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Educators

Texas Aquarium and Zoo Educators

Join us for the TAZE 2025 conference as we connect with other educators, strengthen professional skillsets, and celebrate our collective wildlife-saving impacts. All attendees will leave with methods, resources, and hands-on experiences to apply within their own programming and projects.

Registration Information

Where: The Houston Zoo
When: February 26-28

Register Here

Registration is free and commemorative t-shirts are available for purchase. Please include any accommodation or allergy considerations during registration. A full schedule can be found below.

Contact us at education@houstonzoo.org if you have any questions.

Saving Texas Species

This year, we are celebrating our state’s zoo and aquarium educators through the theme, “Saving Texas Species.” All of our organizations are helping guests connect with and take action to save wildlife. We cannot wait to hear how everyone is saving wildlife in our state and around the world!

Check below for ways you can help us make this year’s conference a zero-waste event!

 

Hotel Group Rates

The Houston Zoo has group rates with the two below hotels in the area around the Zoo and medical center. Both hotels offer complimentary breakfast. Click either hotel for more information.

Hilton Garden Inn Houston Medical Center
6840 Almeda Rd.
Houston, TX 77030
1.2 miles to the Zoo

Hyatt Place Houston Medical Center
7329 Fannin St
Houston, TX 77030
1.8 miles to the Zoo

Schedule of Events

Wednesday, February 26

  • 8 AM – 10 AM: Optional Pre-Conference Saving Wildlife Training Opportunity at Sims Bayou
  • 12 PM: Conference Welcome & Kickoff
  • 1 PM – 5 PM: Featured Speakers and Afternoon Sessions
  • 6 PM: Evening Event with Conservation Partners & Dinner Provided by the Houston Zoo

Thursday, February 27

  • 8 AM – 12 PM: Morning Sessions
  • 12 PM: Lunch Provided by Houston Zoo
  • 1 – 5 PM: Afternoon Sessions
  • 6 PM: Optional Evening Social Offsite

Friday, February 28

  • 8 AM – 12 PM: Morning Sessions
  • 12 PM: Conference Concludes
Green sea turtle swimming in the ocean

Saving Wildlife at TAZE 2025

Help us reduce threats to wildlife and create a zero-waste conference by participating in the following:

  • Bring a reusable water bottle and/or coffee cup.
  • Bring your nametag from your home institution.
  • Ensure food scraps and waste end up in the appropriately labeled receptacles throughout the event.

The Houston Zoo is committed to:

  • Utilizing washable or compostable food-service items in place of single-use options.
  • Partnering with Zero Waste Houston to convert food waste into usable compost.
  • Encouraging green-vendor practices.
  • Incorporating materials with high recycled content whenever possible.
  • Maintaining a digital registration and check-in system to reduce paper usage.

Submitting a Presentation Proposal

If you have already submitted your proposal, thank you! If you have not submitted your session proposal, we still have capacity for several additional presenters and are looking for hands-on learning opportunities that empower participants to walk away with new skills and resources.

We encourage each institution to submit at least one presentation. Submission requests can be submitted here.

Based on feedback from TAZE attendees, session proposals are encouraged that:

  • Focus on skill-building.
  • Are hands-on, not just a presentation.
  • Provide time to workshop/connect the new skill to their work.
  • Include resources for further learning (to be added in a TAZE google folder to be shared after the conference).