Looking for some opportunities for fun, learning, and up-close experiences with animals? A whole world of learning fun waits for kids - and adults - at John Ball Zoo . Visitors can get guided tours of different zoo exhibits and animals, help train a red panda, feed a pygmy hippo and meet a sloth in private encounters. The Zoo also hosts a variety of classes and camps.

All education programming is designed to teach participants about wildlife conservation and the importance of restoring and protecting natural ecosystems.

While most activities are available during the Zoo’s regular season (March-November), others are offered while the Zoo is closed to the public. So you can have an animal adventure in spring, summer, winter and fall!

New at the Zoo

Every visit to John Ball Zoo is a learning opportunity, whether or not you participate in a structured program. In 2026, a new 3,500 sq. ft. river otter habitat – triple the size of the previous space – gives deeper insights into the natural behaviors of this North American species. The additional space gives otters more room to follow their natural instincts and an expanded underwater viewing area gives visitors a clearer view of the action. Four feeding cannons will shoot out fish to mimic a natural feeding pattern where otters forage and catch their food underwater.

Visitors can also check in on two born-in-2025 babies: Hugo the pygmy hippo and Juniper the snow leopard. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies pygmy hippos as an endangered species and snow leopards as a vulnerable species, so this is a rare opportunity to see young ones grow and develop.

You can visit the Zoo from 9am to 5pm during spring (March 20-May 23) and fall (Sept. 8-Nov. 22), and from 9am-6pm during summer, May 23 through Sept. 7.

John Ball Zoo

Participate in an early access tour to see the Red Pandas at John Ball Zoo.

Photo by Courtesy of John Ball Zoo

Animal Experiences

Join the Zoo’s education department for a brief tour of a specific species’ habitat. The animal care staff will work to facilitate an up-close experience with animals, but this is dependent on an animal’s comfort and cannot be guaranteed. Choose from:

• Hippo Feeding, offered Saturdays at 10:45 am. The cost is $375 for up to four participants.

• Penguin Encounter, available at 1:15pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. The cost is $375 for up to four participants.

• Red Panda Encounter, available Saturdays and Sundays at 9:15 am. The cost is $620 for up to two participants.

• Sloth Encounter, offered Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 12:45pm through Memorial Day and Fridays and Saturdays at 2:45pm after Memorial Day. The cost is $125 for up to two participants.

Inside Looks

Take part in a 30-40 minute adventure led by animal care and education teams:

• Step into a brown bear habitat alongside animal care and education teams to scatter the morning diet, set out enrichment and see firsthand what it takes to care for Boo Boo, the Zoo’s resident brown bear. Offered Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 8:15 am. The cost is $60 per person for up to six participants.

• Go behind the scenes of the Zoo’s Under the Sea exhibit to see firsthand how the education team cares for crabs, fish, penguins and more, starting in summer 2026. The cost is $20 per person for up to 10 participants. 

• Coming soon: an inside look at the Zoo’s popular chimp habitat.

Guided Tours

Enjoy a 30-45-minute-long guided tour of your favorite area of the zoo. You’ll have the whole place to yourself while a Zoo Educator guides you along and answers your questions. There are four tours available:

• North American and Natural Treasures The Americas

• Forest Realm

• Africa

• Waters of the World

Guided tours will be available starting in fall 2026. The cost is $15 per person for groups up to 10. Admission tickets must be purchased separately unless you are visiting when the Zoo is closed (December-March).

Age minimums and other restrictions may apply to animal encounters, inside looks and guided tours. Visit the Zoo’s Continue Your Zoo Adventure page for details and registration.

Daily Animal Programs

Most every day at John Ball Zoo brings a chance to see how zoo keepers care for animals. Daily Animal Programs change day by day depending on the needs of the animals, but may include feedings and training sessions. You can find a list of Daily Animal Programs on the information board when you enter the Zoo.

Family at the John Ball ZooPlay Their Way 2023

Summer camp at the John Ball Zoo gives children the opportunity to go on behind-the-scenes tours.

Photo by Aly Zuiderveen for Experience GR

Zoo Summer Camp

Summer camp at John Ball Zoo is unique and always very popular. Classes will often sell out in early spring.

If you are lucky enough to score a spot in a Zoo Summer Camp, your child will be treated to a hands-on learning experience on a specific theme. Campers get behind-the-scenes tours, play games and do activities related to their camp theme. Summer Zoo camps are available for kids as young as three and up through ninth grade.

In 2026, Summer Camps are offered every week from June 15 through August 10. The Zoo also offers Spring Break Camps that generally coincide with Grand Rapids Public Schools spring break.

Other Learning Opportunities

Zoo Lab is a week-long immersive experience where 4th and 5th graders trade their desks for the wonders of the Zoo.

ZooLittles is a nine-month nature-play program giving four- and five-year-olds the chance to playfully explore John Ball Zoo’s natural world.

Habitat Hero is a nine-month long, hands-on learning adventure for 4th–6th graders to dive deep into local conservation.

Traveling Zoo and Traveling STEM Classes brings hands-on learning experiences out into the community.

School Field Trips to the Zoo make learning come alive for groups of 15 or more, for kids from pre-school to college.

A tunnel of colorful, illuminated lanterns hangs overhead, with people walking through the glowing pathway in the foreground.
Two large, illuminated parakeet lanterns perch on a branch amidst glowing lotus flowers in the foreground, with a dark, blurred background suggesting a nighttime display.

The Grand Rapids Lantern Festival lights up the night sky at John Ball Zoo.

Photo by Sarah Goodwin for Experience GR

Special Events

The Zoo’s 2026 schedule also includes a number of special celebrations that also serve as learning opportunities. It all starts with the Grand Rapids Lantern Festival (April 8-June 14), which features handcrafted Asian lantern displays that illuminate the Zoo and tell the intersecting story of wildlife and Asian culture. 

Other special events include:

• Wild Strides 5K, which celebrates Earth Day with a running/walking course that begins along scenic Kent Trails and finishes inside the Zoo. April 21.

• Party for the Planet encourages guests to help save native habitats for wildlife. April 26.

• Otterpalooza celebrates the opening of the Zoo’s new river otter habitat. May 22-24.

• Michigan Wildlife Day gives Michigan’s native otters, turtles and mussels the recognition they deserve. May 30.

• Rendezoo: The Ripple Effect is an adults-only evening of live entertainment, food & cocktails, and immersive experiences around every corner. June 12.

More events will be announced as the season progresses. Check the Zoo Event Calendar for updates.

Plan Your Own Field Trip

John Ball Zoo is a great place for a customize-your-own field trip adventure. Whether you’re homeschooling or you want to provide your kids with a fun but educational break during the summer, the Zoo lets you tailor an experience for you and your kids.

Take a cue from Grand Rapids photographer Brian Craig and his two children: “Before we went, we spent a few minutes on the John Ball Zoo website deciding what we’d like our day to look like,” Brian says. “First, we looked at the Resources for Learning page, where activities were divided up by topic and age. We decided to do the Scavenger Hunt and an Ethogram animal study sheet.”

The Craigs also chose to sign up for a Brown Bear Encounter. “The three of us were a little nervous when we showed up at the bear exhibit and were handed a bucket of apples and sweet potatoes. We relaxed a little when our zookeeper for the morning, Tom, told us we would disperse food in the exhibit, leave, and THEN they would let the bears out to eat. Phew. My kids had a great time, running around all over the inside of the bear exhibit, tossing fruit and vegetables in all directions. Once they’d set out all the bear food, we moved to the viewing side of the exhibit (where WE would not become bear food) and watched with excitement as Yogi and Boo Boo were let out of their den.”

The day also included two stops of special interest to Brian’s kids: the red panda exhibit for his son and the budgie aviary for his daughter, where she fed the colorful birds right out of her hands.

A little pre-planning can give your family an experience they’ll never forget!

The prices quoted above are for non-members. You can become a John Ball Zoo member to enjoy discounts to these programs as well as free general admission to the Zoo, reciprocal admission to other AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums, and additional perks.