BOPN at the Franklin Park Zoo

Through grants, donations, and funding from Universal PreK, we are thrilled to be opening a  tuition-free BOPN preschool at the Franklin Park Zoo in September 2024.

Accepted families with questions about the program should email upkzoo@bopn.org.

We will follow Boston Public Schools’ Focus on PreK curriculum while cultivating an appreciation for our interdependence with plants and animals. 

We instill respect for the earth while building character.  From savannah and rainforests, to chameleons and giraffes, to mud puddles and robins, our preschool at the zoo will empower and inspire children to understand, appreciate, and protect the natural world.

Expanding Access

Our goal is to expand access to high-quality early childhood outdoor education. In a recent snapshot of U.S. nature-based preschools, the Natural Start Alliance reports that:

“...despite their safety and effectiveness, nature preschools are not equally available to all children. White children are overrepresented in nature preschools, [while] dual language learners and children with disabilities are underrepresented. Disparities in access to high-quality education are widespread across the education system in the United States, and nature-based programs have not been the exception. In addition, children of color have less access to nature than white children, pointing to yet further injustice in bringing the benefits of nature to all children.”


We consider it a moral obligation to serve all children, regardless of families’ ability to pay tuition.  Currently, over 30% of BOPN families are on full or partial scholarship. To further expand access, our preschool at the zoo will be tuition-free through Universal PreK. 

We are delighted to collaborate with the Franklin Park Zoo, and contribute to their goal of providing environmental education to families in the surrounding neighborhoods.

Program Basics

Start date: September 2024

Ages served: 3 - 5 years old (K0 and K1)

Number of children: starting with 20, eventually expanding to 40

Facilities: two 30-foot yurts located between the Giraffe Savannah and the Tropical Forest building, plus access to zoo exhibit buildings 

Tuition: none

Funding: Universal PreK (City of Boston), grants, and donations

Meet the Team

  • Mandy Slavik, Equity Programs Coordinator (Commonwealth Corps Member)

  • Morgan Crowley, Equity Programs Coordinator (Commonwealth Corps Member)