Welcome to the JEJ Homeschooling Co-op Webpage on Riverbanks Zoo

If you are interested in the gardens please
click here.

If you are interested in how they care for the animals click here.

If you are interested in birds click here.

Riverbanks was founded in 1974. The zoo has over 2000 species of animals. In 1983 they started offering classes for all ages. The botanical gardens were opened in 1995. In early 2001 the new birdhouse opened. In 2002 the zoo will have several new additions, a forest with elephants and gorillas, a new zoo entrance and an African Village. Here is Riverbanks Zoo's website:

Riverbanks participates in a conservation program that helps endangered animals in their place of origin. Some of the endangered animals they keep are:

Education:

The fee for a program at Riverbanks Zoo is $25.00. Classes must be reserved in advance of the actual class date. A class can have no more than 30 students. Classes are held for all ages, from pre-school through adults and Special Education. In a class, one can learn about mammals, reptiles, marine life, animal survival skills, plant life, zoo careers and just about anything one would want to know at the zoo.

In the reptile class we attended, the instructor let a live snake and a poisonous toad loose in the room. We were allowed to touch a lizard with a blue tongue and stroke a toad's belly. That class is really FUN!

For more information on taking classes at Riverbanks Zoo, call the Education Department at (803) 779-8717, ext. 1113, Monday through Fri- day, between 9 AM and 4:30 PM.