Project Prairie

(PRAiries that InvigoRate Inquiry LEarning)

Project PRAIRIE extends our Wild Toledo prairie initiative into local classrooms by utilizing the flower installations as living labs. It is an inquiry-based education program that trains students and their teachers to use native prairie habitats for citizen science projects that contribute to a larger body of global research to make a difference in the natural world. Toledo Zoo conservation staff installs urban prairie on the property of participating schools while Zoo education staff trains teachers and students to use the prairies for citizen science, inquiry learning projects and follows up with related classroom programming.

There are currently four Toledo Area schools participating and information is shared among schools through various citizen science platforms. There is a cost to participate in the program. Please contact our education department at 419-385-5721 ext. 2048 for more details.

Great Lakes Symposium at Toledo Zoo

Join the Toledo Zoo to learn what together we can do to help preserve our neighboring waterways at the Great Lakes Symposium on Thursday, February 20, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the Malawi Event Center.

The Symposium will include live presentations about Lake Erie and the other Great Lakes by experts from Toledo Zoo and area universities, including Dr. Ryan Walsh and Dr. Matt Cross of Toledo Zoo, Dr. Patrick Lawrence of the University of Toledo, Tory Gabriel of The Ohio State University Sea Grant program and more. The program also includes opportunities for the audience to ask questions of the presenters.

The Symposium is geared toward middle and high school students and teachers but all are welcome. Attendance and parking are free but pre-registration is required.