Early Closures and Late Openings

Early Asian Highlands Closure: Last entry to Asian Highlands will be at 4 p.m. on Sunday, September 20, and Sunday, September 27, to accommodate set up for Wild After Hours: Snow Leopards (18+). The area will be cleared by 5 p.m. Thank you for understanding.

Late Zoo Opening: The Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo will open to members and the day admission ticket holders at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 3, to accommodate our Wild Walk event. Thank you for your understanding.

Animal Viewing Impacts:

PETRONAS Gateway to Asia Malayan Tapir Viewing: ‘Sempurna’ and her female calf ‘Nyawa’ have daily access to either the main indoor habitat or the outdoor habitat from 9:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. They’ll also have access to their behind-the-scenes space and may choose to spend time there, so viewing isn’t always guaranteed. Thank you for your understanding.

West Gate Closure

Due to significant construction activities in and around Imagine Asia, the zoo’s West Gate will remain closed for the 2025 season and is expected to remain closed until at least 2028/2029. This necessary step supports the safe movement of visitors while we undertake exciting improvements to animal habitats and visitor experiences.

Open Minds
Zoo School

Make the zoo your classroom for an entire week and create an educational adventure your students will never forget.

About Zoo School

An Open Minds Calgary site school, Zoo School immerses students from grades 1-12 in a week-long field study experience at the Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo. Through hands-on activities, animal encounters, careful observation, and interactions with zoo experts, students are able to experience learning beyond the walls of their classroom. Each week is tailored to address curriculum objectives, teacher needs, as well as a big question or idea for the class. This experience is meant to encompass a year of learning, which helps to generate a lasting impact on students.

Each spring, we solicit applications from educators across the city who would like their students to take part in this unique experience. Teachers and classes have already been selected for the 2026-2027 school year. Applications for the 2027-2028 school year will open in Spring 2027.

For more information about Open Minds Zoo School and how to apply, please visit Open Minds Calgary or contact ZooSchool@CalgaryZoo.com.

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Zoo School Resources

Acceptance into the program will include professional development sessions, a classroom planning visit, various Open Minds Calgary workshops throughout the year, and other site-specific resources like biofact kits.

Open Minds Zoo School also creates an easy gateway into the Conservation Champions Festival, which takes place annually at the Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo. The Conservation Champions Festival provides you with a chance to celebrate any conservation action your students have undertaken, no matter how small.

To make sure that you and your students get the most from this unique experience, we provide in-depth planning assistance throughout the school year.