Located within the San Antonio Zoo in San Antonio, the Will Smith Zoo School is an innovative nature-based preschool and kindergarten program where learning begins with wonder and curiosity. Children learn through loose parts play, joyful inquiry, and meaningful experiences with nature across the school’s two-acre campus and throughout the Zoo grounds. The program follows an inquiry-based, emergent curriculum that views nature as a co-teacher alongside parents and educators. By engaging with animals, conservation work, and daily outdoor exploration, children build resilience, confidence, and a deep connection to the natural world.
Natural Start spoke with Will Smith Zoo School’s director, Zachary Stingl, to learn more.
How did Will Smith Zoo School begin its partnership with the San Antonio Zoo, and how is the program thriving today?
From the beginning, leaders were energized by the vision of creating a school where young children could engage directly with conservation science while learning in an immersive outdoor environment at the San Antonio Zoo. The partnership offered unique opportunities for students to observe animal-care professionals at work, explore the Zoo grounds, and connect their learning to real-world conservation efforts.
Today, that vision continues to thrive. The program has expanded to include a kindergarten class that deepens community engagement through experiences like Wonder Wednesdays and Forest Fridays. In addition to the original campus, the school has also grown to include a satellite campus at the Irma Lewis Outdoor Learning Center in Seguin through a public-private partnership with Seguin Independent School District, expanding access to nature-based education while advancing the Zoo’s conservation mission.
Which outdoor areas of the Zoo School are you most excited for conference attendees to explore, and what makes them special?
Conference attendees will have the opportunity to explore the school’s thoughtfully designed two-acre campus as well as learning spaces woven throughout the San Antonio Zoo. The outdoor environments feature natural materials, gardens, and open-ended provocations that invite creativity, collaboration, and appropriate risk-taking. Because the campus functions as a living ecosystem, animals, conservation work, and the surrounding natural spaces all become part of the learning environment. This integration of outdoor classrooms and the broader Zoo landscape creates a uniquely immersive model of nature-based education.
Why are you excited to host NatStart26 here, and what do you hope attendees will gain from experiencing your school and San Antonio?
Hosting the conference is both an honor and a celebration of the work happening daily across the school’s campuses. The team hopes attendees leave inspired—not only by the Will Smith Zoo School, but by what becomes possible when community, conservation, and early childhood education intersect. Visitors will experience a model of immersive, nature-based learning while also enjoying the warmth and culture of San Antonio, a city that embraces partnership, innovation, and bold thinking.
Check out this video to learn more about Will Smith Zoo School!