Program Ideas

Denver Zoo Partnership

About Denver Zoo
Denver Zoo’s Education Department’s mission is to connect audiences to animals and the environment, inspire respect and appreciation of the natural world, and empower audiences to make informed conservation choices.

With dozens of classes, assemblies, tours, career programs, teen internships, overnights and teacher workshops to choose from, Denver Zoo is your science resource! Expert zoo educators and professional staff are trained to deliver dynamic educational experiences that will help you reach your curricular goals.

MESA and Denver Zoo

Our programs are designed to motivate young scientists – MESA students – through live animal interaction and biofact (animal specimen) exploration. All programs are aligned with Colorado Model Content Standards and Benchmarks.

In an effort to reach organizations like MESA schools, Denver Zoo created The Red Apple Scholarship Fund. This unique fund is available to schools and non-profit organizations whose financial situation would otherwise prevent their participation. For more information about The Red Apple Scholarship Fund, click here   

Contact Information
For general information about the zoo, click here
For information about our education programs, click here

For programs at the zoo call 303-376-4808 or email registration@denverzoo.org For programs at your facility call 303-376-6734 or email outreach@denverzoo.org

Auraria Campus GIS/GPS Project

This after school program was designed to give middle school children a fun and interactive way of exploring concepts such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and concepts of environmental science and sustainability. Students will discover their impact on the world environment and what they can do about it. They will also be informed on steps that the city and/or campus is taking to promote sustainable living. Students will be involved in a fun, hands-on GPS activity around the campus while identifying key tree species. If there is enough time and weather permits, there will be a tree planting event on campus with a GreenPrint Denver representative.

A tentative schedule of events:
Welcome & Introductions 30 minutes
Terms & Ideas (Virtual Field Trip) 45 minutes
Global Footprint Activity 45 minutes
GPS Activity (Scavenger Hunt) 1 h 15 minutes
Lunch/Break 30 minutes
Presentation of Scavenger Hunt Findings 30 minutes
Greenprint Denver/Campus/Tree Planting 1 hour

For more information or to schedule a site visit, contact Victor Vialpando at victor.vialpando@cudenver.edu or by phone at 303.352.3869.

First Tech Challenge

The FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) is a mid-level robotics competition for high-school students. It offers the traditional challenge of a FIRST competition but with a more accessible and affordable robotics kit. For more information visit First Robotics by clicking here >>

West Point Bridge Designer 2007

The West Point Bridge Designer 2007 will introduce you to engineering through an authentic, hands-on design experience. This software provides you with the tools to model, test, and optimize a steel highway bridge, based on realistic specifications, constraints, and performance criteria. The West Point Bridge Designer 2007 is a perfect tool to use when constructing your bridges for the MESA competitions. Click here to download >>

John Hopkins University Bridge Simulator
Click here to visit website >>

This program allows you design trusses. Trusses are composed of straight members connected at their ends by hinged connections to form a stable configuration. When loads are applied to a truss only at the joints, forces are transmitted only in the direction of each of its members. That is, the members experience tension or compression forces, but not bending forces. Trusses have a high strength to weight ratio and consequently are used in many structures, from bridges, to roof supports, to space stations.