Reaseheath College is running a family programme packed with animal-based activities during August to replace its popular zoo school, which has been cancelled while the zoo remains closed due to Covid-19.
The virtual zoo school, which begins this week, offers three weeks of exclusive online and offline activities featuring the Nantwich college’s collection of mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles as well as stories from experts around the world.
The programme, which changes weekly, includes a mix of live sessions, workshops, outdoor projects, activity packs and quizzes which are suitable for anyone aged seven or over. A £15 ticket allows unlimited family access for one week plus continued access to the content online.
Live sessions include presentations from Reaseheath zoo keepers Alan Woodward on carnivores, Gez Hazelaar on falconry, Ben Sutcliffe on amphibians and Anne-Marie Smith on marmosets and tamarins.
Canine expert Paige Jepson shows how to teach tricks to the family dog while Matt Shackleton demonstrates veterinary physiotherapy with the zoo’s tapir.
External contributions include the conservation of Australian native wildlife, the discovery of the first UK pine marten, how to set up camera traps and a talk by a skull and bone expert.
Reaseheath Zoo Education Manager Hannah Stone explained: “In previous years our zoo school has been very popular but this year we have had to come up with an alternative, home based, programme which still allows families to have fun and learn some fascinating facts.
“We’ll be uploading new content every day and these will be available for a month online so it doesn’t matter if you miss a live session. We’re sorry that we’ve not been able to welcome visitors on site this summer but are looking forward to seeing everyone once we re-open.”
Reaseheath’s virtual zoo school runs from Monday 10th August to Friday 28th August. For more information visit our Zoo Schol webpage or email zoo@reaseheath.ac.uk
