The Colchester Zoo STEM Design Challenge is a FREE project offering children from the chance to solve real-world problems faced by zookeepers and staff at Colchester Zoo. Following the STEM design process and using science, technology, engineering and maths skills, children will reimagine a new design for an animal enclosure at the zoo.

How to Participate:

  • 1) Register as part of the project by clicking the above link
  • 2) Teachers (and other leaders) can participate in an optional virtual training and information session about STEM design thinking – Feb 2025
  • 3) Students develop their enclosure design prototype and work to refine and redesign it
  • 4) Classes can (optionally) participate in a virtual feedback session on their design progress (Mar-May 2025)
  • 5) (Optional) schools classes who are visiting Colchester Zoo can attend an in-person session related to STEM thinking and enclosure design
  • 6) Students finalise their design in summer term, and submit them for entry into the Contest!

Important Dates

  • 27 Jan 2025 – Registration opens
  • 26 Feb 2025 – Virtual training for teachers/leaders on STEM Design thinking
  • Mar-May 2025 – Real-world feedback for designs in-progress
  • 2 Jun 2025 – Contest submissions open
  • 27 June 2025 – Contest submissions close
  • 14 Jul 2025 – Contest winners announced

Looking for inspiration?

From January-July 2024 children used their creativity, ingenuity, and STEM thinking to help us imagine our ‘Future Zoo’ and how our Mixed African Paddock could be redesigned for the future. Over 10,000 children participated in the initial Challenge.

See the incredible winning designs from 2024 below: