School Field Trips

Did you know school groups who come to the Zoo during the regular school day are eligible for free self-guided trips? It’s true!

To receive this discount, self-guided trips must be reserved at least 30 days in advance to secure the date. Please be aware March-May fills up fast! To ease frustrations during the registration process, please submit as soon as possible.

Self-Guided Field Trip Details:

• Offered for K-12 students only (pre-schools and colleges should see our “Private and Youth Group” page)
• Must take place on a weekday (Mon.-Fri.) during the traditional school year (Aug.-May.)
• 1 adult REQUIRED for every 5 children
• 1 adult will be admitted FREE with every 5 children (additional adults and any guests are charged regular admission)
• Must be booked 30 days in advance in order to receive free admission for self-guided field trips.
• Additional activities available for purchase: Giraffe Encounters, Train Rides, and Carousel

Zoo Adventure Program

Make your students’ visit to Reid Park Zoo a true learning experience by selecting one of the available Zoo Adventure Program (ZAP) topics listed below.

The ZAP program curriculum is designed to align with current state and federal science standards and provide a fun and memorable field trip for your students.

Pricing:
$8.00 per person (student AND adults/teachers within a 1:5 ratio of adults to students)

Minimum program price:
$160

• Grades K-12 students only (a self-guided trip or Zoo to You Outreach is best for preschool groups)
• 45-minute program featuring LIVE animal ambassadors
• 1 adult REQUIRED for every 5 children, adults outside the 1:5 ratio will not be able to join the program.

Grant funding is available to cover program fees for the 2024-2025 school year for Arizona Title 1 Schools. Funding is provided by The William E. Hall Foundation held at the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, the Hutchens Family Foundation, Zarling’s Zoo Kids, Southwest Gas, the Kasser Family, Cox Charities, Joseph Stanley Leeds Charitable Foundation, and the Arizona Cardinals Charities Fund. Chaperones outside the 1:5 ratio will need to pay regular Zoo admission and will not be able to join the program.

Zoo Adventure Program (ZAP) Details:

• Must take place on a weekday (Mon.-Fri.) during the traditional school year (Aug.-May.) with a start time of 9:30 or 10:00.
• 40 people maximum for most programs (students and chaperones). Animal Food and Nutrition and Animal Health Care ZAPs have a 30 person limit per program.  
• Large groups will be scheduled into back-to-back programs automatically.  
  • For example: for a group of 80 people in the 9:30 time slot, we will  schedule programs for groups of 40 at 9:30 – 10:15 and 10:15-11:00. Reid Park Zoo Staff will work with you as needed based on your group’s size.
  • Please note for groups larger than 160 people, we will need to schedule an additional, extra day to accommodate your group.
• Must be booked 30 days in advance
• Additional chaperones outside the 1:5 ratio will need to pay regular zoo admission and will not join the program but can join the group after the program.
• Additional activities available for purchase: Giraffe Encounters, Train Rides, and Carousel

Programs will focus on the topic of your choice and will include fun activities and presentations with live animal ambassadors.