Do More Than Just Walk At the Zoo

With 200 acres of attractions and exotic animals, it is true that the Nashville Zoo offers families and friends an exotic adventure with each visit. Visitors have the opportunity to encounter over 2,000 animals during their journey through the trailed paths of the zoo. Before it was the Nashville Zoo we've come to know, it was space and opportunity for community volunteers to build something everlasting.

Since its opening on the Grassmere property in 1997, the Nashville Zoo has always been connected to volunteerism. In 1997, thousands of volunteers built the 66,000 sq. ft. Jungle Gym that's still at the zoo today. In fact, it is considered the largest community built playground in the nation.

From these acts of volunteerism stemmed the development of many interactive exhibits at the zoo like the Tortoise Exhibit and others.

However, the Nashville Zoo offers the community so much more. They offer gardening and photography classes, and zip line services.
 
Gardening Classes

If you are a gardener, or have an interest in gardening, the zoo has you covered! The Nashville Zoo and Davidson County Master Gardeners are collaborating to offer gardening courses to visitors at the zoo. The gardening courses will focus on key components to successfully grow crops or plants. Specifically, these courses will focus on gardening topics such as canning, composting, and organic gardening.

Considering their devotional restoration of the garden behind the Grassmere Historic Farm Exhibit, it is not a surprise to find the Davidson County Master Gardeners serving as the courses’ instructors. Each course will last approximately twenty minutes followed by a question and answer session. The Davidson County Master Gardeners will distribute handouts, soil sample kits and more to all attendees. These classes are included in your admissions cost.
Many Nashvillians are excited about the zoo offering gardening courses.

“I want to learn how to grow tomatoes so hopefully these classes will teach me that,” Jessica Newt said, a new resident of East Nashville. “I could really use the tips for my home garden.”

Newt started a home garden full of fruits and vegetables.

For anyone interested in the Nashville Zoo’s gardening courses, contact the Nashville Zoo or Davidson County Master Gardeners.
 
Photography Classes

Do you have an interest in capturing wildlife? If so, the zoo offers photography classes that will surely enhance your shots. Under the advisement of an expert animal photographer, amateur photographers can gain field experience by taking photos of the zoo animals.

There are three different classes available to the general public. The following are the course titles and descriptions of the offered classes at the zoo:

• Animal Art Photographer I-This course will cover camera setup, taking photos of animals behind glass/fences, computer post-processing on a computer. You must have a digital SLR or bridge camera for this course. This course costs zoo members $80 and non-members $105. Typically, this class is offered in June.
• Animal Art Photographer II-This course will cover camera adjustments for different environments, understanding animal behavior, and behind-the-scenes photo opportunity. You must have a digital SLR or bridge camera for this course. Always bring extra batteries and memory cards with you to class. This course costs zoo members $175 and non-members $200. Typically, this class is offered in April.
• Private Photography Lessons-This course differs from the other courses because it is fitted to an individual’s needs. These private lessons are offered in two, three, and four-hour sessions. Up to three people can participate in a private lesson. You must have a digital camera for this course. This course costs are broken into the hourly sessions. For a two-hour lesson, it costs $180. For a three-hour lesson, it costs $240. For a four-hour course, it costs $290. For a four-hour course with backstage opportunity, it costs $325.

If you would like to register for any of these classes, email education@nashvillezoo.org to schedule a date and time for lessons with a Nashville Zoo photographer.
 
Soaring Eagle Zip Line Service

Ready for an affordable adventure at the zoo? The Nashville Zoo offers a zip line service that will take you above and beyond your average experience at their facility. Sitting 110 feet in the air, riders may zip line above giraffes, zebras and view different areas of the zoo. It is not an experience to miss out on.

Only a month after its opening, the zip line is doing as intended.

“The experience has been really good so far. Guests are very excited to ride and really seem to enjoy themselves. I think it’s the most popular feature at the Zoo right now,” said Leon Graves, Soaring Eagle zip line operator.
 
How could anyone resist seeing the zoo from that high up? Some riders have said the animals even looked cooler.
 
“The giraffes are so much cooler from above. The view is just amazing,” said Tony Campbell, a father of two beautiful little girls.
 
One of his little girls wanted the world to know, “It’s so fun. People should do it.”
 
In the spirit of adventures, get to the Nashville Zoo today. There’s activities for the entire family at the zoo!


Meet this beautiful Lorikeet making Nashville Zoo's Picture of the Week! Photo credits: Zoo guest Shivaling Nimbargi