Like universities, petting farms provide young people a place to study nature, an outlet for their energy, and an excuse not to be an astronaut. Procrastinate constructively with today's Groupon: for $7, you get one admission to White Post Farms in Melville (a $14 value). This Groupon is valid Thursday–Sunday.

Operating since the early 1900s and voted Best Petting Zoo of 2011 by readers of the Long Island Press, White Post Farms stimulates visitors with a smorgasbord of exciting diversions. Guests commune with an exotic menagerie of man’s second-best friends in the petting zoo, home to zebras, kangaroos and a sublimely patient giant tortoise. Friends of the feathered can hang out at Ronnie’s Birdie Landing, a free-flight aviary that boasts a 70-foot waterfall and a flock of parakeets that moonlight as a Flock of Seagulls cover band (feed, $0.92–$4.61, is not included). Guests can also enjoy the company of faux furry companions, gawking at the spectacle of the animatronic Animal Band Jamboree and the Singin’ Chicken Show.

During the summer months, an inflatable water park gives aquatically inclined youngsters a place to slide and splash, and little landlubbers can train for the future moon shots in the bounce-house playground. The farm’s playhouses and tractor-shaped play structures proffer a place for classic recess-style games, such as tag, capture the flag, and chief operating officer. Attractions not included in the cost of today’s Groupon include pony rides ($4.61), train rides ($1.84), and a mining adventure ($6.75–$9.75), where budding prospectors can pan for arrowheads, gemstones, and George Washington’s baby teeth.

Some attractions may not be available on certain dates. Check the schedule to plan your visit.