Family Programs
Our family programs at Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden offer hands-on activities, animal encounters, and seasonal events that inspire curiosity and create lasting memories for guests of all ages.
Storytime at the Zoo
Storytime at the Zoo programs will include book readings and an interactive experience for visitors of all ages on select days during the late Fall, Winter, and early Spring seasons. Storytimes will occur in various locations in the zoo with different themes for each session. Storytime at the Zoo is a free program for zoo visitors and do not require advanced registration.
WHEN: April 18th, 10:00 am, Penguins of Patagonia
RATES: Included with the price of admission & free for active members
Questions? Call 812-435-0809 or 812-435-6143 (front gate), or email education@meskerparkzoo.com.
Fun in the Forest
Join in on the fun in the Children’s Enchanted Forest during your visit at the zoo! Our Mesker Park Zoo Docents will provide interactive experiences for children of all ages on select Saturdays during the late spring, summer, and early fall seasons. These activities are seasonal and weather dependent. Activities will commence in the Children’s Enchanted Forest stage area and will include stories, plays, music, crafts, animal biofacts, and live animal encounters.
HOURS: 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
DATES: 6/13, 6/27, 7/11, 7/25, 8/8, and 8/22
LOCATION: Children’s Enchanted Forest – weather dependent
RATES: Included with the price of admission & FREE for active members
Questions? Call 812-435-0809 or 812-435-6143 (front gate), or email education@meskerparkzoo.com.
Fun in the Family Garden
Join in on the fun in the Family Garden during your visit at the zoo! The Southwestern Indiana Master Gardeners Association (SWIGMA) will provide interactive experiences for children of all ages on select Saturdays during the late spring, summer, and early fall seasons. These activities are seasonal and weather dependent.
HOURS: 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
DATES: 6/6, 6/20, 7/18, and 8/1
LOCATION: Family Garden – weather dependent
RATES: Included with the price of admission & free for active members
Questions? Call 812-435-0809 or 812-435-6143 (front gate), or email education@meskerparkzoo.com.
ZooLittles
Join us this Spring for a two-part series exploring important environmental topics through early learning practices. You and your little learner will embark together on a journey exploring and discovering how and why the world works through stories, crafts, activities, and zoo exploration.
AGES: 3-5
Spring 2026 Dates
Series 1: Can Zoo Measure Up?
Part 1: 3/3 (Tuesday) or 3/7 (Saturday)
Animals Tall! — Immerse yourself in the immense lives of some of the largest animals in the world! You and your little explorer will have an elephant-astic time learning about gentle giants, colossal carnivores, and more. See the world through their eyes and discover what it’s like to tower over the animal kingdom!
Part 2: 3/10 (Tuesday) or 3/14 (Saturday)
And Animals Small! — It’s time to get tiny and peek into the pint-sized footprints of some of the smallest animals in the world! From tenrecs to insects, you and your little explorer will get to discover an axo-lotl about creatures small and smaller. It’s time to slow down and appreciate the smaller things in life!
Tuesday Series (March 3 and March 10)
Saturday Series (March 7 and March 14)
Series 2: Animals A to Zoo
Part 1: 4/1 (Wednesday) or 4/4 (Saturday)
Anteaters to Otters — From beautiful birds and funky frogs to lovely lemurs and paw-some otters, there are so many amazing animals to discover. You and your little adventurer will explore the alphabet, learning how arrangement of letters can turn into a zoo of possibility and excitement! Learning your ABCs with anteaters, binturongs, and camels is as easy as counting sheep!
Part 2: 4/8 (Wednesday) or 4/11 (Saturday)
Peccary to Zebras — Calling all pondering penguins- Join us as we yak about the tail end of the alphabet! You and your little learner will do a vulture victory lap as you sound out rarely used letters and discover just how unique these characters and the animal names they create are!
Wednesday Series (April 1 and April 8)
Saturday Series (April 4 and April 11)
REGISTRATION
Parents can register their child (ages 3 - 5) for one or both series. Programs are offered on two separate days, with the same session offered both days.
All programs meet 10 am-11 am
Tickets must be purchased online through our website. Registration is limited to 12 children per session. An adult caregiver must stay with their child and should expect to participate.
Registration is required for all series you wish to attend!
RATES: $20 per session, which includes admission and all activity supplies for the program. There is no additional fee for adults and children under 2. Program fees are paid online at the time of registration.
LOCATION & HOURS: The ZooLittles program will meet in the Kley Exhibit Hall 10 am – 11 am, located on the top floor of Kley Memorial Hall next to the Komodo dragon habitat. You can call ahead and ask Education for updates on location.
WEATHER: As the Kley Exhibit Hall is indoors, the meeting location will not change in the case of rain.
Cancellation is possible due to severe weather. Notifications will be sent out via email at least one hour prior to program start time. Programs canceled due to weather may be rescheduled for another time.
Please dress for the weather, as we will be going outside to explore the zoo for part of the program, weather permitting. We recommend program participants wear play clothes and closed-toed shoes. As we will be outdoors part of the time, we also suggest bringing sunscreen and water.
QUESTIONS? Call 812-435-0808, email education@meskerparkzoo.com, or reach out to the front gate at 812-435-6143.