Now booking for summer 2024!!!
Summer 2024 program information!
Back by popular demand!!!
***Traveling Bug Camp:
($425 plus mileage) 2-hour bug camp for up to 30 participants (requires 2 volunteers from location for camper/adult ratio). Ages 1st grade and up.
Campers will dive deep into the world of arthropods that are found in their own outdoor spaces! We will explore the local outdoor space on a guided bug hunt, collect and identify insects and release them back into the wild. Campers will go home with an Insect Zoo drawstring backpack and a renewed (or new) appreciation for our multilegged friends. You can add on a 1-hour display for an additional $200 for campers and the public. PLEASE NOTE: Availability is limited for these camps. Ideas for outdoor spaces include: Pollinator gardens, prairies, vegetable gardens, urban gardens, wooded areas, water! Collecting area must be within walking distance. More details and information to give to participants, will be provided at a later date.
Love our Earth, Love our Bugs:
($250 plus mileage) 1-hour display (No limit on participants). 2-hours for $400
Invite your whole town to check out over 100 species of living arthropods, on display in your own space! Knowledgeable Insect Zoo staff will talk about why our multi-legged friends are important for a healthy Earth, how you can help them in your own outdoor spaces, and how you can Spread the Bug Love! Many hands-on opportunities to handle millipedes, beetles, walking sticks and more! Bring in your photos of bugs to be identified or even the bug itself!
The Insect Zoo can visit up to 3 locations in one day! Those locations near each other, who share a day, will split the total mileage.
Hands-on
On campus or at your location the hands-on program incorporates age-appropriate information on insects and other Arthropods. This option works for kindergarten through adult ages in a formal educational setting. During this program participants will get up-close and personal with the exciting world of Arthropods. The Insect Zoo’s program will introduce the basics of arthropod (insects, spiders, tarantulas, millipedes, centipedes, scorpions, etc.) form and function. Some topics that will be discussed are metamorphosis, importance, behavior and defenses.
50-60 minutes
Limit of 30 participants, adults are included in count.
Ages K-adult
Rates are based on 1-hour programs and can be found on the right side of the screen. Mileage will be assessed for programs outside of Story County, IA. Fill out your request form for this program.
School Display
We recommend the school display for classroom groups of 65 or less. This 1-hour School Display will allow the children to see around 25 different species of arthropods while learning about their importance, behaviors, defenses and physical characteristics. The School Display is hands-on, interactive and fun. The first 45 minutes the kids listen to an informative presentation on the animals and are then invited up to our display tables for an up-close and hands-on experience. Our School Display option is available all year.
60 minutes
Limit of 65, adults included in count.
Ages 1st-adult.
Rates can be found on the right side of the screen. Mileage will be assessed for programs outside Story County, IA. Fill out your request form for this School Display.
Hands-on with Art
Add an insect themed art project to your hands-on experience. The art activity can range from something simple like recreating a butterfly’s life cycle with pasta to painting with living paintbrushes with Leonardo DiRoachy paintings or Maggot Masterpiece Art. Activities will vary and depend on age. Those who choose this option will be contacted to talk about art activities available.
There is an additional charge to add-on the insect art which can be found on the right side of the screen. Mileage will be assessed for programs outside of Story County, IA. Fill out your request form for this program.
30-45 minutes.
Ages 1st-adult.
Display
We recommend the display for public and large group settings such as fairs or open houses. The Insect Zoo will fill 6-7 eight-foot tables with live animals and preserved insect displays. The display is hands-on, interactive and fun. The come and go format allows participants to walk through, look and ask questions at their own pace. Our displays are staffed with 2-3 people to help the participants handle the animals, talk facts and answer questions. Our display option is available all year, except during the school year when they are offered evenings and weekends only.
Rates can be found on the right side of the screen. Mileage will be assessed for programs outside Story County, IA. Fill out your request form for this display.
Minimum of 2 hours.
No limit on participants.
All ages.
Story Time with Bugs
For our preschool age friends we offer Story Time with Bugs where we share the stories of real live bugs! We bring along our bug friends to help tell a story about their life! (No actual book is read). The kids sit in their comfortable story time place while looking and learning about some really cool bugs. We require that the preschool groups have no more than 15 children and at least 2 adult helpers.
30 minutes.
Ages PreK.
Limit of 15 plus 2 adults.
Rates are based on 30-minute programs and can be found on the right side of the screen. Mileage will be assessed for programs outside Story County, IA. Fill out your request form for this program.
Large Group *** ONLY AVAILABE BY SPECIAL REQUEST.
We offer large group programs for groups of more than 150 people. These are perfect if you have a large auditorium or gym that you plan on filling up for the program. We talk about the animals while walking through the audience with live animals for everyone to see. At the end of the program participants will have an opportunity to touch some of the animals as they file out of the room. Our Large Group option is available all year, except during the school year when they are offered evenings and weekends only.
1 hour.
Limit of 175 (can do more, please include expected number on request form)
Ages K-adult
Rates are based on 1-hour programs and can be found on the right side of the screen. Mileage will be assessed for programs outside Story County, IA. Fill out your request form for this program.
Buggy Birthday
Have a Buggy Birthday with the Insect Zoo! During your birthday party the Insect Zoo will bring lots of cool bugs for your bug lover to look at and even touch. We will talk about the animals and answer questions. After the bugs are put away we will have a Bugtastic time creating an insect themed art project. The birthday child will receive an Insect Zoo t-shirt. We can host your party here on campus! We allow an extra 45 minutes after our program for cake/treats and presents. You must provide all supplies for food consumption and take out your garbage.
1.5 hours if at your location. Additional 45 minutes added if at ISU for cake/treats and presents.
Limit of 30, adults included in count.
Ages PreK-adult.
Rates are based on 1.5-hour programs and can be found on the right side of the screen. Mileage will be assessed for programs outside of Story County, IA. Fill out your request form for this program.
Family Visit
We offer behind the scene tours of the Insect Zoo’s facilities. These tours are limited to 7 people and last at least 1 hour.
Rates are charged per person and can be found on the right side of the screen. Fill out your request form for this program.There is an additional charge to add-on the insect art which can be found on the right side of the screen. Mileage will be assessed for programs outside of Story County, IA. Fill out your request form for this program.