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A 45 minute tour of the Giraffe Pasture, which allows the children to see the giraffes and possibly feed them by hand. Other animals in the giraffe pasture include Grant’s zebras, bonteboks, wildebeest, fallow deer, turkeys, white-tailed deer, European red deer, aoudad, axis deer and Arabian oryx.

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Your choice of one program from the list below:

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Cheetah Conservation

How fast can a cheetah run? Why is it endangered? What can you do to help? We will answer these questions and many more in our cheetah conservation program. Your students will learn what life is like as a cheetah in the wilds of Africa and what it takes to survive in their ecosystem- surrounded by predators, competitors and human encroachment. This program includes two highly active, fun-filled, educational games and a mini-tour, which focuses on the viewing of our cheetahs, along with the rest of the giraffe pasture.
Main TEKS Applied: K.4, 1.5, 1.9, 2.5, 2.9, 3.8, 3.9, 4.8, 5.9 (A, B), 6.11, 6.12
(Recommended for all ages)

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Creepy Crawly Critters (aka Arthopods)

This fascinating phylum, which includes spiders, scorpions, crustaceans and all different kinds of insects, is the largest on Earth, but one of the least understood. In this program, the truths behind some of the creepy crawly myths are explained, and students learn which of the many species are actually dangerous to humans. A live arthropod collection provides the class with an up-close view of some of our native examples, and fun gadgets, tools and visual aids give them a chance to see life through the eyes of an arthropod!
Main TEKS Applied: K.4, 1.5, 1.9, 2.5, 2.9, 3.8, 3.9, 4.8, 5.9 (A, B), 6.11, 6.12
(Recommended for all ages)

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Animal Exploration

Fossil Rim has many unusual animals from all over the world – animals which most people never get to see up close, and, therefore, never get to see how truly amazing they are. Truly understanding an animal comes from exploring the details, the little pieces and parts that make up the whole, so in this hands-on program we give students the rare opportunity to examine the skulls, bones, teeth, fur, horns and antlers of some of our most exotic creatures. Once the class has a chance to see these variations for themselves, we can discuss what unique traits each animal has, what those traits tell us about them, and why we think they may have developed in the first place.
Main TEKS Applied: 2.9, 3.9, 4.8, 5.9, 6.10
(Recommended for all ages)

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Capture Techniques

Being a wildlife veterinarian at Fossil Rim isn’t easy, and in this exciting program students learn about some of the most dangerous tasks our vets undertake in the field. Classes discuss what it means to work with wild animals, learn what training and precautions must be taken and hear real stories of what goes on behind the scenes at Fossil Rim. Each student will also get to test their vet-ability as they participate in a hands-on chemical capture activity that is guaranteed to be a hit!
Main TEKS Applied: K.1, 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 4.1, 5.1
(Recommended for all ages)

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The Brink of Extinct

Fossil Rim is a facility dedicated to conservation, and in this program we strive to bring the real meaning of this concept home to the students by discussing crucial matters such as what it means to be endangered, how an ecosystem functions, the interconnectivity of all life on earth, the role humans have played in the past and their responsibility for the future. Once the class has a grasp on how important it is to maintain balance in nature, everyone will participate in an exciting – and often hilarious – game that shows how delicate that balance really is!
Main TEKS Applied: Science: K.9, 4.5, 5.9 | Social Studies: 5.9, 6.7
(Recommended for all ages)

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Behave Yourself

Nearly everyone’s heard that an opossum will play dead, or that a turtle will retreat into its shell when frightened, but there are many other examples of animal behavior that you may not have heard of before. In this program we will explore other examples of ways that animals communicate, play, interact, fight and defend themselves. We will get a chance to try reading animal behavior, and even practice using their language for ourselves.
(Recommended for all ages)

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Available at no additional cost:

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A visit to the Children’s Animal Center, a self-guided hike, a picnic area, and a panorama view of the center from the overlook area.

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Allow time to visit the Nature Store and Overlook Café (or bring a sack lunch)
Optional Picnic Lunches $6.50 per person