Saint Louis Zoo
The Saint Louis Zoo
Enjoying an adventure every time you visit. Knowing a discovery will be made around each corner. You’re at the Saint Louis Zoo, a get-away destination that brings together more than 16,000 wild animals and 3,000,000 visitors each year. The Saint Louis Zoo was voted America's top free attraction and best zoo in USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards.
Located on 90 acres in beautiful Forest Park, the Zoo is home to 600 species of animals, many of them rare and endangered. It is one of the few free zoos in the nation.
Animals Always
Since its inception in 1910, the Zoo has been renowned for its beautiful naturalistic exhibits and for its diverse collection of animals from the major continents and biomes of the world. It is widely recognized for its innovative approaches to animal management, wildlife conservation, research and education.
Through the Zoo’s WildCare Institute, the Zoo focuses on wildlife management and recovery, conservation science, and support of the human populations that coexist with wildlife in eleven conservation hotspots around the globe, including three in Missouri.
Zoo Hours
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (See website for summer hours.)
Admission to the Zoo is FREE, although there are fees for some attractions. Attractions are weather dependent and subject to change.
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Saint Louis Zoo Preschool
The Zoo's half-day preschool program began in September 2014 and operate on weekday mornings during the school year in the new Monsanto Education Gallery in the Zoo's The Living World building. The school integrates science and animal themes across the curriculum for ages 3-5, with a maximum of 18 students per class.
Mission
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To nurture children and their families in a learning environment grounded in a healthy connection to the natural world.
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To foster creativity and collaboration through child directed learning.
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To address the needs of the whole child and help each individual reach their full potential.
Guiding PrinciplesSee our preschool guiding principles.
School Schedule
The preschool operates on a traditional school year schedule, September to May, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. each school day.
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Children ages 3-4 attend on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
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Children ages 4-5 attend on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings.
During the school year, the Wild Wonder Outpost discovery room is open to the public on weekday afternoons and all day on weekends and holidays and preschool breaks. Camp Joey operates in the Education Gallery from June to August.