Saturdays 10 a.m. – Noon OR 2 – 4 p.m.

Fee: $40 per family group (Up to 5 members, adult or child, per family group. Children under 2 years are free). Additional family members will require another registration. All children must attend with an adult.

Stay-&-Play handstamps are available after the program for the balance of the day, if the Park & Zoo are open.

September

Fall Festivities –  Saturday, Sept. 28 (Register Here)

This class will be full of fall colors & family-friendly, Halloween-themed play. The class will include seasonal activities, crafts, stories, snacks & animal encounters for adults & children to enjoy together.

October

Birdwatching – Saturday, Oct. 12 (Register Here)

We will see and search for the many feathered friends that come our way through the Pacific Flyway. The morning will include seasonal activities, crafts, stories and snacks for adults and children to enjoy together.

November

Family Fun: Gifts for the Animals – Saturday, Nov. 16 [Enrollment opens on July 20, 2024]

As part of our daily animal care, we provide our critters with games, toys puzzles & treats. This enrichment enhances their lives at the zoo and you can create these items too!

Fridays 10 – 11 a.m.

Fee per class: Fee: $27 members / $30 non-members per class*
*Pricing includes 1 child & 1 adult attendant

This class is designed to help you and your little one learn together in a zoo atmosphere.  We cover animal related topics as well as teach the basics, like ABC’s, counting, and general motor skills.  Through this experience, with you as a participating parent, your child will learn important classroom behaviors like sharing, listening, and following instructions. This is an adult & child combo class. 

This class has a new theme each week. Activities are designed to target 1 to 3 year-olds only.

Happy Hollow members receive a 10% discount on all classes with their membership number and coupon code: HHMEM

September

Body Part Art – Friday, Sept 20 (Register Here)

Does every animal have a head, nose or toes? We will name the parts & create a new animal by combining different designs.

Fall to Sleep – Friday, Sept. 27 (Register Here)

In fall, the colorful leaves begin to shrink away and the plants start to slow down for the sleepy time of year. Through art and play we will say good night to the flowers, trees and bumblebees.

October

A Booty of Bugs – Friday, Oct. 11 (Register Here)

We will go “buggy” together through song, crafts and play over the “innocent” creepy-crawlies that fascinate young explorers.

Nature Play – Friday, Oct. 18 (Register Here)

There is no better playground than outside surrounded by nature’s toys. Leaves, acorns, sticks and surprises will be our playthings as we explore, learn and play pretend.

Shake, Rattle & Roll – Friday, Oct. 25 (Register Here)

Kids and critters love the sound of music. We are going to create our own music to dance to by making shaker rattles.

November

Touch Tables – Friday, Nov. 1 (Register Here)

The zoo has so many wonderful things to share. We will discover a treasure trove of wildlife-related touchables as we sing, dance and play.

Spiders, Snakes & Slithery Things, Nov. 15 [Enrollment opens on July 20, 2024]

Explore how snakes and spiders use their senses to explore the world around them. Some have 8 legs and some have none. What do they do?

Tales for Tots classes occur on most Friday mornings. Each class has a new theme and activities. Programs may include games, crafts, activities, stories, songs and animal encounters.

Puddle Jumpers, Nov. 22 [Enrollment opens on July 20, 2024]

When rain falls down, we bring out the rubber boots, hats & gloves. What happens to the world of wildlife when the wet weather comes?

Tales for Tots classes occur on most Friday mornings. Each class has a new theme and activities. Programs may include games, crafts, activities, stories, songs and animal encounters.

Saturdays 10 a.m. – Noon

Fee: $31.50 members / $35 non-members per class*
*Pricing includes 1 child & optional adult attendant

Join us for a class full of discovery and play! This is a children’s drop-off program; however, parents are welcome to participate. We “go wild” with our early-learning scientists as we explore different parts of zoo life. Each class includes interactive discussions, inquiry-based activities, a visit from one of our animal ambassadors, and more!

Happy Hollow members receive a 10% discount on all classes with their membership number and coupon code: HHMEM

September

Lighter Than Air – Saturday, Sept. 21 (Register Here)

We are flying our imaginations high into the sky as we explore light & air-based earth science & how animals use both.

November

Water + Soil = MUD – Saturday, Nov. 2 (Register Here)

We are making mud pies and you are the chef. You “cook” while we talk about where mud comes from and how animals use it.

December

Wild Science: Leaping Lemurs – Saturday, Dec.14 [Enrollment opens on July 20, 2024]

Do you like to bounce when you play? Lemurs do and hop on their hind feet as part of their games. Today we are going to parallel play like lemurs do.

Saturdays 2-4 p.m.

Fee per class: $31.50 Members | $35 Non-members*
*Pricing includes 1 child

Drop off program

Our zoo crew does it all and you can too! Zoologists are scientists too as you will learn when you practice your zookeeping skills.

Happy Hollow members receive a 10% discount on all classes with their membership number and coupon code: HHMEM

September

Biodiversity University – Saturday, Sept. 28 (Register Here)

In the depths of each ecosystem, a variety of life is waiting to be discovered. We are going to take the plunge into different habitats to inventory the array of species on the planet.

November

Jr. Keepers: Mysteries of Migration – Saturday, Nov. 16 [Enrollment opens on July 20, 2024]

What motivates the movement of animals each season? They travel great distances with a purpose in mind. Come discover the reason behind these migrations.

Saturdays 2-4 p.m.

Fee per class: $31.50 members | $35 Non-members*
*Pricing includes 1 child

Drop-off program

Zookeepers do much more than feed, water and scoop scat. Join us as we use our scientific skills of problem solving, emergency engineering, critical thinking, experimentation & enrichment design while solving zoo mysteries.

Happy Hollow members receive a 10% discount on all classes with their membership number and coupon code: HHMEM

October

Animal Behavior & Ethograms –  Saturday, Oct. 12 (Register Here)

Thursday 9 a.m.- 10:30 a.m.

Per class fee: $10.80 Members | $12 Non-members

If you like Senior Safari, you are going to love being a “Sensational Senior”. This monthly class includes mini walking tours, animal encounters, crafts, activities, and a light breakfast. This is a seniors-only program (50 years & up). This class meets on the 2nd Thursday of the month from November to March. This class encourages community seniors to become Happy Hollow Ambassadors as they socialize, exercise, and learn at their new “wild hangout”.

Happy Hollow members receive a 10% discount on all classes with their membership number and coupon code: HHMEM

November

Sensational Seniors: Local Wildlife – Thursday, Nov. 14 [Enrollment opens on July 20, 2024]

Squirrels, skunks, butterflies and raccoons; we see them at the zoo, but they are not part of the official collection. Happy Hollow becomes a haven for other animals too. Come learn who else you might meet while walking a Happy Hollow pathway.

December

Sensational Seniors: Happy Hollow History – Thursday, Dec. 12 [Enrollment opens on July 20, 2024]

Rich in history since 1961, Happy Hollow acquired many tales as it acquired its tails and rides for the people of San Jose to enjoy. We will share with you some of those behind-the-scenes moments that have helped make our space so magical and full of dragons.

Paint Night (Ages 18+)

Fridays 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Per class fee: $34 Members | $38 Non-members*
*Pricing includes 1 adult (18+ years) & all supplies are included

This Friday night, after hours, animal art class is for adults only! Food, mock-tails, music & instruction while you sketch & paint a portrait of the star animal of the night.

Happy Hollow members receive a 10% discount on all classes with their membership number and coupon code: HHMEM

September

Beekeeping Workshops are an intimate opportunity to learn about bees in a hands-on class setting. Workshops take place at Happy Hollow’s own honey-making apiary & fees are a donation that benefit pollinator conservation efforts. This is a 2-hour, hands-on workshop. Protective equipment is required and you may bring your own or borrow all needed supplies. Each workshop focuses on new skills.

Beekeeping: Checking for Mites – Saturday, August 17 | 10 a.m. to Noon (Register Here)

• Saturdays 10 a.m. to noon
• Fee per workshop: $45 Members | $50 Non-members
• Ages 14+
• 10 participants max

Fall

Fall Family Sleepover – Friday, Oct. 11 [Enrollment opens on July 20, 2024]

Fall Family Sleepover (ages 5+ & must attend with a registered adult)

Be our guests for a family-friendly, Halloween-themed sleepover and enjoy the thrill of the zoo after dark! Your family group will enjoy animal encounters, hands-on activities, games, crafts and a flashlight tour through the zoo. Pumpkins, crafts & candy bats will trick-or-treat their way through this overnight event.

A paying adult must accompany all children. There must be 1 adult chaperone for every 8 children. Please contact the Zoo Education Department if you have any questions regarding registration for this event.

Fee $75.00 per person (5 years-old & up)