Riverbanks is on the road! Whether you are looking for a program for your students, daycare, library or adult care facility, these fun, engaging and educational programs are just for you! Riverbanks on the Road programs are designed to meet the needs of a wide variety of learners from young to the young at heart. Visits from our Education Animal Ambassador collection are included as part of the program!
School Classes
Let Riverbanks come to your school! Each classroom program will include an animal from our collection. All classroom programs are aligned with South Carolina Science Academic Standards.
Available Programs
On the Move (Preschool)
Can you swim like a fish? Slither like a snake? Swing like a siamang? Students will explore animal movement as they hop, crawl and wiggle their way through story, song and activities.
SC Early Learning Standards: AL-5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4; ELA-1.2, 3.6; M-1.5; PD-1.1, 2.2
Counting Critters (Preschool)
1 critter… 2 critter… 3 critter… 4. Students will practice counting and number skills while learning about animals at the Zoo and in the wild!
SC Early Learning Standards: AL-5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4; ELA 1.2, 3.6, 6.1, 6.3; M 1.4, 1.5; PD 2.2
Red, Blue, Who’s at the Zoo? (Preschool)
Young learners will identify colors and explore the many shades found at the Zoo through songs and activities.
SC Early Learning Standards: AL-5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4; ELA 1.2, 3.6, 6.1, 6.3; M 1.4, 1.5, 3.4; PD 2.2
Bug Hunt (Kindergarten–Grade 1)
Bring your curiosity for six-legged creatures. Classes explore insect life cycles and search for superhero bugs in this interactive class.
SC Science Standards: K.L.2A.1, K.L.2A.3, 1.E.3A.1
Critter Café (Kindergarten–Grade 1)
Have a crazy day at the Critter Café as students learn about what animals eat.
SC Science Standards: K.L.2A.3, K.L.2A.6, 1.S.1A.1
Growing Wild (Grades 1–2)
From egg to bird, seed to flower and cub to bear, living things change as they grow. Experience the journey of life as students learn about the growth and development of plants and animals. **Plant or animal emphasis available.
SC Science Standards: 1.L.5A.2, 2.L.5A.1, 2.L.5A.3
Critter Classification (Grades 2–3)
Whether it has fins, fur or feathers, you can tell a lot about a critter by its appearance. Students will discover how animals are categorized by their characteristics in this fun class.
SC Science Standards: 2.L.5A.1, 2.L.5A.2, 2.L.5A.3, 3.L.5A.2
I Can Adapt to That (Grades 2–4)
Animals and plants depend on their adaptations to survive. Students will distinguish inherited from acquired adaptations as we learn how animals and plants survive in some of the world’s harshest places. **Plant or animal emphasis available.
SC Science Standards: 2.L.5A.2, 2.L.5B.2, 2.L.5B.3, 3.L.5A.1,3.L.5B.2, 4.L.5A.4, 4.L.5B.1, 4.L.5B.3
Home Sweet Biome (Grades 4–5)
From the ocean to mountains, wetlands to desert, Earth is covered in beautiful and unique places that living things call home. Students will see what makes each home unique and how plants and animals function within these intriguing places.
SC Science Standards: 4.L.5B.3, 5.L.4A.1, 5.L.4A.2, 5.L.4B.1, 5.L.4B.2, 5.L.4B.3
Covering Carolina (Grades 3–5)
Travel from the Carolina mountains to the sea in this interactive class. Students will explore South Carolina’s five distinct regions, each with its own ecosystem and wildlife.
SC Science Standards: 3.L.5A.1, 3.L.5A.2, 3.L.5B.1, 3.E.4B.2, 4.L.5B.3, 5.L.4A.1, 5.E.3B.2, 5.E.3B.4
CSI: Coat & Skull Investigation (Grades 6–8)
Try your hand at forensic science to observe and categorize evidence about animals. Interactive scientific skill stations and animal encounters can help you provide wild justice.
SC Science Standards: 6.L.4B.1*, 6.L.4B.2, 6.L.4B.5, 7.L.3A.2* 7.EC.5A.3, 8.5.1A.1
(*) Denotes partial completion of standard.
Program Details
- Cost :
$95 per program.
- Capacity :
Up to 25 students and 2 adults.
- Availability :
45 minutes.
School Assemblies
Through a combination of multi-media techniques, animal biofacts, and group activities, assembly programs are ideal for large groups! Most assembly programs will include an animal from our collection. All assembly programs are aligned with South Carolina Science Academic Standards.
Available Programs
Seed to Green (Kindergarten–Grade 5)
How do plants survive in the desert or tundra? How does a plant grow up? Students will find out all of this while learning how eating plants helps you stay healthy!
SC Science Standards: K.L.2A.1, K.L.2A.6, N-K.1.2, 1.L.5A.1, 1.L.5A.2*, 1.L.5B.1*, 1.l.5B.2*, N-1.1.2, N-2.5.1, 3.L.5.B.2, N-3.8.1*, 4.L.5A.1*, 4.L.5A.2, 4.L.5B.2., N-4.8.1*, 5.L.4B.1, N-5.4.1*
(*) Denotes partial completion of standard.
Feet, Feathers, Fins, and Fur (Kindergarten–Grade 5)
Riverbanks loves the uniqueness of each species we care for and their ability to survive and thrive in their natural environments. Students uncover what abilities are learned and inherited through this exploration of physical and behavioral adaptations.
SC Science Standards: K.L.2A.1, K.L.2A.3, 1.S.1A.1, 2.L.5A.2, 2.L.5B.2, 2.L.5B.3, 3.L.5A.1, 3.L.5B.2, 4.L.5A.4, 4.L.5B.1, 4.L.5B.3
Chain Reaction (Grades 3–5)
From the birds of the forest to the fish in the sea, living things need energy to live and grow. Students discover the importance of each and every animal to its ecosystem as we uncover the complexities of food webs in a variety of environments.
SC Science Standards: 3.L.5A.1, 3.L.5A.2, 4.L.5B.3, 5.L.4A.1, 5.L.4B.1, 5.L.4B.2, 5.L.4B.3
The List: A Conservation Challenge (Grades 6–12)
Students will learn what species have made ‘the list’ and celebrate the species that have made it off. Find out what Riverbanks is doing to conserve habitats and species to prevent their status as endangered or extinct.
SC Science Standards: 6.L.4B.1*, 6.L.4B.2, 6.L.4B.3, 1.EC.5A.1, 7.EC.5A.3, 7.EC.5B.4, 8.E.6B.1, 8.E.6B.2, H.B.5.1, H.B.5.3, H.B.5.4, H.B.6A.2, H.B.6D.1*
(*) Denotes partial completion of standard.
Animals through the Sciences (Grades 8–12)
You normally learn about animals in biology or life science, but animals cross science disciplines! Discover animals through the lens of chemistry and physics in this interactive assembly.
SC Science Standards: 6.P.3A.1, 6.P.3A.2, 6.P.3A.5, 8.P.2A.5, 8.P.3A.3, 8.P.3A.4, H.P.2A.6, H.P.2B.3, H.P.3C.2, H.P.3D.2
Program Details
- Cost :
$220 first assembly, $155/additional.
- Capacity :
Up to 100 students and 10 adults.
- Availability :
45 minutes.
Library Programs
Riverbanks is proud to present this year’s library program aligned with the National Summer Reading Program: Imagine Your Story. Perfect for small groups to large assembly-style programming, the Zoo is ready to rocket into reading.
Available Programs
Nature’s Myths and Mysteries
The wonders of nature inspire the imagination and creation of some of the most beloved fairy tales and myths! Do unicorns and mermaids truly exist? Are turtles able to crawl out of their shells? Are snakes slimy? Uncover the truth by taking a closer look at the natural behaviors behind some of the most famous animal and plant mysteries. Participants will explore biofacts, learn through hands-on activities, and meet some of Riverbanks’ animal ambassadors.
Program Details
- Cost :
$220 for up to 100 participants.
- Travel Fees :
(based on roundtrip travel from the Zoo and back) 0–25 miles = $15; 26–50 miles = $30; 51–75 miles = $45; 76–100 miles = $60; Over 100 miles = contact Riverbanks for pricing. *Book on the same date with another local library to receive a discounted travel rate.
- Capacity :
Number of participants is dependent on program selection.
- Availability :
45 minutes.
Senior Programs
Join Riverbanks on the Road as we take you on safari to different locations around the world without leaving your chair! Adults can gain a wealth of knowledge about the world through interactive discussion, biofact presentations, and animal encounters.
Available Programs
Adventures in the Amazon
Grab your umbrella! This tropical program will explore the diversity that exists in one of the most stunning places in the world: The Amazon Rainforest! We will journey through each layer of the rainforest, learning about some of the species that call the Amazon “home.” From the heaviest snake in the world, to an electrifying fish, the Amazon Rainforest is sure to amaze!
America the Wild
Discover the incredible wildlife that exists in our own backyard! South Carolina is full of amazing habitats and species that inhabit them. Together we will learn about our “state animals,” species that are under protection and how Riverbanks is working to conserve our local flora and fauna.
Journey to Oz
Australia is home to some of the most unique and fascinating animals found in the world! Join us as we uncover this spectacular region. From animals that can leap 25 feet in one jump to those that eat only poisonous plants. Australian animals and their amazing characteristics are sure to delight!
Ocean Voyage
Dive deep into uncharted territory as we explore the oceans of our world. Shorelines, coral reefs and even the deep sea are home to some incredible yet rarely seen creatures. While we explore the ocean habitats, we will also discuss the ocean animals that live at Riverbanks Zoo!
Out of Africa
Africa is home to some of the most iconic animals known to humans. Travel through jungles, deserts, and grasslands to fully appreciate all that it has to offer! Learn about African animals that live in the wild—and those that live at Riverbanks Zoo.
Polar Expedition
Explore the farthest reaches of our planet as we travel from pole to pole! The animals of the Arctic and Antarctic can exist in one of the harshest environments on Earth. Discover the secrets of polar survival, for both animals and human explorers alike!
Trek to Asia
Some of the rarest species on Earth live in Asia. Together we will take a peek at the amazing fauna that exists, from colorful birds to stealthy reptiles. Join us to uncover the secrets of Asia and all the beauty it holds.
Riverbanks Then & Now
Join us as we walk down the Zoo’s memory lane. Together we will learn how the Riverbanks began, how it has changed and what it looks like now!
Program Details
- Cost :
$95 for each program reserved.
- Travel Fees :
(based on roundtrip travel from the Zoo and back) 0–25 miles = $15; 26–50 miles = $30; 51–75 miles = $45; 76–100 miles = $60; Over 100 miles = contact Riverbanks for pricing.
- Capacity :
Each program is recommended for up to 25 participants.
- Availability :
45 minutes.
Fairs & Festivals
Hosting a career fair or festival? Let your students take a walk on the wild side as they learn what it takes to become involved in the zoological field! Tables can be set up with general information or to align with a specific theme.
Program Details
- Cost :
$75/hour + travel fee.
Register for Program
- Registration :
Riverbanks on the Road Fairs & Festivals must be reserved in advance by calling the Education Department at 803.602.0803 Monday through Friday between 9:00am and 4:30pm.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation or date change requests must be received three weeks in advance of the event to receive a refund of your registration. Requests must be submitted in writing at education@riverbanks.org Riverbanks Zoo and Garden will retain a 10% processing fee for cancellations.
In the rare event that Riverbanks Zoo and Garden must cancel the scheduled event, all deposits or money received will be reimbursed or an option to reschedule will be provided. Notifications of cancellation will be provided at least ten days prior to the scheduled event (unless weather-related). Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is not liable for any other expenses that the guest may have incurred in the preparation and execution of the event.
Refunds will not be provided for individuals who do not show up for the event.
Programs Information Inquiry Programs may be reserved in advance online or by calling the Education Department at 803.602.0803 Monday through Friday between 9:00am and 4:30pm. Once your information is received, we will check availability and reply to your request in a timely manner. This request does NOT guarantee availability!
Don’t see a program that meets your needs? We can create custom programs for your group. Requests must be made at least 30 days in advance. A nominal development fee will be charged.
Questions about Riverbanks on the Road?
Please call 803.602.0803 or email us.