Chester Zoo's Teacher Network
Stay connected. Share ideas. Inspire change.
How can we empower our students to live more sustainably? At Chester Zoo, we’re committed to tackling the extinction crisis by helping people make sustainable choices and connecting young people with nature.
Each year, we teach thousands of students through our education programmes—designed to inspire the conservationists of the future. Whether you’re starting a new project or looking for support in embedding sustainability across your curriculum, our Teacher Network is here to help.
What is the Teacher Network?
A community of like-minded teaching professionals who share a mission of Preventing Extinction. Together, we explore how to make sustainability real, relevant, and achievable in schools.
It’s a chance to share best practice, gain fresh ideas, and keep up to date with the latest sustainability issues.
Topics we discuss include:
- Preparing for Science Week
- Understanding government guidance on sustainability in schools
- Embedding climate change and conservation in the curriculum in meaningful ways
CALENDAR 2025/2026
An introduction to Chester Zoo's Teacher Network
Date: October 23, 4:30 - 6:30pm
Location: In person at Chester Zoo
Date: October 23, 5:15 - 6:30pm
Location: Online
This introductory session will welcome you to Chester Zoo’s Teacher Network. We will explore why schools should get involved and the benefits of embedding sustainability projects into the curriculum. This hybrid event can be attended either in person at Chester Zoo, or online.
Sustainability and Climate Action Planning Day
Date: November 27, 9:30am - 3:30pm
Location: In person at Chester Zoo
Join us for a day of practical support for educational settings (Early Years, Schools and Colleges) to develop and implement climate action plans. This exciting (and free) event will include support from a number of key national initiatives – including Climate Ambassadors, National Education Nature Park, Let’s Go Zero and Chester Zoo – to highlight how your setting can make progress with climate action planning, wherever you are in your sustainability journey. The Department for Education (DfE) expects all education settings to have a climate action plan and designated sustainability lead(s) by the end of 2025 – and this event will help you get well on your way!
Deforestation free commodities for schools
Date: December 11, 4:00 - 5:00pm
Location: Online
Join us for an exciting session with a special guest speaker from the Climate Ambassador programme. We will look at how you can address climate change in your school.
Join experts from Chester Zoo to discuss rainforests, deforestation and how we can move towards deforestation free commodities. You’ll learn about how to incorporate these important discussions into the curriculum to help create a world where nature can survive and thrive.
Supported by Ferrero.
The connection between nature and wellbeing
Date: January 8, 4:00 - 5:00pm
Location: Online
Join Chester Zoo’s Youth Development Coordinator Charlotte Dale, as we explore the link between wellbeing and nature.
Preparing for Science week
Date: February 3, 4:30 - 6:30pm
Location: In person at Chester Zoo
This year the theme is ‘Curiosity: what’s your question?’ Join us for tips on how to prepare and how to make students curious about climate change.
Registration opens soon.
Youth Voice – making it count in your school
Date: March 19, 4:30 - 6:30pm
Location: In person at Chester Zoo
Our very own youth programmes assistant manager, Charlotte Dale, will drop in to explain about her work with the youth voice.
Registration opens soon.
Citizen Science and your school
Date: April 22, 4:30 - 6:30pm
Location: In person at Chester Zoo
We will be discussing the benefits of taking part in citizen science activities at school.
Registration opens soon.
Conservation TeachMeet
Date: May 19, 4:30 - 6:30pm
Location: In person at Chester Zoo
This will be an opportunity to share your school’s initiatives with others – you’ll be able to sign up for a presentation slot and find out what other schools have been doing.
Registration opens soon.
Open evening at the zoo
Date: June 18, 4:30 - 6:30pm
Location: In person at Chester Zoo
See how we inspire students as part of our walking tours and how to use our zoo as a resource.