Youth Outreach Programs

No bus? No problem! Butterfly Pavilion can bring a program directly to your school or community site.

Programs feature an interactive lesson and small group investigations facilitated by a Butterfly Pavilion educator, hands-on explorations with live animals and/or specimens, models and media, and curriculum-aligned content that explores science and conservation topics.

All outreach programs incur a travel fee of $0.63/mile round trip between your site and Butterfly Pavilion. Partial program scholarships may be available for qualifying groups.

Length: 45 minutes
Fee: $150/session + travel; sequential sessions discounted 25%
Group Size/Session: 30 participants/session; additional programs required for larger groups

Program Options

Itsy Bitsy Bugs – 3-1st Grade

Youngsters meet live bugs and learn about bugs they may find outside at their home or school through dramatic play and music.

Curriculum Standards Supported: 

PRE-K Living things have characteristics and basic needs 

K- Use observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals (including
humans) need to survive.   

K- Use a model to represent the relationship between the needs of different plants and animals (including humans) and the places they live.   

Flutterby – Age 3-1st grade

As a whole group, students reveal how butterflies and moths differ by dressing up a student or teacher and studying preserved butterflies and moths, then experience the butterfly life cycle in an active metamorphosis game. 

Curriculum Standards Supported:

PRE-K- Living things have characteristics and basic needs 

PRE-K-  Living things develop in predictable patterns 

K- Organisms can be described and sorted by their physical  characteristics 

 

Creepy Crawly Story Time – Age 3-3rd grade

By reading beloved stories and encountering live animals, children and families come to appreciate various invertebrates as they take on a whole new dimension as literary characters.

Curriculum Standards Supported: 

PRE-K- Living things have characteristics and basic needs 

PRE-K-   Living things develop in predictable patterns 

K- Organisms can be described and sorted by their physical characteristics 

1st – Organisms can be described and sorted by their physical  characteristics to help it survive 

2nd- Organisms depend on their habitat’s nonliving parts to  satisfy their needs 

2nd-  Each plant or animal has different structures or behaviors that serve different functions 

3rd-  The duration and timing of life cycle events such as  reproduction and longevity vary across organisms and species 

 

Miss Muffet Story Time – Age 3-3rd grade

Children and families will hear a classic spider story, visit with a spider puppet to learn about unique spider anatomy, and safely encounter live spiders.

Curriculum Standards Supported: 

PRE-K- Living things have characteristics and basic needs 

PRE-K-   Living things develop in predictable patterns 

K- Organisms can be described and sorted by their physical characteristics 

1st – Organisms can be described and sorted by their physical  characteristics to help it survive 

2nd- Organisms depend on their habitat’s nonliving parts to  satisfy their needs 

2nd-  Each plant or animal has different structures or behaviors that serve different functions 

3rd-  The duration and timing of life cycle events such as  reproduction and longevity vary across organisms and species 

 

Bug Safari – Age 3-Adult

In this presentation, guests meet invertebrates from environments around the globe, hear about their characteristics, where and how they live, and why they are important in our world.

Length: 60 minutes

Group Size/Session: 10-125 participants (children & adults)/session

Curriculum Standards Supported: 

K – Organisms can be described and sorted by their physical characteristics 

1st –   An organism is a living thing that has physical characteristics to help it survive

 2nd-  Each plant or animal has different structures or behaviors that serve different functions

 2nd-  Organisms depend on their habitat’s nonliving parts to satisfy their needs 

3rd –   The duration and timing of life cycle events such as reproduction and longevity vary across organisms and species 

4th –    All living things share similar characteristics, but they also have differences that can be described and classified

 5th –   All organisms have structures and systems with separate functions 

 

Afterschool Enrichment Series – PreK-6th grade

Butterfly Pavilion offers a series of engaging, play-based programs infused with science content and fun designed for youth groups, camps, childcare programs and schools working with youth K-6 after school or during school breaks. Email education@butterflies.org for more information. Curriculum-aligned to school needs.

Scholarships

Butterfly Pavilion offers scholarships to Title 1 schools or other groups with students qualifying for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch (FRL) program. To qualify, please indicate what percentage FRL your group is and if you would like a scholarship on the registration form for your program. Schools with 75% or more students on Free and reduced lunch program = Up to 100% scholarship support Schools with 50% or more students on Free and reduced lunch program = Up to 75% scholarship support Schools with 25% or more students on Free and reduced lunch program = Up to 50% scholarship support Additonally, scholarships are available for reduced bus transportation costs and substitute teacher coverage. For more info please inquire at Education@butterflies.org.

Scholarships

Exhibits

Colorado Backyard

This immersive exhibit connects guests to the rich and diverse life that surrounds us, and inspires a greater commitment to conserve all of our natural treasures in Colorado and beyond.

Wings of the Tropics

Walk among free-flying butterflies in a tropical paradise.

Survival

Transport yourself to the Survival exhibit, home of Rosie the tarantula and other small wonders! Explore and learn about dozens of species of arthropods. Sharpen your observation skills as you discover animals hidden in their native habitats.

Water’s Edge

Explore the incredible diversity of underwater invertebrates.

Outdoor Gardens

Experience the wonder of Colorado’s wild invertebrates! The outdoor gardens at Butterfly Pavilion are designed to provide habitat for native invertebrates with a focus on native pollinators, while also providing four-season beauty and a place to wander, relax, and learn.

Daily Programs & Showtimes

There’s always something new to discover at Butterfly Pavilion! Join Butterfly Pavilion’s interpretive specialists to learn more about the amazing plants and animals at the zoo. Daily programs can include feeding demonstrations, animal encounters, guided tours, and interactive presentations.

Offsite Exhibits

Upcoming Events

Girl Scout Daisy Launch Event

Saturday, April 08, 2023 | 10:00 AM -12:00 PM
Get Tickets!

Swarms and Splits: A Workshop for Second Year Beekeepers

Register Now!

Beekeeping Bootcamp

At Butterfly Pavilion