On Wednesday, the Virginia Zoo and Norfolk city leaders broke ground on its new Macon and Joan Brock EdVenture & Exploration Campus, just east of the zoo’s fountain plaza.
“Our vision is to create an EdVenturous world where everyone values wildlife education and the environment. This $16.2 million transformational campaign brings exciting, bold, mission-centric initiatives that reflect our community’s collective voice and enhances the Zoo’s educational impact deepening our connection to some of Hampton Roads’ leading education and conservation organizations,” said Greg Bockheim, the zoo’s executive director.
The expansion includes two large buildings with indoor and outdoor classrooms two small outdoor amphitheaters and a “tree top trail” that lets animals scurry overhead.
The zoo’s launching its largest fundraising effort in more than a decade to help with this project and several others in the works, with a dollar matching pledge up to $350,000 in the first phase of the campaign. So far donors have given $15.5 million toward the $16.2 million goal.
Zoo officials hope to open the new Macon and Joan Brock EdVenture & Exploration Campus before the spring of 2026.
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