About
Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo Programs include Super Family Sundays, JMZ Summer Camp Scholarships, Science With a Twist – After School Program, Next Gen JMZ: Science Internships, the Science Outreach Program, and Friends’ Animal Encounters. Through Friends’ Animal Encounters and other animal encounters throughout the day, a child might feed a flamingo or see a bald eagle up close. The JMZ offers many hands-on exhibits to encourage children from birth to nine years of age to learn through play about science and nature.
• Ages: 0–12 years old
The Friends’ mission is to expand access to nature and science education through community engagement and support of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo. The Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo is an early-education science institute founded in 1934, and for more than 90 years it has sparked children’s curiosity in science and nature. The Friends raised $25 million to rebuild the JMZ, including a $15 million matching grant from the Peery Foundation and $10 million in private donations from local donors, and the new facility reopened to the public in November 2021. The new and enhanced facility offers richer experiences for visitors and greater accessibility for children of all abilities, including an open environment where visitors can interact with native and exotic rescue animals.
Super Family Sundays are popular events open to families with children with all types of disabilities and have drawn families whose children are unable to attend regular JMZ hours due to noise or crowding. Super Family Sundays provide a calm, nurturing and positive environment for children with disabilities and their families. The Friends continues to fund Super Family Sundays, which were established in 2010 for families with children with disabilities.
The JMZ’s summer camps allow children to explore their interests in a fun and relaxed environment and focus on different science topics, which supplement STEM education. The JMZ offers camps to up to 30 local students every year, including transportation and post-camp for children who would not otherwise be able to attend. JMZ Summer Camp Scholarships are part of this support.
“Science with a Twist” is a free after-school program currently offered to elementary-school children in the East Palo Alto community aimed at providing children with equitable access to science outside of the classroom. The Science Outreach program was developed in 1999 to address inequalities in STEM education between Ravenswood and its wealthier, neighboring public school districts. The Science Outreach program delivers science programming to over 1,600 elementary school children with approximately 500 lessons and an educational field trip to Baylands, and it serves the Ravenswood City School District. The Friends is partnering with the Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula to provide a fun and educational program to spark curiosity, passion and an aspiration to learn more about science.
Next Gen JMZ: Science Internships funds three paid internships and fellowships annually. Individuals who are traditionally underrepresented in the museum field are actively recruited to apply for Next Gen JMZ: Science Internships.
The Friends and the City of Palo Alto strive to provide an equitable and meaningful experience to visitors of all communities, backgrounds, and abilities. The Friends is committed to programs that ensure that the JMZ remains accessible to everyone, regardless of physical or cognitive ability or the ability to pay admission.
Last updated July 2, 2026.
• Ages: 0–12 years old
The Friends’ mission is to expand access to nature and science education through community engagement and support of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo. The Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo is an early-education science institute founded in 1934, and for more than 90 years it has sparked children’s curiosity in science and nature. The Friends raised $25 million to rebuild the JMZ, including a $15 million matching grant from the Peery Foundation and $10 million in private donations from local donors, and the new facility reopened to the public in November 2021. The new and enhanced facility offers richer experiences for visitors and greater accessibility for children of all abilities, including an open environment where visitors can interact with native and exotic rescue animals.
Super Family Sundays are popular events open to families with children with all types of disabilities and have drawn families whose children are unable to attend regular JMZ hours due to noise or crowding. Super Family Sundays provide a calm, nurturing and positive environment for children with disabilities and their families. The Friends continues to fund Super Family Sundays, which were established in 2010 for families with children with disabilities.
The JMZ’s summer camps allow children to explore their interests in a fun and relaxed environment and focus on different science topics, which supplement STEM education. The JMZ offers camps to up to 30 local students every year, including transportation and post-camp for children who would not otherwise be able to attend. JMZ Summer Camp Scholarships are part of this support.
“Science with a Twist” is a free after-school program currently offered to elementary-school children in the East Palo Alto community aimed at providing children with equitable access to science outside of the classroom. The Science Outreach program was developed in 1999 to address inequalities in STEM education between Ravenswood and its wealthier, neighboring public school districts. The Science Outreach program delivers science programming to over 1,600 elementary school children with approximately 500 lessons and an educational field trip to Baylands, and it serves the Ravenswood City School District. The Friends is partnering with the Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula to provide a fun and educational program to spark curiosity, passion and an aspiration to learn more about science.
Next Gen JMZ: Science Internships funds three paid internships and fellowships annually. Individuals who are traditionally underrepresented in the museum field are actively recruited to apply for Next Gen JMZ: Science Internships.
The Friends and the City of Palo Alto strive to provide an equitable and meaningful experience to visitors of all communities, backgrounds, and abilities. The Friends is committed to programs that ensure that the JMZ remains accessible to everyone, regardless of physical or cognitive ability or the ability to pay admission.
Last updated July 2, 2026.
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