to help you get your daily supplement of zoo fun at home. Their live cams show you penguins, snow monkeys, falcons, and otters.

They also have past videos available on their site here.

National Zoo (USA)

The National Zoo has live webcams for you to virtually visit their giant pandas, lions, elephants, and naked mole-rats! And you can get updates on what’s going on at the zoo on the National Zoo Facebook page .

The site also has resources such as educational activities you can do at home and downloadable zoo activities .

Chattanooga Zoo (USA)

The Chattanooga Zoo in Tennessee has four live webcams on their zoo’s site. You can drop by and check out meerkats, snow leopards, tamarin, and the spotted genet.

Greenville Zoo (USA)

The Greenville Zoo has two cams set up to watch their giraffes. One gives you a look inside the barn. The other is a view of the paddock.

Alaska Zoo (USA)

As you might expect, the Alaska Zoo has a polar bear, and you can virtually visit it through its webcam. In addition, the zoo has started doing free live sessions via the Zoom app. Spots are limited and the schedule and links are being posted on the Alaska Zoo Facebook page .

Edinburgh Zoo (Scotland)

Did you know that the Edinburgh Zoo was the first zoo in the world to house and breed penguins? In addition to penguin cams, they also have live streams of pandas, tigers, and koalas.

In addition, the Wildlife Conservation Charity has some interactive learning from home courses for all ages.

Dublin Zoo (Ireland)

The zoo is also home to a scimitar-horned oryx, which is a species of antelope you can no longer find in the wild.

Ireland’s Dublin Zoo offers webcams of penguins and elephants, as well as their African Savanna where you might see giraffes, ostriches, zebras, or rhinos.

Marwell Zoo (UK)

The Marwell Zoo has a live video stream of their flamingos. They also have a photo streams (photos update every 30 seconds or so) of penguins, giraffes and lemurs.

Paignton Zoo (UK)

The Paignton Zoo has webcams set up looking at meerkats and sulawesi crested macaque. Their Flamingo webcam is currently unavailable. They also have a series of YouTube Videos about animals and working with them .

Starting Monday, March 23rd, the Paignton Zoo will be adding downloadable resources to their “ Wild at Home ” program for parents and teachers.

Zoos Victoria (Australia)

Zoos Victoria is an association of three zoos in Australia: Healesville Sanctuary, Melbourne Zoo, and Werribee Open Range Zoo. Their site features webcams where you can see snow leopards (indoor and outdoor), penguins, giraffes, lions, and zebras.

More Zoos for Virtual Field Trips

• Live Tiger Cam
• Virtual Adventures on Facebook @brecsbrzoo
• Live Webcams : Aquatic Bird Cam, Sea lion Pups (not working)
• Videos on Social Media @BronxZoo
• Remote Learning Resources
• Virtual tour (Series of Short Videos)
• Online Learning Resources
• Live Giraffe Cam (9:30am – 4:45pm MT)
• “Abnormally Normal” Video Series (Facebook)
• Home Safaris daily at 3pm ET on Facebook
• Daily Virtual Classrooms on Facebook at 11am ET @ClevelandMetroparksZoo.
• Live Webcams – Discovery Reef, Bonobos
• YouTube Videos
• Live Webcams – Meerkats, Penguins
• Animal Update Videos (Facebook)
• “Zoo to You” Facebook Lives weekdays at 3pm ET @DenverZoo
• More Videos on Denver Zoo Youtube channel
• Live Webcams : Giraffes, Sea Lions, Meerkats, Siamangs, and Orangutans
• Animal Videos on Facebook @ElPasoZoo
• “Keeper Chats” on Facebook Live @FortWorthZoo
• “ School of Croc ” lives at 10am ET on Facebook
• Live Webcams : Macaque, Macaw, Penguin, Tiger, Walrus
• Videos on the Indianapolis Zoo Facebook page
• Live Webcams : Penguin, Lion, Giraffe, Flamingo, Goat
• Behind the Scenes on Your Screen – learn about Zoo Jobs
• “Zoo to You” Facebook Lives Weekdays 11am ET
• Updates on Facebook @MNZoo
• Learning Corner – Activities and downloadable curriculum for grades 1-12.
• Live Cams with Chat
• Bear Lesson Plans
• “ Do the Zoo at Home “
• Facebook updates and videos @OmahaZoo
• Live Penguin Cam (9am – 5pm daily)
• #BringtheStlZootoYou Videos on Facebook
• Live Webcams : Snow Leopards, Elephants, Amur Leopards (must have Flash Player enabled)
• #ZooOpenOnline with Facebook Lives and YouTube Videos .
• “Zoo School” Facebook Lives (Mondays 11am ET) + random story times and craft videos.
• Archived Live Videos + themed activities for kids that go with each video.
• “ Virtual Voyage ” daily at 2pm on Facebook
• Videos bringing the Zoo to you on YouTube
• Downloadable Activities
• Augmented Reality Zoo Tour (via Zappar App)
• Live Webcams: Bears, Bats, and Tigers
• Updates on the Woodland Park Facebook page
• Live Grizzly Bear Cam
• Updates on Facebook @ZooMontana
• Learning Resources : Activities and Printables
• Facebook Live Q&As – Weekdays 11am ET @ZooAmerica

If you know a zoo with great virtual field trip content like live cams, videos, or activities that isn’t on this list, let us know to add it!

Aquarium Virtual Field Trips

Aquariums focus mainly on ocean life, though many have animals that live out of the water, but live in or near the water.

One Big Ocean Online Curriculum

“One Big Ocean” is an online curriculum from Ocean.org. They have three different programs customized for the level of school. These can be used by themselves, or paired with a real or virtual visit to any aquarium.

• One Big Ocean Elementary
• One Big Ocean Middle
• One Big Ocean Secondary

Online Ocean School

You can also learn about the various creatures and habitats of the Gulf of St. Lawrence at “ Ocean School “, with three weeks of lessons online and more being added.

National Aquarium (USA)

The National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland has cameras placed in three exhibits: Blacktip Reef featuring blacktip sharks, rays, and colorful fish; “Jellies Invasion” which you can guess features jellyfish; and “Pacific Coral Reef”. You can also take a virtual tour of the National A quarium with 360 degree images.

Georgia Aquarium (USA)

The Georgia Aquarium is ranked as the best aquarium for families in the United States. We’ve been there, and it is AMAZING! And they have some great, high quality live feeds from their exhibits, too!

You can watch the Ocean Voyager cam where you can see sharks, rays, fish, sea turtles and even huge whale sharks! There’s also the Indo-Pacific Barrier Reef, Southern Sea Otters, Jelly Cam, California Sea Lions, African Penguins, Piranhas, and Beluga Whales.

And while they haven’t been going live, they have been posting videos to the Georgia Aquarium Facebook page .

Shedd Aquarium (USA)

You might have seen the video going around of the Shedd Aquarium’s penguins taking their very own personal tour of the aquarium’s exhibits. If you haven’t, you should check it out.

In addition to the one live stream we found on their site so far, the Shedd Aquarium also has a great series of videos just for kids called “Sea Curious”. They also have some really cool 360 degree videos of sharks!

The Aquarium of the Pacific (USA)

The Aquarium of the Pacific is located in Long Beach, California. They have several webcams that allow you to visit virtually. You can see penguins both above and below the water, a shark lagoon, sea jellies, a tropical reef, blue cavern, and colorful anthias and wrasse exhibit.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium (USA)

The Clearwater Marine Aquarium located on the Gulf Coast in Clearwater, Florida is home to Winter and Hope, the rescued dolphins whose stories were the basis for the movies “Dolphin Tale” and “Dolphin Tale 2”.

You can virtually visit Winter and Hope, along with Nicholas and PJ. The aquarium also has views of its otters, pelicans, and sea turtles.

The Clearwater Aquarium even has downloadable lessons in language, math, and science to go along with a real or even virtual visit to the aquarium. There is also an online Kid Zone with games, activities, and experiments.

California Academy of Sciences (USA)

As the name suggests, the California Academy of Sciences is not just an aquarium. The San Francisco facility is also a natural history museum with a rainforest exhibit and planetarium.

There are a few webcams that allow you to visit right from home. You can look in on penguins, stingrays, a coral reef, and even take control of a camera at the top of a lighthouse on the nearby Farallon Islands.

The site also has lesson plans and materials for kids from preschool through high school.

Tennessee Aquarium (USA)

Live webcams of the secret reef, penguin, and sea otter exhibits. And on their facebook page, they are live streaming Aquarium at Home sessions.

Vancouver Aquarium (Canada)

Canada’s Vancouver Aquarium is home to more than 50,000 animals and features 30 exhibits to explore. When you can’t visit in person, you can still drop in on the sea otters, jellyfish, and penguins via the webcams on their homepage.

Atlantic White Shark Conservancy

Facebook Lives weekdays at 10am @AtlanticWhiteShark . Resources on the website.

Farm Virtual Field Trips

While farms are different than zoos, they can be just as educational and rewarding in connecting us to nature, whether we visit in person or virtually.

Hen Cam (USA)

The Hen Cam comes from a backyard outside Boston, Massachussetts. The feed switches automatically between 3 cameras showing the hens outside and inside. You might also see goats and a bunny named Phoebe.

Peter’s Farm (Holland)

You can see a live stream of the cows, and maybe even some baby calves, at Peter’s Farm in Holland. The stream is only during operating hours, but there is also some YouTube footage for when it isn’t live.

Folly Farm (UK)

Folly Farm has a cute webcam that gives you a peek at its farm animals like sheep, goats and donkeys. The website also lists penguin, giraffe, and lion webcams from the zoo, but they were not working when we visited.

Farm Sanctuary (USA)

This sheep barn camera is at the Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen , New York. They also have a recorded virtual tour of the farm showing you some of their other animals.

Goats Live (??)

Not sure where it is coming from, but this camera is pointed at some goats and streams 24 hours a day.

Farm Food 360 (Canada)

Farm Food 360 has virtual tours of all different kinds of farms. There are milk & cheese, dairy cow, sheep, pig, mink, grain, egg, and oat farms, feed mills, and an apple orchard.

Chatsworth Farm (Canada)

Chatsworth Farm is an over 2,000 acre family-run farm in Canada where they grow grain and legume crops, alfalfa, and raise beef cattle, sheep, turkeys, ducks, and chickens for eggs and meat. They have a few video tours on their webpage and they’ve also been live streaming recently on the Chatsworth Farm Facebook page .

Horse Shoe Farm (USA)

This camera pans back and forth showing the outdoor pens of the Horse Shoe farm in Hendersonville, North Carolina. The horses are not always outside, though.

Virtual Farm Field Trips on YouTube

We found a whole bunch of Farm tours and Q&As on YouTube. Here are links to those. Some are individual, but others are whole playlists with multiple videos.

• American Dairy Association Indiana (4 videos)
• Ohio Pig Farms (50+ videos, several very recent)
• Grow Next Gen (discusses various topics)
• Ohio Beef Council (18 videos)
• New York Beef Council (4 videos)
• American Dairy Association Northeast (12 videos)
• Pennsylvania Beef (no playlist, but at least 3 tours among their many videos)
• Milk Means More (4 tours to a Michigan Dairy farm)

Safari Virtual Field Trips

SafariLive (Africa)

Live Streamed safaris from the African wilderness. You never know what you are going to see, and your tours are guided by knowledgeable guides who sometimes answer questions from viewers.

SUNRISE SAFARI (Monday to Sunday)

• Central African Time (CAT): 06:00am – 09:00am
• East African Time (EAT): 07:00am – 10:00am
• Eastern Standard Time (EDT): 00:00pm – 03:00am

SUNSET SAFARI (Monday to Sunday)

• Central African Time (CAT): 15:30pm – 18:30pm
• East African Time (EAT): 16:30pm – 19:30pm
• Eastern Daylight Savings Time (EDT): 09:30am – 12:30pm

Cumbria Wildlife Trust (UK)

Over on the Cumbria Wildlife Trust webpage, you can drop in on webcams of a few different animals from across the United Kingdom. There is a camera pointed at the bird feeders at Plumgarths Wildlife Garden, Grey Seals at the South Walney Nature Preserve (archive footage when cam is not working), a Badger cam from Rydel, Ambleside, and an Osprey cam from Foulshaw Moss Nature Preserve (says cam will be available late March 2020).

Explore.org Webcams (Worldwide)

Explore.org has countless live streams from all over the world that you can choose from, including several locations already mentioned in this post. But our favorites are the ones you can view outside of a zoo, aquarium, or farm setting.

Some of these also have great audio, so you can make it full screen, turn up the volume, and have a window to the world. Great for background or meditation.

• Tembe Elephant Park (Africa)
• Honeybees going in and out of a hive
• Flying Foxes (bats)
• Hear Orcas (and occasionally see them) underwater
• Sea Lions hauled out onto rocks
• Polar Bear Cubs

Wolf Conservation Center

The Wolf Conservation Center in New York is dedicated to protecting and preserving wolves in North America. They have several live feeds of various species of wolves. And if you want to learn a little about wolves , you can do that, too.

Bald Eagle Cam (USA)

Despite being the national symbol of the United States, we don’t get to see Bald Eagles all that much. But with the camera set up at Duke Farms in New Jersey, we can look right into a Bald Eagle’s nest! They even have a scavenger hunt you can print out for the kids to watch the nest and see if they spot any of those things.

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March 4, 2021

Walk through bronx zoo’s history – virtually, - as seen by -.

When the Wildlife Conservation Society was founded as the New York Zoological Society in 1895, its first objective was to open a zoological park in New York City. The Bronx Zoo opened four years later on November 8, 1899 to fulfill that mission, and the zoo was immediately popular, drawing nearly four million visitors within 10 years.

Much about the Bronx Zoo today would be unrecognizable to its first visitors, yet important early features remain—from original structures and an ongoing emphasis on the location’s natural beauty, to its continued focus on fulfilling WCS’s mission. Visitors from the first day of the zoo’s opening, and visitors today, have enjoyed the World of Reptiles , though, of course, the interior today differs from 1899. As staff learned more about the care of animals and their natural environments, both at the zoo and in the field, the exhibits at the Bronx Zoo were updated and evolved into the present-day park.

The WCS Library and Archives created a virtual historical walking tour of the Bronx Zoo through the support of the New York Metropolitan Library Council , and it is hosted on Urban Archive . This tour explores how the early Bronx Zoo embodied WCS’s founding goals and how the evolution of these goals has shaped the park. The tour begins at the Bronx River Entrance to the zoo and continues through the park, with an emphasis on Astor Court, which features some of the oldest exhibits and buildings. Users can take a stroll through the Bronx Zoo while following the tour to see how the park has changed through the years, or explore the tour from home. The tour features historical photos of the zoo along with information on how the exhibit or landmark is part of the story of the park’s evolution.

In the picture above, on the left you can see the Sea Lion Pool with a crowd around it in 1906, and on the right the Sea Lion Pool as it is today, from a slightly different vantage point. Among the notable differences is the Rockefeller Fountain’s position, which used to be right next to the Sea Lion Pool and was moved in 1910 to its current location in Fountain Circle.

As the Bronx Zoo continues to change, it will be interesting to imagine all the ways the park may look in 10, 25, and even another 125 years from now.

EDITOR’S NOTE: To celebrate Women’s History Month, Wild View is featuring posts by and about women and their contributions to science and conservation throughout March. The  Wildlife Conservation Society  is also celebrating 125 years of saving wildlife and wild places. WCS was founded as the New York Zoological Society in 1895, and the flagship Bronx Zoo opened in 1899.

Bronx, US Map It

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WCS City Zoos Project

Dorothy Reville: WCS Photo Librarian and More

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Charlot Niles Martin-Taylor

March 23, 2021 at 10:05 pm.

My grandfather, William White Niles, a graduate of Dartmouth College, was the lawyer and Assemblyman who introduced the Assembly bills that created the New York Zoological Society and the New York Botanical Garden at the turn of the century when so many amazing events were taking place in this country. Thank you for bringing more historical information to the public.

As an animal lover and believer in non human animal rights, i would like to know why the Bronx Zoo staff is resistant to releasing Happy, the elephant, to a sanctuary such as The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. She has lived alone for so many years without proper room to roam, what reason is there to continue to keep her in such tight confinement? I do believe it would be a wonderful thing for the Zoo to give her a chance to move freely and make friends. Granted, animals live longer in captivity but quality of life is important as well. Please give her a chance. Perhaps the Zoo could raise two elebabies on one acre for a period of time then move them to a sanctuary as well. With the great loss of wildlife to poaching in the wild, hosting animals in captivity is an important service Zoos provide. However, with large animal adults, they need land and others of their species. Please move Happy to an elephant sanctuary. Perhaps a live cam could be installed at the Zoo so visitors could observe her in her new surroundings while enjoying new baby elephants at the same time.

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18 Virtual Zoo Field Trips, Tours, and Zoo Cams That Get You Up Close to the Animals

Bring the zoo to you.

We love field trips, but sometimes organizing an excursion just can’t happen. Fortunately, we live in a time when technology can bring the excitement to us. The pandemic encouraged many zoos and aquariums to put in the effort to bridge the gap for visitors at home. As such, we’re able to share this list of 18 fantastic virtual zoo field trips, virtual zoo tours, and zoo cams you can enjoy from anywhere.

Best Virtual Zoo Field Trips, Virtual Zoo Tours, and Zoo Cams

San diego zoo.

The San Diego Zoo has a “Watch and Learn” section on their website. Here students can check out the fantastic zoo cams including the burrowing owl cam, giraffe cam, elephant cam, and many more!

Atlanta Zoo

While the Atlanta Zoo’s zoo cam is dedicated to pandas, they offer many videos and activities that feature bird watching, sloths, lemurs, monkeys, and more!

Reid Park Zoo

Located in Tucson, Arizona, this zoo features a variety of delightful zoo cams designed to give kids a virtual zoo tour of the elephants, giraffes, grizzly bears, lions, and more.

Tembe Elephant Park

In a remote area of South Africa, you’ll find the Tembe Elephant Park. Renowned for having the largest elephants in the world, these zoo cams offer sights such as sand forests and wetlands, leopards, rhinos, and, of course, elephants.

GRACE Center

This extensive cam takes us inside the gorilla forest corridor in the Democratic Republic of Congo while connecting the habitat with the night quarters at the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Center (GRACE).

Houston Zoo

Take a virtual zoo tour down to Texas and enjoy the live zoo cams set up by the Houston Zoo, allowing you to peer into the lives of giraffes, gorillas, elephants, and flamingos.

Explore the Arctic

Head to Churchill, Manitoba, Canada, to witness the annual polar bear migration. Discovery Education has teamed up with Polar Bears International to host a series that explores some of the biggest questions about the Arctic.

Bring your virtual classroom to life with animals from the Oregon Zoo! Videos are aligned to different subject content areas listed on the page. New videos are also posted regularly on the zoo’s social media channels. A few times every week, they also go behind the scenes for a live interview with animal-care staff. Each live video is accompanied by a kid-approved activity related to the featured animal .

PBS Zoo Field Trip

Let’s all go to the zoo with PBS LearningMedia! At Zoo Miami, Penny and the KidVision VPK kids wash rhinos, feed giraffes, study a zebra’s stripes, and ride a camel. Lions and tigers and apes, oh my!

International Wolf Center

The cool wolf-pack cam live-broadcasts the adventures of four ambassador wolves: Denali, Boltz, Axel, and Grayson. The exhibit stretches across 1.25 acres and includes two dens, a filtered pond, and a forested area.

San Antonio Zoo

While San Antonio Zoo virtual field trips aren’t free (you pay a one-time fee or sign up for a low-cost membership), they’re very engaging. Enjoy virtual encounters with okapis, hippos, rhinos, and more!

From a virtual zoo tour and chats with staff to showing what the animals are up to and posting activity ideas from their education and conservation teams, the Dallas Zoo’s Bring the Zoo to You web series is perfect for a virtual field trip!

Australia Zoo

Australia Zoo was the home of the late Steve Irwin, best known as the Crocodile Hunter. His wife, Terri, and children, Bindi and Bob, have continued his legacy. This fantastic YouTube channel offers captivating videos of some of the world’s most fascinating animals.

Smithsonian’s National Zoo

This virtual zoo field trip takes us to the nation’s capital. Check out animal zoo cams that share a glimpse into the daily lives of black-footed ferrets, naked mole rats, giant pandas, and more!

Chester Zoo

This British zoo has been going live on Facebook and YouTube to offer a fun and engaging virtual zoo tour packed full of fantastic facts and adorable animal antics!

Monterey Bay Aquarium

The Monterey Bay Aquarium has created virtual zoo tour resources to support children’s learning for grades pre-K–12. The site offers online courses, family-friendly science activities, crafts and printables, and fantastic video lessons (in English and en español) to help young learners who are excited about ocean animals.

Georgia Aquarium at Home

These wonderful guided virtual tours through Georgia Aquarium’s galleries allow you to explore the chilly unknown in Cold Water Quest , be immersed in a world of colors as a tropical diver , and more!

New England Aquarium Virtual Tour

Enjoy a virtual zoo tour to the New England Aquarium and check out the projects and activities available to both educators and families. New zoo cam videos premiere on Facebook , YouTube , and Instagram .

Did we miss one of your favorite virtual zoo field trips, virtual zoo tours, or zoo cams? Share it with us, and we might just add them to this list!

Also, check out the best field trip ideas for every age and interest (virtual options too).

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40 Amazing Educational Virtual Field Trips

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The Inaugural Edition of “The World’s 50 Best Hotels” Brings Together

Savannah restaurant named one of the best new spots in us, what is the best age to start ballet an academy director weighs in, best sci-fi movies on paramount+ to watch right now, best holiday markets to shop in the d.c. area, best demat account in india – wisdom capital, best low calorie wines in australia, 7 best potatoes for mashed potatoes and the ones you should avoid, top crypto trading apps and platforms: find the best for 2024, houston’s best wine people are attending a very fun party, 15 fantastic zoo virtual field trips.

Virtual field trips have become increasingly popular as a way to explore the world from the comfort of our own homes. If you’re a fan of wildlife and zoos, here are 15 virtual zoo experiences that will take you on an exciting adventure:

1. San Diego Zoo – Visit one of the most famous zoos in the world from your living room. Explore live animal cams and watch amazing animals like pandas, elephants, and penguins.

2. Bronx Zoo – Take a virtual tour of the largest metropolitan zoo in the United States. Experience close-up encounters with animals like tigers, gorillas, and sea lions.

3. Smithsonian’s National Zoo – Discover the wonders of this Washington D.C. zoo with live animal cams. Watch giant pandas, lions, elephants, and more in their natural habitats.

4. Cincinnati Zoo – Join the Home Safari Facebook Live sessions where zookeepers introduce different animals each day. Learn interesting facts and observe their behavior.

5. Houston Zoo – Tune in to their Zoo Lights Virtual Experience during the holiday season. Explore festive lights, meet Santa, and enjoy behind-the-scenes animal encounters.

6. Columbus Zoo – Check out their Animal Encounter Videos featuring various zoo animals. Learn about their diet, behavior, and conservation efforts.

7. Edinburgh Zoo – Go on a virtual tour of this Scottish zoo and get up close with animals like pandas, koalas, and penguins.

8. Toronto Zoo – Watch their Virtual Zoo School series and learn about animals through interactive lessons. Explore different habitats and meet their inhabitants.

9. Dublin Zoo – Take a virtual safari through the African Savanna and encounter giraffes, rhinos, and zebras. Learn about their conservation efforts in the wild.

10. Prague Zoo – Join their virtual tours and discover the diverse animal species that call this Czech zoo their home. Explore exhibits like the Indonesia Jungle and African Plains.

11. Singapore Zoo – Embark on a virtual adventure with the zoo’s Animal Webcams. Watch orangutans swing, elephants bathe, and more.

12. Taronga Zoo – Enjoy their 24/7 live animal cams that showcase animals such as giraffes, sun bears, and meerkats. Learn about their conservation programs.

13. Perth Zoo – Explore their Zoo Adventures website, which includes virtual tours, live webcams, and educational resources. Connect with Australian wildlife from afar.

14. Memphis Zoo – Watch their Virtual Wild Encounters series and meet animals like hippos, rhinos, and chimpanzees. Learn about their care and conservation.

15. Bronx Zoo Education Programs – Engage in virtual lessons and activities offered by the Bronx Zoo’s education team. Learn about animal adaptations, conservation, and more.

These 15 fantastic zoo virtual field trips offer an immersive and educational experience for wildlife enthusiasts of all ages. So grab your virtual safari hat and start exploring the wonderful world of zoos from the comfort of your own home!

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Calling all Bronx Zoo Adventurers!

What does it take to become a zookeeper how can a simple trip to the grocery store help animals in the rainforest find out the answers to these questions and more by embarking on one of the bronx zoo’s virtual quest adventures these adventures, which include activities, games, videos, and conservation projects, were created by the bronx zoo's own discovery guide youth volunteers., choose your virtual adventure, each piece of the map brings a piece of the zoo to life connect to the animals in every corner by clicking the corresponding quest themes., click the icons below the map to get started.

Keeper Quest

Do you have what it takes to become a zookeeper at the Bronx Zoo? Put yourself to the test with the Keeper Quest!

Begin your Quest !

Z.O.O's Clues

Mystery is afoot , or should we say PAWS ? Train to join the Detective Academy as a Z.O.O. Agent (Zoological Official Operations)!

Begin your Quest!

Planet Protectors

Grab some friends or family & journey to the real JungleWorld to learn how to protect the planet, one chocolate bar at a time!

NYC Neighbors:

Travel borough to borough with the NYC Zoo Scouts as they investigate the coolest critters in their communities!

Meet the Creators!

All of the content on this website has been developed by our summer 2020 youth discovery guides (ages 14-22). typically discovery guides are stationed throughout our nyc zoos & aquarium educating and inspiring our visitors. because of the covid-19 pandemic, our program pivoted to a virtual experience for both our volunteers and quest audience..

Looking for MORE?

Check out virtual quests from all of the wcs parks..

Virtual Field Trips for Kids: Worldwide Wonders

Online adventures allow kids and their families to take safe field trips around the world from home.

Virtual Field Trips for Kids

Getty Images

Any day can be a vacation day with an online trip, and many destinations across the country have adapted programs to deliver online content during the pandemic.

Field trips, the highlight of school days for many elementary-age children, were stifled during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, so parents like Jacqueline Davis of Westlake, Ohio, sought out alternatives. She found one on Facebook: virtual meetups with animal caretakers at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, which showed her sons Aston, 7, and Luke, 4, fun facts like how a zookeeper cuts elephants' toenails and gives the two-ton pachyderms a bath.

"When you attend the zoo on a regular day, you are seeing animals from behind the railings and fences, but the virtual field trips were a unique opportunity to go behind the scenes," Davis says.

The hourlong virtual field trip sparked lots of questions and kept the boys engaged, even though they were in their living room rather than piling into a school bus for a day trip or touring the zoo grounds with their parents. "It was an up-close and personal way to meet the animals that we've never had," Davis says.

With reduced travel and in-person field trips during the pandemic, more families are looking for ways to get out safely and expose their children to new experiences without risking health and safety. Enter the virtual field trip and online experiences that open up a wide world of wonder while removing barriers like transportation, travel, cost and time.

Any day can be a vacation day with an online trip, and many destinations across the country have adapted programs to deliver online content during the pandemic. For example, the National Park Service offers virtual tours of its 423 sites, from an interactive scavenger hunt on the Black Heritage Trail in Boston to explorer videos of California's Death Valley.

"We connect families to history-inspiring stories, challenges faced, as well as remarkable landscapes, cultures, art, music, science and more," says Shauna Potocky, acting director of the Ocean Alaska Science and Learning Center .

Virtual field trips also give families an opportunity to explore bucket-list destinations and potentially plan where they would like to visit in the future.

"It's an opportunity to explore the world, cultures and anything that is not readily available in your local community. It takes away boundaries and is cost-effective," says Tiffany Foster, a PTA leader in Durham, North Carolina, adding that her middle-schooler "visited" the Grand Canyon and learned about conservation. "Now we put this trip on our family wish list."

Choosing a Virtual Field Trip for Kids

With a world of options to discover, how do you decide where to start and what to visit? First, consider a child's interests. "What excites them? When you answer that, you can make connections based on what your child enjoys, where you hope to visit or things you want to see," Potocky says.

Download and print a map, such as the one by the National Park Service that pinpoints its sites. "Let your child pick out some places to navigate and learn about," Potocky suggests.

Missy Higgens-Linder, director of learning and engagement at the Cleveland Museum of Art, says quality programs should encourage practicing attention, connection, creativity, perspective and wonder.

Ultimately, a virtual visit should go beyond the screen. Some programs make this possible by providing activity kits prior to the experience, Higgens-Linder says. Other resources include online downloadables. "We want to make sure there are asynchronous resources families can access at any time, even if they have just five or 10 minutes," she says.

Be sure the virtual field trip is designed for the child's age and stage, Higgens-Linder adds. Some resources organize online experiences by grade or age group.

"Our website's learn section has resources tailored to developmental stages, so a parent of a younger child can tap into My Very First Art Class at Home, and older kids can explore our Collections Connections series that group works from our collections around themes that help them explore big ideas," she explains.

Also consider the group size and whether a particular child will feel lost in an online crowd. Some children can handle large online meetings better than others, points out Jessica Drzewucki, principal of Ps 128 Bensonhurst in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.

Virtual field trips that allow kids to engage with the "tour guide" and ask questions make for a more personalized experience. "It feels like something special," she says, while some of the open trips that do not require preregistration "can feel like going to the movies, where there is not that much interaction," she says.

Drzewucki has also had success with focused virtual trips vs. general tours. "Rather than 'a visit to the zoo,' I recommend 'amazing lizards of South America,'" she says as an example. "With a focus that is in-depth, they walk away excited, knowledgeable and they have had an experience vs. a Google Maps overview."

Make the Most of a Virtual Field Trip

Just as a parent prepares the family for a vacation or educational excursion to a museum or park, setting expectations and doing a bit of legwork will ensure that kids get the most out of a virtual field trip.

"It's best when we have kids think and talk about the topic ahead of time so they are prepared with questions to ask, or they can answer their own questions throughout the online trip," Drzewucki says.

Here are additional pointers for parents:

Mind the time . Drzewucki finds that 60- to 90-minute virtual field trips offer well-rounded experiences. "Shorter 'visits' can feel not worth waiting for everyone to sign into the meeting and get settled, but much longer and kids will lose interest, even with the most engaging topics," she says. Consider the child's age and attention span for consuming online content.

Clear a space . Find a quiet area free of distractions, and consider giving the child noise-canceling headphones so he or she can tune in and focus on the virtual field trip. Plan on signing on early to take full advantage of the experience.

Bring note-taking supplies . Pencils, crayons, paper and perhaps a journal where a child can record questions and observations will enhance the online experience by making it more tangible.

"For me, it's important to consider how you can make it an active experience," Potocky says. "Ask your child to draw a picture of something they saw, or compare and contrast elements of what they learned to elements where they live. Or, they might draw a map of a virtual tour they took. Writing reflections are also a great option."

Be curious . "Parents can model the learning by asking questions and not having all of the answers," Higgens-Linder says. From there, parents can encourage their child to dig deeper and access complementary materials such as downloadable activities or videos, she recommends. "These can be starting points for more independent exploration."

Virtual Field Trips to Try

Connect to destinations near and far with a variety of virtual field trips for kids. Here are 20 picks to plug into upcoming "travel" plans.

• American Museum of Natural History
• The British Museum
• The Cleveland Museum of Art
• Boston Children's Museum
• Plimoth Plantation
• The Nature Conservancy
• The National Park Service
• The White House
• Buckingham Palace
• The National Aquarium
• The Bronx Zoo
• Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
• San Diego Zoo
• Shedd Aquarium
• M&M Factory Tour
• Recycling Exposed
• Slime in Space
• Cracking Up

American Museum of Natural History . The Scientist is In offers a family-friendly livestream with museum scientists and researchers, while Astronomy Online is a tour of the universe by museum astrophysicists.

The British Museum . Explore ancient civilizations and engage in courses that include live music and performances. The virtual visit, Peek into prehistory , includes live activities, interactive quizzes and question-and-answer sessions as children learn the difference between the Bronze Age and Iron Age in Britain by using archaeological objects to explore homes of people then and now.

The Cleveland Museum of Art . From virtual studio programs to creative challenges , the museum opens its collections to virtual visitors with webcams, downloadable activities, classes and activities that incorporate online and hands-on experiences.

The Louvre . While the Louvre is closed during the pandemic, it offers virtual tours allowing visitors to take in the museum's architecture while enjoying tours like Founding Myths: From Hercules to Darth Vader, which explores how illustrators, painters, puppeteers, filmmakers and musicians draw inspiration from myths and bring them to life with art.

Boston Children's Museum . Get ready to play as the Boston Children's Museum shows and tells children about its features through virtual tours of all its floors. Check out exhibits like Explore-a-Saurus to observe fossil evidence and formulate theories of what dinosaurs looked like and how they behaved.

Landmarks and Parks

Plimoth Plantation . Step aboard the Mayflower, tour a pilgrims village, experience the day-to-day life of Wampanoag Indians and learn what the first Thanksgiving was really like.

The Nature Conservancy . Virtual field trips and online courses allow children to engage in learning activities ranging from exploring coral reefs while in a canoe to touring rainforests and deserts. Virtual travel includes destinations in China, Peru and within the U.S., for example.

The National Park Service . The National Park Service opens up a world of opportunity to virtually engage with wildlife conservationists, take part in scavenger hunts, listen to stories and see some of nature's wonders from the Great Smoky Mountains to Yellowstone National Park. Download a map and pick a nearby park or choose one far away from home.

The White House . A virtual tour of the White House puts one closer to the artifacts and rooms in the U.S. president's home than is possible in person. The tour walks visitors through the halls and offers access to all public rooms on the ground and state floors. Visitors can also download a companion digital notebook with materials including vocabulary, reflection questions and activities.

Buckingham Palace . Have a royal adventure at Buckingham Palace in London with tours of the Grand Staircase, White Drawing Room, Throne Room and Blue Drawing Room.

Volcanoes . The U.S. Geological Survey monitors 169 potentially active volcanoes and provides an interactive map allowing visitors to find out about any of them.

Zoos and Aquariums

The National Aquarium . Explore scenes through the aquarium's webcam, from alligators and sea turtles to ecosystems like the Amazon River and Channel Islands.

The Bronx Zoo . Experience a virtual encounter with a keeper who answers questions, and meet some stars from Animal Planet's "The Zoo." The Bronx Zoo says its virtual visits get participants close enough to possibly hear a cheetah purring.

Cleveland Metroparks Zoo . Virtual field trips come with companion science lessons, and Zoo Science Units include at-home activities, lesson plans and videos organized by grade.

San Diego Zoo . The Zoo Kids webcams let children zoom in on their favorite animals, from apes to hippos and polar bears. Kids Corner videos introduce young viewers to topics like how camouflage works and why meat-eating animals are misunderstood.

Shedd Aquarium . Chicago's aquarium offers online minicamps such as Shedd to the Rescue, and up-close looks at features such as the Wild Reef exhibit that showcases the Philippine coral reefs. Check out Shedd's Facebook page for online events.

Just for Fun

M&M Factory Tour . The Food Network takes visitors on a tour of the M&M factory in New Jersey that shows how the chocolate-coated candies are created.

Recycling Exposed . Ever wonder what happens to the plastic and glass tossed into a recycling bin? Republic Services has a video tour of its recycling center that shows how sophisticated equipment works to sort, pack and ship recyclable materials.

Slime in Space . Nickelodeon partnered with NASA astronauts at the International Space Station on a 15-minute virtual field trip that takes visitors 250 miles above the earth to see how slime and water react in a microgravity environment. Tucked into the fun-filled experience are science and physics lessons – and there's a bit of a mess involved, too.

Cracking Up . Kids can learn what's involved in modern-day egg farming on Virtual Egg Farm Field Trips, a partnership between the American Egg Board and Discovery Education. Farmers share their sustainable practices, how robots work on egg farms and what keeps their generations-old operations going.

Searching for a school? Explore our K-12 directory .

Online Education Resources and COVID-19

Tags: education , children , elementary school , middle school , Coronavirus

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11 Best Zoo Animal Cams

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Looking for your next adventure, but don’t want to leave the house? 

Well, if you haven’t heard of zoo animal cams, you are in for a treat!

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Zoo Animal Cams

Animal cams allow you to take a trip to the zoo, ride through a safari, or even dive underwater with some of your favorite animals. 

Zoo animal cams are seriously the next big thing and whether you just want to relax and hang out with your favorite dolphin or turn it into an educational wildlife lesson, animal webcams are where it’s at. 

Check out what we think are 11 of the best zoo animal cams!

The Best Zoo Animal Cams for Kids

Hattiesburg zoo – hattiesburg, mississippi.

Housing a number of unique animals, the Hattiesburg Zoo began back in 1950. 

At that time, its most popular resident, Miss Hattie the Elephant, stole the hearts of visitors. 

Today, Chewy the Sloth and his family are charming the zoo’s guests. 

If you have the time (remember sloths are slow!) take a look at the Hattiesburg Zoo Sloth cam to see what Chewy is up to.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo – Colorado Springs, Colorado

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is an awesome independent zoo that looks to educate all of its visitors through interactive experiences.  

Hand feed the animals, get up-close, and fall in love with the wildlife. 

We absolutely adore their Giraffe Cam because it allows viewers to watch the herd interact with each other, as well as, with zoo guests. 

Click this link to see Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Giraffe Cam or check it out below! 

Bronx Zoo – Bronx, New York

The Bronx Zoo gives a unique perspective into the natural world of wildlife right in the middle of a bustling city. 

With over 6,000 of nature’s wonderful creatures, the Bronx Zoo is the perfect place for animal lovers of all ages. 

What’s more amazing, is that if you can’t make it to the actual zoo, they have a wonderful selection of animal cams.  

From sea lions to lemurs, check out these hotspots at the Bronx zoo here .     

Taronga Zoo – Sydney, Australia

The animals of the Taronga Zoo love its visitors! 

With a beautiful harbor side setting, this zoo offers a chance for people to connect with the wildlife in their natural environment.   

While escaping to Australia might be a bit of a challenge these days, don’t worry! 

You can still visit by viewing Taronga TV, a 24/7 virtual live streaming video. 

Hang with the lions, elephants and tigers, or you can even chill out with an oryx or bilby. 

Tune in here:  https://taronga.org.au/taronga-tv#animallivecams

Smithsonian National Zoo – Washington, DC

The Smithsonian National Zoo is one of the oldest zoos around, and if that’s not cool enough, it is always free of charge to visit. 

A few of the most notorious animals reside here including the newly born Giant panda known as Xiao Qi Ji , exotic Sumatran tigers, gigantic Aldabra tortoises, and more! 

Taking you on an animal adventure, the Smithsonian National Zoo lets you discover nature through a number of awesome exhibits and unique events. 

Take a closer look at a few of the Smithsonian National Zoo’s residents on their animal cams !

Maryland Zoo – Baltimore, MD

The Maryland Zoo, also known as, the Baltimore Zoo, is one of the top spots to immerse yourself into the wild world of nature. 

With exhibits like Penguin Coast and the Polar Bear Watch, visitors are able to observe up-close how animals live in their own habitat. 

If want to get even more personal with some of the wildlife, the Maryland Zoo lets you dig deeper with their live cams and feed.

Watch the Maryland Zoo flamingos on the Flamingo cam !

Greenville Zoo – Greenville, South Carolina

The Greenville Zoo has so much to discover. 

Providing one-of-a-kind experiences for both young and old, exploring the diverse wildlife that the Greenville Zoo has to offer has never been better. 

From Secret Safari’s to the Adopt-an-Animal Program, connecting with the animals is fun and easy. 

Take a glimpse into a giraffe’s life with the Greenville Zoo Giraffe cam !

Woodland Park Zoo – Seattle, Washington

The Woodland Park Zoo is an award winning zoological garden where visitors can discover their love for animals in their natural habitats. 

Providing interactive play spaces for children, rooftop gardens, a tropical rainforest walk and so much more, the Woodland Park Zoo is an exceptional place to connect with the natural world.

Discover the tigers, bats, and grizzly bears of Woodland Park Zoo through their amazing animal webcams !

San Diego Zoo – San Diego, California

The San Diego Zoo is home to over 3,700 animals and 650 different species. 

What’s distinctive about this zoo, in particular, is its Skyfari. The Skyfari is a gondola lift that gives visitors an aerial view of the whole zoo! 

In addition, the San Diego Zoo has some of the coolest webcams to view from the comfort of your own home. 

Koalas, polar bears, elephants, pandas and more can all be seen online.

Visit the San Diego animals in action here on their animal cams ! 

Philadelphia Zoo – Philadelphia, PA

Offering a wide range of activities, guided tours, and exclusive experiences, the Philadelphia Zoo let’s you take a walk on the wild side to create a most memorable visit. 

Distinctive to the Philadelphia Zoo is ZOO360. 

Haven’t heard of it? 

Well, it’s an overhead mesh tunnel system that was built for the animals. 

This not only gives wildlife more places to go, but also gives them a most unique view of their human guests. 

Can’t get there to check it out? 

View their Philly Zoo at 2 Live Stream Series .

Or go straight to a visit with the penguins !

Melbourne Zoo – Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne Zoo is home to one of the most unique visitor experiences around, called the Roar and Snore. 

This is an interactive overnight guided tour that’s available for zoo guests to take part in. 

Melbourne zoo is great place to visit, but if that’s not an option, they will bring the zoo to you via their Animals at Home LIVE virtual tours and animal cams.

Meet the animals of the Melbourne Zoo including snow leopards, pigmy hippos, and more !

Zoo Animal Cams for Kids

We hope you’ve enjoyed these amazing live animal zoo webcams! 

While these are our favorite zoo cams to watch, there are many options to choose from. 

Do you have a favorite not on this list?  Feel free to share! 

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