How to Turn Our Beloved Salisbury Zoo Into the Most Memorable Homeschool Field Trip of the Year
10 Project-Based Learning Adventures for Middle and High School Students on Delmarva
Homeschool Activities for Middle School and High School Students on Delmarva
Let's be honest.
At some point, many homeschool parents hit a wall.
The cute crafts don't work anymore.
The coloring pages have lost their magic.
And your once-excited learner now responds to every suggestion with:
"Do I have to?"
If that sounds familiar, I have good news.
One of the best learning opportunities on Delmarva is sitting right in our backyard, and most people walk right past the possibilities.
I'm talking about our beloved Salisbury Zoo.
Most visitors spend an hour walking around, looking at animals, and heading home.
But what if your student visited the zoo as a business owner, conservationist, fundraiser, event planner, scientist, educator, or community leader?
Suddenly, a simple zoo trip becomes an adventure.
Here are ten fun ways to completely transform your next visit.
10. Add a New Animal to the Salisbury Zoo
Let's start with a challenge that sounds simple but quickly becomes much bigger.
Your mission is to bring a new animal to the Salisbury Zoo.
Easy, right?
Not so fast.
Before you can decide what animal to bring, you'll need to answer some important questions.
What animals do visitors want to see?
What animals would thrive in our climate?
How much space is available?
Could the animal safely share an exhibit with another species?
What animals has the zoo had in the past?
What animals are available from other zoos?
Take a notebook and become a real investigator.
Interview visitors.
Ask zoo staff questions.
Visit zoo websites from around the country.
Then make your final recommendation and defend your choice.
By the end, you'll feel less like a visitor and more like the zoo's newest consultant.
9. Become a Zoo Tour Guide
Have you ever noticed that some people can make any topic interesting?
Now it's your turn.
Choose five animals at the zoo and create a guided tour for younger children.
Research fun facts.
Create trivia questions.
Plan where the group will stop.
Think about what questions younger kids might ask.
Then give the tour to your family or a homeschool group.
You might discover you have a talent for teaching.
8. Create the Ultimate Zoo Scavenger Hunt
Not every field trip needs to be serious.
Design a scavenger hunt that challenges visitors to look closely at the zoo.
Examples:
- Find an animal that sleeps during the day.
- Find an animal that uses camouflage.
- Find an animal that could survive in Maryland's climate without human help.
- Find an animal that looks completely different from its closest relatives.
Then test your scavenger hunt on friends or siblings.
7. Design a Dream Animal Habitat
You have an unlimited imagination and a blank piece of paper.
What would the perfect habitat look like for your favorite animal?
Would it have waterfalls?
Underground tunnels?
Climbing structures?
Educational stations?
Think beyond the animal.
What would make visitors excited to learn?
6. Plan a Zoo Fundraiser
The Salisbury Zoo needs $50,000 for improvements.
You've been hired to help.
Would you host:
- A gala?
- A community car show?
- A family fun run?
- A concert?
- A food festival?
Now comes the hard part.
How will you convince people to buy tickets?
How will you attract sponsors?
How will you get local businesses involved?
This challenge lets students think like entrepreneurs while supporting a community treasure.
5. Build a Better Gift Shop
Almost every zoo has one.
But what if you were in charge?
What products would you sell?
What would local families actually buy?
Would you feature local artists?
Could students design products?
Could profits support conservation projects?
Take a look at what already exists and create your own business plan.
4. Become a Wildlife Photographer
Put away the selfies.
Today you're a professional wildlife photographer.
Your goal isn't just to take pictures.
Your goal is to tell stories.
Capture:
- Animal behaviors
- Animal relationships
- Funny moments
- Quiet moments
- Conservation messages
Create a photo exhibit when you get home.
3. Join the Zoo's Board of Directors
Imagine attendance has dropped.
Donations are down.
The zoo needs help.
What should happen next?
Should new exhibits be built?
Should more community events be offered?
Should partnerships be developed?
Should marketing improve?
Gather information and create a plan for the future of the zoo.
2. Save an Endangered Species
Choose one animal at the zoo and become its biggest advocate.
Research:
- Why it is threatened
- What conservation groups are doing
- How everyday people can help
Then create a campaign to educate your community.
You might be surprised by how much influence one passionate person can have.
1. Spend $1 Million Improving the Salisbury Zoo
This is hands-down my favorite challenge.
Imagine someone walks into the Salisbury Zoo tomorrow and donates $1 million.
The zoo director turns to you and says:
"How should we spend it?"
Suddenly, you're making real decisions.
Should the money go toward:
- New animals?
- Better exhibits?
- Education programs?
- Conservation efforts?
- Community events?
- Technology upgrades?
You'll need to explore the zoo, identify needs, talk to visitors, research ideas, and create a plan.
Most importantly, you'll have to explain why your choices matter.
It's one of those activities that starts as a fun game and quickly turns into a lesson in leadership, problem-solving, budgeting, communication, and community impact.
And honestly?
Adults would probably enjoy it just as much as the kids.
Want to Take the Million-Dollar Zoo Challenge?
If your student loves solving real-world problems, we've created something just for them.
The Zoo CEO Challenge™ from Owl's Nest Learning Hub is a self-paced project-based learning experience designed for middle and high school students.
Students will tackle the full Million-Dollar Zoo Challenge, learning how to evaluate needs, make decisions, build a budget, and create a professional recommendation plan for improving the Salisbury Zoo.
It's the perfect blend of leadership, critical thinking, research, and creativity.
Whether your student dreams of becoming a business owner, scientist, educator, nonprofit leader, or community changemaker, this challenge gives them an opportunity to think like one.
Help Us Build More Homeschool Opportunities on Delmarva
The Zoo CEO Challenge™ is just the beginning.
We're exploring future Community CEO Challenges focused on libraries, museums, parks, festivals, local businesses, and other organizations throughout our region.
If you're a homeschool family on Delmarva, we'd love your feedback.
Together, we can make learning feel a little more like an adventure.
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