Launching on 18th October at ZSL London Zoo, ZooTown will give kids the chance to experience roles including vets, scientists and zoo nutritionists.
The role-play experience, aimed at kids aged up to eight years old uses play, costumes and props to allow kids to experience the roles with the aim of inspiring an interest in conservation.
ZooTown is based in the former reptile house and is made up of over a dozen interactive play stations to immerse young people in the world of a ZSL conservationist. Among the interactive activities are 13 role-play experiences, along with sensory and smell-based activities.
Designed in consultation with ZSL’s experts and child focus groups, ZooTown is based on a conservation zoo and will be available for school groups to visit.
Emma Edwards, head of the London Zoo design team behind the attraction, said: “ZooTown is bursting with the magic of play – somewhere children can step into a world made just for them. We worked with children to dream it up together, so every corner is shaped by their ideas and imagination. It’s not just fun, it’s a doorway into curiosity and connection with wildlife.
“Whether they’re chasing zebra poo, delivering post to the plant nursery or feeding a penguin, they are finding out how many ways there are to help animals – and how they could fit in.”
Highlights of ZooTown
There is something to inspire children in a wide range of roles, from treating poorly animals in the vet hospital, to fighting germs in the science lab. 63 soft-toy animals in the vet hospital, including parrots, Komodo dragons and tigers have been fitted with genuine scannable microchips.
Children can also ‘fly’ around the world to track animals in the field camp, practise presenting skills in the rehearsal studio, prepare food for the animals in the keeper kitchen and build a habitat in the construction zone. 300 different costumes are available to use, along with three microscopes and 2,000 toys.
Soundscapes have also been created from the Zoo to accompany the activity, including gibbons Jimmy and Yoda, and the house sparrows that live at the zoo.
School visits
Suitable for ages three to eight, each session lasts 45 minutes. Schools can book sessions directly through the Zoo’s learning team.
ZSL London Zoo offers educational visits for students to see more than 600 different species living at the zoo. Education rates are available for school groups visiting on a weekday during term-time.
For more information about ZooTown at ZSL London Zoo, visit www.londonzoo.org.
