Teachers are encouraged to develop their own Insect Zoo activities. The O. Orkin Insect Zoo no longer schedules reserved time for groups. It is open to all museum visitors at all times. To schedule a group, contact the Naturalist Center directly. The Naturalist Center is a resource center containing 30,000 natural history and anthropological specimens and books, as well as scientific equipment.
Students do hands-on research with real objects.
The programs below, for grades 5 through university, encourage the development and use of scientific reasoning and research skills. The Naturalist Center is located in Loudoun County, Virginia. It is fully accessible. The center is within an easy 45-minute drive of the Mall. There is ample parking for buses and cars.