The Buffalo Zoo is in the process of establishing a preschool that will be open to children three or four years in age. The school will take place on The Zoo grounds, which is just about the greatest thing imaginable if you’re a kid. Educators will be using the Reggio-Emilia-inspired approach to learning, and students will also have access to the nature playground in the Delta Sonic Heritage Farm exhibit.
“We feel that the Zoo offers a really unique learning opportunity for children,” said Tiffany Vanderwerf, the Zoo’s curator of education. “We have a giant outdoor classroom with endless possibilities for exploration and discovery. This kind of learning environment is unlike any other. By immersing children in it, we hope to develop a love and appreciation of the natural world that will last a lifetime.”
Program manager and head teacher, Scott Lawson, holds a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and a master’s degree in educational psychology – he also has a decade of hands on experience in the classroom.
There will be two different programs offered, which are:
- Two days per week – Tuesdays and Thursdays – 9:00am to 11:30am
- Three days per week – Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays – 9:00am to 11:30 am
There are two scheduled open houses that families can attend to learn more about the preschool.
Wednesday, May 20 from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. or Saturday May 30 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
The preschool program begins in September, 2015.
Registration for preschool at the Zoo is open now. The program is open to children three or four years in age as of September 1, 2015. Each class will be limited to 16 students. Enrollment will be on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, call (716) 995-6140 or email slawson@buffalozoo.org.