Courtesy of Saint Louis Zoo
The Saint Louis Zoo can get a little wild at times, particularly for kids with special needs who may be overwhelmed by bright lights, big crowds, and noise. To better accommodate these kids and their caregivers, the zoo is introducing Sensory Saturdays in its Wild Wonder Outpost, part of the Monsanto Education Gallery.
The Wild Wonder Outpost, aimed at children from birth to 8 years old, features age-appropriate animal and environmental topics for kids to explore through self-guided investigation and play. Children can discover animal facts, design their own exhibits, and create creature-themed crafts to take home. Puppets, costumes, a backyard habitat, and a variety of play areas encourage children to experience the wide, wild world.
Starting October 8, on the second Saturday of each month from 9:30–10:15 a.m., Wild Wonder Outpost will be reserved for kids with special needs and their caregivers. These Sensory Saturdays sessions will be modified with such accommodations as dimmer lighting; reduced sound; and a sensory-break area stocked with pillows and self-regulation tools to help with focus, attention, calming, and active listening. Staff members who often work with children with special needs as part of the zoo’s education programing will be on hand to help participants.
Courtesy of Saint Louis Zoo
Becca Harrison, an early-childhood educator at the zoo, says the Sensory Saturdays sessions are open to kids with special needs and their caregivers to help foster a nonjudgmental environment for everyone. The staff was inspired to create the program because of the diverse range of children it serves in its education outreach programs, camps, and onsite preschool.
“We’ve had some preschoolers in our program who have had some sensory challenges,” she says. “So we wanted to give every kid a chance to visit the zoo and have positive experiences.”
Each session can accommodate 40 people, including adults, and staff will offer more Sensory Saturdays sessions if there's consistent demand. The sessions are open to children with special needs, their parents and siblings. One parent per every four children is required to attend. Like other sessions at the Wild Wonder Outpost, tickets are $2 per person for zoo members, $3 per person for non-members, and children under 12 months old get in free.
For more information on the zoo’s education programs, including those for kids with special needs and its preschool program, visit the Saint Louis Zoo's website. Interested in attending Sensory Saturdays? RSVP by emailing Harrison at bharrison@stlzoo.org or calling 314-646-4544, so the zoo can gauge the number of expected attendees.
