Dickerson Park Zoo

Smaller regional zoos can be hit-or-miss as learning destinations, and it’s not always clear how to connect a visit to your lessons. Dickerson Park Zoo in Springfield, Missouri, leans into education and conservation in a way we find helpful for homeschool outings. Operated by the city with support from a zoological society, the zoo features a range of animal exhibits alongside programs and signage that highlight habitats, adaptations, and species survival plans. We love that the grounds are manageable in a half day with kids and that the zoo regularly hosts family events and educator-focused activities. It’s a good fit for families in or passing through the region who want to link biology, geography, and environmental stewardship to real animals. As with any in-person attraction, admission costs and weather can be limiting, and online resources are more modest than those of larger zoos, but the experience offers solid value for a day’s outing. Pro tip: print or sketch a simple “animal adaptations” scavenger hunt before you go so kids actively observe how different species are built for their environments.