Image courtesy of Miller Park Zoo

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Families will fill Miller Park Zoo tomorrow morning for the first fall session of the Animal Crackers class, a hands-on learning experience that brings kids face-to-face with animals through stories, crafts and nature play. 

Education Specialist Julia Benzel shared that Animal Crackers is much more than just a cute title; it’s a foundational program aimed at sparking curiosity and care for the natural world at an early age. 

“Our Animal Crackers class is an hour-long class for three to five-year-olds and their grown-ups where they come to the zoo and learn about an animal or a topic, and we meet an animal in class,” said Benzel. “If we can, we give our students an opportunity to feel what that animal feels like, fur, scales, shells, things like that.” 

During each class, children listen to a storybook, make a themed craft and enjoy snacks, animal crackers and juice, before heading out to explore the zoo. But beyond the fun, there’s an educational purpose. 

“It’s STEM, it’s connecting to your local backyard, it’s connecting to conservation,” Benzel said. “We want to get kids involved in nature play and conservation as young as possible. We want them to wake up and be like, I care about this planet. I care about these animals. I am a voice for wildlife.” 

Each week offers something new, ensuring a fresh experience for returning families. 

“One of the best things about Animal Crackers is if you start as a three-year-old, for the next two years you won’t repeat a single class,” Benzel explained. “We make sure all of our students get a unique experience every time.” 

The class offers a rare opportunity for preschool-aged children to engage with the zoo in a more personal setting. 

“When you come to the zoo, you see an animal in a habitat,” Benzel said. “But when you come to Animal Crackers, you’re up close, you’re personal, you’re one-on-one. There are 12 students there, so it’s me teaching them about these animals rather than just visiting.”

The zoo’s educational offerings don’t stop there. Miller Park Zoo has developed a full range of programs that grow with children as they do, from Animal Crackers for preschoolers to Zoo Kids, Safari Camp and Adventure Camp for elementary students.

For older participants, there’s the Art of Animals class and the Zoo Explorers programs offered during school breaks. 

The most impressive is the zoo’s Junior Zookeeper Program, which has gained national attention for its depth and impact. The multi-year program provides hands-on experience in everything from feeding animals to creating enrichment activities and learning about animal behavior. 

This year, Miller Park Zoo had 261 Junior Zookeepers, a record number that reflects both the program’s reputation and its strong community support. 

The Junior Zookeeper Program isn’t just a popular experience; it’s also deeply personal for many who go through it, including Benzel who began as a participant years ago. 

It’s very full circle for me,” Benzel said. “I started as a sixth grader loving this place, and now I get to run the program that I got started in. That’s a really special feeling.” 

Through programs like Animal Crackers and the Junior Zookeeper Program, Miller Park Zoo continues to strengthen its role as not just a place to see animals, but a place to learn, connect, and grow, one animal lover at a time. 

To find more information about Miller Park Zoo and the classes they offer, visit bloomingtonparks.org. 

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