Delivered in partnership with Edinburgh Zoo
This interactive workshop invites children, young people, parents/carers, and professionals to step into the role of a zoo vet for the day, using animals to explore health, illness, treatment, and care in an engaging and inclusive way. Led by Edinburgh Zoo’s education team, participants will learn how vets recognise health conditions, monitor wellbeing, and make decisions about care, drawing thoughtful parallels between animal and human health experiences. For children and young people living with health conditions, the session offers a safe and relatable way to build understanding and confidence; for parents, carers, and professionals, it provides valuable insight into how creative, experiential learning can support communication, empathy, and participation around health. The workshop reflects Article 24 of the UNCRC — every child’s right to the highest attainable standard of health — by promoting understanding, information‑sharing, and meaningful participation in health conversations across ages and roles.
ABOUT Edinburgh Zoo
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) is a wildlife conservation charity with a bold vision: a world where nature is protected, valued and loved.
RZSS was founded in 1909 by Edinburgh lawyer Thomas Gillespie. A visionary and nature enthusiast, in just four years Thomas garnered sufficient support and funding to enable RZSS to buy an 85 acre site to the west of Edinburgh, with help from the City of Edinburgh Council.
Edinburgh Zoo was opened to the public on 22 July 1913 and was incorporated by Royal Charter later that year. However it was only in 1948, following a visit by HRH King George VI, that RZSS was granted the privilege of adding the prefix ‘Royal’ to its name.
It remains one of only a few zoos with a Royal Charter in the United Kingdom. Today, Edinburgh Zoo is home to over 2,500 amazing animals.
