Education Programs & Zoo Camp

Education Programs & Zoo Camp takes place within the broader education offerings of the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, which include an Education Complex with classrooms, a library, and a 300-seat lecture hall. The program is part of a zoo and aquarium that is home to more than 8,000 animals representing over 600 species and includes exhibits such as Water’s Edge, The Islands, and Jungle Odyssey, as well as the AquaZoo public aquarium and the Safari Amphitheater classroom dedicated to Teen Science programming. Education Programs & Zoo Camp operates under the same mission as the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium: “We connect people to wildlife, inspiring our communities to conserve nature for future generations.”

The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, which includes Education Programs & Zoo Camp, opened to the public on June 14, 1898, became a private non-profit organization in January 1994, and reached 125 years of operation in 2023. The organization is led by President & CEO Dr. Jeremy Goodman, Chief Operations Officer Rachel Askey, and Chief Advancement Officer Ron Gruca. It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and is one of only six major zoo and aquarium combinations in the United States, with research and conservation projects recognized globally and represented on all seven continents and five oceans. The Zoo holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, is American Humane Conservation-certified, and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Zoological Association of America, and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums.

Last updated July 16, 2026.