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GroupBuys for Homeschool Curriculum |
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| The Visiting Info shown below, if any, is always subject to change. Please check the facility's website for the latest information before making a trip.
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| Blank Park Zoo |
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| 7401 SW 9th Street |
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| Des Moines |
| IA |
| 50315-6667 |
The Zoo is open everyday, 10am - 5pm.
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| (515) 323-8383 |
| http://www.blankparkzoo.com |
 | | Ann R, Co-op Member | I have to say that I have been to lots of zoos much larger than this so while I only gave it 3 stars-it's still a very nice zoo for Iowa. It's hard to rank it up there with San Diego Zoo or Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle though.
It has your basic collection of animals and a train ride that is must for any toddler or preschooler. We enjoyed the petting zoo with the typical goats and farm animals. There was a small play area and "mining for gold" area for an extra charge in this area too.
We saw 2 mini shows with snakes and ferrets that my kids enjoyed and they got to touch/hold the animals.
The park was clean and fairly well laid out.
We've been there twice and will surely go about 2x a year since we live in Iowa. |
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| | Laura M., Co-op Member | A zoo pass (or reciprocal zoo pass) makes this a good value. I believe that on Mondays, member children get a free train ride.
For a nice, laid back stroll, it is great. It is a nice zoo but not as large as other zoos. But, you can walk this whole zoo in a few hours and not feel that you "missed something".
We especially like the main building with the cabin room set-up and the walk through the tundra. We took our family Christmas photo there by the trees and the "snow". |
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 | | Heidi, Co-op Member | This is a nice little zoo. We have also been to larger ones around the US and while it doesn't have all the critters and frills a bigger zoo has it is still a great place to go
with children. Because it is small you can easily do it in a couple hours but it is a worthwhile few hours. The zoo has been clean
when we have been there and the animals have been well cared for. |
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 | | Diane Nelson, Co-op Member | A bus load of homeschoolers and parents from our Homeschool Assistance Program spent an afternoon at the Blank Park Zoo. The zoo offers Homeschool Safari classes which are tailor made to whatever a group wants to study. We chose to study Australian animals, and the zoo's education specialist did a super job presenting a program for us using live animals. She then gave us a guided tour of the zoo's new Australian exhibit. We spent the rest of the afternoon on our own touring the zoo.
The zoo offers many educational programs on their regular schedule. To have a program presented just for your group, you need to make arrangements a few weeks in advance. |
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