The Henry Doorly Zoo unveiled its latest interactive attraction that helps children learn about wildlife.
The new 27.5 million dollar Children's Adventure Trails is ready for kids to explore..
It's the future of understanding wildlife.
The zoo director says the all hands on trails enhance children's social, physical, and cognitive development.
It's a learning experience outside of the classroom that puts kids directly into nature.
"It's purposely windy paths, they double back, and it’s a whole mix of pathways to encourage children to explore on their own."
It's a way to get children more involved with wildlife rather than looking at it through a glass window.
"So the idea here is to find new ways to engage children through nature and play."
The new trails encourage interactive play, with a variety of animal habitats, climbing areas and closer interactions with the zoo animals.
"When you have a snake that you are looking at through a glass that's one thing, when you have a snake that you are holding in front of a kid that he can touch that's another thing.”
“The opportunities for learning just go up expeditiously."
The trails are not the only new attraction, the Meadow Lark Theater opened as well as a new educational building.
"There's so many different things to do that's what they are loving."
It enhances the learning experience, while engaging in playtime.
"There’s a tipsy bridge and rope paths for them to climb, so there's a lot of physical play that will come out in the exhibit."
Zoo Director Dennis Pate says children learn from seeing, touching and doing.
"We know if a child is playing and having fun that’s really conducive to learning, and we want them to learn about wildlife."
The new feature is also wheelchair and stroller accessible so no one misses out.
