Schools & Groups

School programs are ON HOLD until the new school year (fall 2025). However, we can still come to you! Click here to learn more about Outreach Education programs.

Field Trip Information: Go Wild at the WNC Nature Center! View over 60 species of native animals, including river otter, black bear, red panda, red and gray wolf, and barn owl! Enjoy the outdoors and get involved in STEAM at our location, or let the Nature Center come to you! Reservation requests must be sent no later than 2 weeks before the earliest requested date. Any request sent in within 2 weeks of the requests may be denied. Groups arriving without a confirmed reservation may not receive the group/school rate.

Opportunities for Groups of 10 or More Students:
– Onsite Guided Programs
– Onsite Self-guided Tours
– Outreach Programs at your location
– Distance Learning Virtual Programs

Guided programs are available Monday through Friday from September to April. No guided programs are available from May to August. Outreach Programs, Distance Learning Virtual Programs, and Self-guided Visits are available year-round!

Onsite Guided Programs

Onsite Programs

Available August through April

Guided Tours: Visiting Animal Habitats on Interactive Outdoor Tours (~60 minutes)

Animal Comparisons

Grade Level: K
NC Essential Standards: K.L.1.1-2

Come observe the characteristics of living things, examining similar and different animal groups.

Habitats

Grade Level: 1st
NC Essential Standards: 1.L.1.1-3, 1.L.2.1-2

How are animals’ needs met by different places and resources? Let’s explore what makes up a habitat and how animals “choose” what type of habitat to live in.

Life Cycles

Grade Level: 2nd
NC Essential Standards: 2.L.1.1-2

Join us on an investigation of the similarities and differences of life stages for a range of species.

Animal Movement

Grade Level: 3rd
NC Essential Standards: 3.L.1.1

We will try out a range of movements that wildlife uses to learn about muscles and the skeletal system of human and animals.

Adaptations

Grade Level: 4th
NC Essential Standards: 4.L.1.1-2.4

Groups will examine the physiology and behaviors that enable humans and animals to survive and respond to environmental change.

Zoo Ecosystems

Grade Level: 5th
NC Essential Standards: 5.L.2.1-3

Our animal habitats will be the backdrop for comparing ecosystems and animals’ roles and relationships within them.

Ecosystem Interactions

Grade Level: 6th-12th
NC Essential Standards: 6.L.2.1,3; 8.L.4; EEn.2.7.1-3, Bio.2.1.3

Let’s explore how organisms interact with the biotic and abiotic components of biomes through live animal observations and discussion.

Career Exploration

Grade Level: 6th-12th

Learn what Nature Center staff members do and what it takes to work at a nationally accredited zoo.

Creature Feature: Interactive Classroom Experiences with Live Animals (~30 minutes)

Creature Feature

Two species (reptiles and amphibians only) will be featured with natural history and ecology concepts related to grade-level specific curriculum correlations. Biofacts will be present for students to explore and touch. Animals cannot be touched, and we are not able to take requests for specific species.

Self-guided Tours

Our 42-acre wildlife park houses more than 150 animals native to the mountains of North Carolina. During a self guided visit, you can explore the Nature Center at your own pace and use our animals and facilities to meet your own educational goals. Sketch the cougar, practice map reading skills, go on an animal alphabet search, or just have fun exploring! Age-appropriate scavenger hunts will be emailed upon registration.

Bringing your PreK group for a visit? Borrow a kit to enhance your self-guided tour. These kits have everything you need to engage your group in fun learning activities during your visit! Request kits when making your reservation.

Reserve Form for Onsite Visit (Guided Programs/Self-guided Tours)

Onsite Fees

To schedule an onsite Guided Program or Self-guided Tour, please email [email protected] or use the Onsite Guided Program/Self-guided Tour Reserve Tab.

Onsite School Group Admission Fees*

Home School Groups (10+ children with reservation), Self Guided Visit:

City of Asheville Home School (Pre-K to 12th), $4 per student or adult
Non-City Resident Home School (Pre-K to 12th), $5 per student or adult

Public and Private School Groups (10+ children with reservation), Self Guided Visit:

City of Asheville Schools (Pre-K to 12th), $4 per student or adult
Non-City Resident Schools (Pre-K to 12th), $5 per student or adult
School teachers, teacher assistants, and professional bus drivers free

Guided Program Fee (add this to the Admission Fee above)

$1 per program per student/adult chaperone

*Friends of the WNC Nature Center Membership benefits cannot be redeemed for free admission for students during group visits.

Outreach Programs

Auditorium programs are offered year round and include meeting one to two animal ambassadors!
Pre-recorded programs are also offered year round and can be tailored to fit the needs of your group.

Outreach Small Group Programs

Run, Slither, Swim
(30 minutes)

Grade Level: Pre-K-K
NC Essential Standards: APL-3, APL-4, HPD-4, LDC-8, PS.K.2

There are a lot of different types of animals in this world, and they all move in special ways! We’ll be slithering, fluttering, and crawling around the room in animal fashion, discovering an author who writes about how animals travel, and meeting a special animal guest in this program focusing on movement styles, restrictions, and abilities of various animals.

From Eggs to Legs
(30 minutes)

Grade Level: Pre-K-2nd
NC Essential Standards: CD-14, LS.K.1.2, LS.1.1, LS.2.1-2

From egg to tadpole to frog, the life cycle of our amphibian friend is often the first look at metamorphosis in the classroom. We’ll explore the life cycles of frogs and butterflies during this interactive program. Participants will also have the opportunity to meet a live animal guest.

Fact or Myth
(30-45 minutes)

Grade Level: K-5th
NC Essential Standards: LS.K.1, LS.1.1, LS.2.2, LS.4.1

We have some amazing wild neighbors and some equally amazing rumors about who they are, where they live, and what they can do. We will be on our feet and moving around during our wildlife true or false game, where we’ll discuss snakes to cougars, black bears to box turtles.

Animal Habitats
(45 minutes)

Grade Level: K-5th
NC Essential Standards: LS.1.1-2, LS.5.2.1, LS.5.2.3

A place to live is essential to survival. Some animals have adapted to living in many different types of habitats, and some have very specific requirements. During this hands-on program, students will learn about habitats such as streams, meadows, and forests, as well as what animals live in them.

Our Five Senses
(30-45 minutes)

Grade Level: K-5th
NC Essential Standards: K.P.2.1, EX.K.L.2.2, 1.L.1.1, 4.L.1.2, EX.4.L.1.4

Did you know that animals can smell, hear, taste, touch, and see in totally different ways? We’ll explore five different animals and the way they use their senses in unique ways through exploration, hands-on challenges, and a little bit of imagination.

Outdoor Investigation: Beneath Our Feet
(45-60 minutes)

Grade Level: 1st-3rd
NC Essential Standards: ESS.1.2.2, ESS1.3.2, LS.3.3.2

Have you ever wondered what lives below our feet? Or what type of soil different plants need for healthy growth? We’ll be taking different soil samples around your location to compare and contrast soil texture, moisture, and the soil’s ability to support plants and animals. Be ready to get your hands dirty in this interactive lesson and meet a wildlife ambassador.

Outdoor Investigation: Everything’s Connected
(45-60 minutes)

Grade Level: 1st-5th
NC Essential Standards: LS.1.1.1, LS.5.2.2, LS.5.2.3

From the grass we play on to the birds singing in the trees, nature is connected through a web of living and nonliving factors in the environment. Participants will investigate their own schoolyard, community center, etc. to create a model and discover the interconnectedness in their own backyard.

Forest Sounds
(30-45 minutes)

Grade Level: 1st-5th
NC Essential Standards: LS.1.1, 4.LS.1.2, 5.LS.2.3 Great for camps, libraries, and afterschools!

Our sense of sight is key to our feeling of security; we often fear things we only hear. Learn why animals make different sounds and what you can interpret just by listening. Then we’ll use natural instruments to create a class soundscape for a group story.

Catch a Question
(30-45 minutes)

Grade Level: 2nd-6th
Two themes are available: Reptiles, Insects
Great for camps, libraries, and afterschools!

There’s no such thing as a bad question! Participants will have the opportunity to get up and move around as we toss a ball covered in animal questions, as well as explore biofacts from relevant critters.

Olympic Animals
(45 minutes)

Grade Level: 3rd-6th

Could you beat an owl in a staring contest or hold your breath longer than an otter? Find out during this interactive program all about the amazing feats our local wildlife perform every day!

Spider Web Wonders
(45 minutes)

Grade Level: 3rd-6th
Great for camps, libraries, and afterschools!

Spiders are some of the most misunderstood animals in our area, and it’s time we learn what makes them so special. Participants will discover the different types of webs that spiders weave and even have a chance to spin their own!

Protect Our Wild Backyards
(45 minutes)

Grade Level: 3rd-6th NC Essential Standards: LS.3.3, ESS.4.2, LS.5.2, ESS.6.3

Backyards are a great place to start learning how to protect local wildlife! Participants will learn what a healthy habitat looks like, then work in groups to get creative and design their own backyard animal habitat.

Animals After Dark
(45 minutes)

Grade Level: 4th-8th
NC Essential Standards: LS.4.1.2-3, LS.5.2.3, LS.6.2.2, LS.8.2.1

Ever wondered about the animals that become active after we go to sleep? We’ll learn about opossums, owls, bats, and more during this nocturnal animal program. Students will learn to identify animal sounds, explore biofacts, and be introduced to a live animal guest.

Owl Pellet Dissection
(60 minutes)

Grade Level: 6th-8th
NC Essential Standards: LS.6.2, LS.8.3

There’s a lot you can learn from leftovers! This raptor-based program will teach the basics of owl biology, as well as have them work in pairs or small groups to dissect a pellet collected from one of the Nature Center’s birds of prey! We will also learn how to identify the bones that we find inside, as well as meet a live animal guest.

(Due to materials, this program costs $3 per participant.)

Tracks and Scat
(60 minutes)

Grade Level: 6th-8th
NC Essential Standards: LS.6.2, LS.8.3

Studying what an animal leaves behind is a great way to learn about the lifestyle and habits of local wildlife. Students will rotate among three stations to play animal track games and design their own track guides, as well as work in small groups to study scat models.

Auditorium Program – Fur, Feathers, and Scales

Grade Level: Variable
Program Length: 60 minutes
An opportunity for students to learn the importance of preservation and conservation through a one-hour presentation (45-minute presentation/15-minute Q&A) with two live animal guests and bio-facts, including animal skeletons, skins, feathers, skulls, and more.

Distance Learning Virtual Programs

All Virtual School Group Programs are offered Monday through Friday, 10am to 3pm. There is a limit of 30 students per program, and programs always involve meeting a live animal guest!

Virtual Auditorium programs are offered year round and include meeting two live animal guests!
Pre-recorded programs are also offered year round and can be tailored to fit the needs of your group.

Virtual Small Group Programs

Run, Slither, Swim
(30 minutes)

Grade Level: K
NC Essential Standards: K.P.1.2, K.L.1.2

There are a lot of different types of animals in this world, and they all move in special ways! We’ll be slithering, fluttering, and crawling around the room in animal fashion and discovering an author who writes about how animals travel in this program focusing on body movement.

From Eggs to Legs
(30 minutes)

Grade Level: K-2nd
NC Essential Standards: K.L.1.2, 1.L.1.1, 2.L.1.1, 2.L.1.2

Metamorphosis in action! This interactive programs focuses on the life cycles of frogs and butterflies. Students will have the opportunity to get creative and move their bodies while reviewing the details of metamorphosis.

What’s on the Menu?
(30 minutes)

Grade Level: K-6th
NC Essential Standards: K.L.1.2, 1.L.1.2, 2.L.1.2, 4.L.1.2, 5.L.2.2, EX.6.L.3
Program only available Tuesdays/Thursdays.

It’s snack time at the Nature Center! This delicious program focuses on the diets of native reptiles and amphibians. We’ll review their life cycles or where they fall in the food chain (dependent on grade level) and examine biofacts from our scaly and slimy friends. Students will also have the opportunity to watch a live reptile or amphibian feeding session!

Match the Life Cycle
(30 minutes)

Grade Level: 1st-3rd
NC Essential Standards: 2.L.1.1, 2.L.1.2

Every animal has a unique way of growing up! This program explores the life cycle of reptiles, birds, and mammals using an interactive memory card game. Put your students’ memories to the test with this unique lesson!

Animal Inventors
(30-45 minutes)

Grade Level: 1st-5th
NC Essential Standards: 1.L.1.1, 1.L.1.2, 1.L.2.2, EX.2.L.1.1, EX.2.L.1.2, EX.2.L.2.1, EX.2.L.2.2

What if a fox could fly and breathe underwater? What sort of home does an owl with laser eyes live in? It’s all up to you! Students will invent an animal and have the opportunity to share with the group. After sharing their creations, we’ll compare them to the animals that live in Western North Carolina! Teachers choose a theme: adaptations or habitats.

Food Webs
(45 minutes)

Grade Level: 4th-6th
NC Essential Standards: 4.L.1.1, 5.L.2.1, 5.L.2.3, 6.L.2.1

This interactive review show how energy travels through an ecosystem. Students will be given the opportunity to create their own food chains and work with our educator to build a food web. We’ll explore how all living things are connected and how important each link is within the web.

Ask a Zookeeper
(45 minutes)

Grade Level: K-12th

Have you ever wondered what a cougar eats or how to take care of a snake? Do your students want to know what it’s like to work in a zoo or where our keepers went to college? Our educator will answer all your questions and more during this session! Get curious and come prepared with questions!

Virtual Auditorium Program – Fur, Feathers, and Scales

Reserve Form for Outreach/Distance Learning Virtual Programs

Outreach Fees

To schedule an Outreach Program, please email [email protected] or use the Reserve Tab. Use the table below to calculate program and travel fees.

Schools & Groups

Onsite Programs

Available August through April

Guided Tours: Visiting Animal Habitats on Interactive Outdoor Tours (~60 minutes)

Animal Comparisons

Habitats

Life Cycles

Animal Movement

Adaptations

Zoo Ecosystems

Ecosystem Interactions

Career Exploration

Creature Feature: Interactive Classroom Experiences with Live Animals (~30 minutes)

Creature Feature

Onsite School Group Admission Fees*

Outreach Small Group Programs

Run, Slither, Swim(30 minutes)

From Eggs to Legs(30 minutes)

Fact or Myth(30-45 minutes)

Animal Habitats(45 minutes)

Our Five Senses(30-45 minutes)

Outdoor Investigation: Beneath Our Feet(45-60 minutes)

Outdoor Investigation: Everything’s Connected(45-60 minutes)

Forest Sounds(30-45 minutes)

Catch a Question(30-45 minutes)

Olympic Animals(45 minutes)

Spider Web Wonders(45 minutes)

Protect Our Wild Backyards(45 minutes)

Animals After Dark(45 minutes)

Owl Pellet Dissection(60 minutes)

Tracks and Scat(60 minutes)

Auditorium Program – Fur, Feathers, and Scales

Virtual Small Group Programs

Run, Slither, Swim(30 minutes)

From Eggs to Legs(30 minutes)

What’s on the Menu?(30 minutes)

Match the Life Cycle(30 minutes)

Animal Inventors (30-45 minutes)

Food Webs(45 minutes)

Ask a Zookeeper(45 minutes)

Virtual Auditorium Program – Fur, Feathers, and Scales

Outreach Program/Distance Learning Program Fees

Public Schools

Private Schools, Home Schools, Nonprofits, Local Government

Other Groups (For-Profits, Homeowners Associations, etc.)

Run, Slither, Swim
(30 minutes)

From Eggs to Legs
(30 minutes)

Fact or Myth
(30-45 minutes)

Animal Habitats
(45 minutes)

Our Five Senses
(30-45 minutes)

Outdoor Investigation: Beneath Our Feet
(45-60 minutes)

Outdoor Investigation: Everything’s Connected
(45-60 minutes)

Forest Sounds
(30-45 minutes)

Catch a Question
(30-45 minutes)

Olympic Animals
(45 minutes)

Spider Web Wonders
(45 minutes)

Protect Our Wild Backyards
(45 minutes)

Animals After Dark
(45 minutes)

Owl Pellet Dissection
(60 minutes)

Tracks and Scat
(60 minutes)

Run, Slither, Swim
(30 minutes)

From Eggs to Legs
(30 minutes)

What’s on the Menu?
(30 minutes)

Match the Life Cycle
(30 minutes)

Animal Inventors
(30-45 minutes)

Food Webs
(45 minutes)

Ask a Zookeeper
(45 minutes)