Community Access Programs
Reid Park Zoo is a Zoo For All!
Reid Park Zoo is committed to providing experiences that inspire adults and children and motivate them to care for animals, the world, and conservation of natural resources. Our belief is that everyone should have the opportunity to connect with nature and wildlife regardless of economic status.
Through Community Access Programs, Reid Park Zoo is dedicated to making the Zoo and its programs more accessible to low-income and/or underserved children and families.
RPZ is proud to offer the following opportunities for community access to our facilities and programming:
Educational Programs
Zoo Adventure Programs (ZAP) for Title I Schools
RPZ offers a limited number of free Zoo Adventure Programs for Title I schools due to the generous support from foundations and donors. These programs are offered to K-12 students and feature a 45-minute program featuring live animal ambassadors by the Zoo’s education team. Topics include habitats, adaptations, Zoo 101, locomotion, conservation, and endangered species, and more! See a complete list of topics here.
Zoo to You Outreach Programs
RPZ offers a limited number of outreach programs free of charge due to the generous support from foundations and donors. Some schools are unable to make the trip to the Zoo and the Zoo to You outreach program allows students to learn about animals and conservation in their classroom by the Zoo’s knowledgeable education staff. See the list of topics here.
School Field Trips
RPZ offers free self-guided school field trips to the Zoo during regular school days for K-12 students during the months of August through May. Self-guided trips can be enhanced with complimentary Bio Bags and Activity Packets. Bio Bags are filled with hands-on artifacts such as skull and bone replicas to illustrate scientific concepts as well as detailed instructions on how to interpret items for the students. Activity Packets focus students’ attention while they are at the Zoo with age-appropriate activities teachers can download and print right from their computer. Click here to learn more.
Teacher Resources: Bio Bags
Make your field trip more engaging and educational by reserving a Bio Bag from the education department! Bio Bag backpacks are filled with durable, hands-on artifacts that illustrate life science concepts. The bags include instructions and educational messaging that teachers and chaperones can use to interpret each artifact. Each bag can be used to discuss animal adaptations and what animals eat, and the content is adaptable for different age groups. Teachers are welcome to check out these bags in advance to review the contents, or to use them in the classroom for a Zoo pre-visit session. There’s no cost for teachers to use a biobag; however bags must be reserved in advance.
Click here to request a Bio Bag, 48 hour notice is required.
Community Support
Discount for EBT Card Holders (SNAP/WIC)
Reid Park Zoo offers $4.75 off daytime admission tickets for guests who participate in the Arizona SNAP/WIC programs. This discounted ticket must be purchased in person at the front admission gate; it cannot be purchased online or in advance. A valid EBT card and identification must be presented to the cashier at the time of purchase. This offer is valid for up to seven daytime admission tickets. Please note: The EBT card can not be used to purchase the discounted daytime admission tickets.
BioBags
RPZ offers Bio Bags full of hands-on artifacts for groups taking a field trips to the Zoo! These backpacks contain skull and bone replicas and other objects to illustrate scientific concepts, as well as detailed instructions on how to interpret the items for your students.
Social Service Memberships
Reid Park Zoo offers a membership to help community-focused organizations bring individuals who participate in their program to the Zoo and learn about wildlife and conservation. Community Memberships are offered at a modest processing fee to 501 (c) (3) non-profit agencies working with child and family services, mental health programs and programs for homeless clients. To learn more, click here.
Pima County Public Library’s Culture Pass
Reid Park Zoo free daytime admission passes through Pima County Public Library’s Culture Pass program! The Act One Culture Pass program is a partnership between Act One, public libraries, and arts and cultural institutions. The Act One Culture Pass offers library cardholders free daytime admission for two people to participating cultural venues like museums, gardens, etc. or theater performances. Library cardholders receive two free daytime admissions and have seven days to visit the Zoo. 130 total passes are available every week. Passes are not valid for special events.
Community Partnerships & Outreach Events
Reid Park Zoo partners with local non-profits on collaborative fundraisers, food and toy drives, and promotion. Additionally, the Zoo partners with organizations throughout southern Arizona to bring the Zoo to the public at cause-related events and fairs.
Donation of Zoo Admission Tickets for Charitable Causes
Reid Park Zoo donates general daytime admission tickets to qualified 501 (c)(3) organizations. Click here to request a ticket donation.
DreamNight
Reid Park Zoo hosts an exclusive night at the Zoo for children with special health care needs, children with disabilities, their parents and siblings. This event is an exclusive evening for these children and their families to experience their Zoo free of charge and without the concern for social stigma and issues related to accessibility. The event is held at the Zoo and Museum in alternating years.
Non-profit Event Rentals
Qualified 501 (c)(3) organizations receive a discounted rate on venue rental fees to host meetings and non-fundraising events. To inquire about holding an event at the Zoo, contact our events department at events@reidparkzoo.org.
Web Cams and Activity Packets
Reid Park Zoo gives the opportunity for learning in the classroom through Web Cams and Activity Packets free of charge. Teachers and students can observe Zoo animals as they explore their natural habitat and engage in age-appropriate activities with STEM-based packet at no additional cost.
We are grateful for the generous support by the Tucson community! There are a number of opportunities for volunteers to support events, programs and operational needs. Programs offered are for adults, teens corporate groups. To learn more about becoming a volunteer click here.