Cincinnati Zoo Field Trip FAQs
When can we come for a field trip to the Zoo?
Field trips are available year-round, 7 days a week. The Zoo is open for schools from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M.
except between Memorial Day and Labor Day when it is open from 9 A.M. to 6 P.M.
When can I register for a field trip?
Registration for 2015-2016 school trips opens August 1st. You may call 513-559-7767 opt 2 to schedule between the hours of 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m.or leave a message. You can also register online here. The earlier you schedule, the greater the availability of field trip dates.
Some days in April and May sell out.
What is the cost of a field trip?
Tickets are $6.00 per student. For every 10 students you bring, you will receive one free adult teacher/chaperone. Any additional adults
beyond this free 1 to 10 policy are also $6.00. The Zoo accommodates students with special needs by offering free admission for adults
in the role of IEP-mandated 1:1 assistant.
Do you have any financial aid available?
The Zoo is proud to offer free field trip grants through the Living Classroom Education Access Fund. To find out more information and if
you qualify, click here.
When/How do I pay for my field trip?
Payment is only accepted the day of the field trip at the Admissions Window. This allows for last minute adjustments to your totals up to
the minute you leave for your trip. We accept cash, credit, check, or Purchase Order for total group payment. If paying with a PO, you
must bring a copy of the actual PO; PO numbers will not be accepted. Overpayments of $10 or less will not be refunded. Overpayments
of $10 or more will be refunded by check and will be mailed.
What if I need to reschedule/cancel my trip?
There is no fee to reschedule or cancel your trip. Please call 513-559-7767 opt 2 to let us know as soon as possible.
What should we do about lunch?
There are several lunch options for your field trip.
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There are general dining options around the Zoo to purchase lunch. Base Camp Cafe is open year-round with other options
open seasonally and weather-dependent. For a full list of Zoo dining options, click here.
School Group Lunches are available to purchase for groups of 25 or more. Group choices include an Economy Pizza Lunch
($4.00 per person), a School Pizza Lunch ($6.00 per person), Hot Dog Lunch ($5.50 per person), or Peanut Butter & Jelly
(5.50 per person). To find out more, call 513-559-7767 opt 2.
Visitors are allowed to bring outside food into the Zoo. We strongly encourage students to pack a sack lunch and either carry it
themselves or have a chaperone carry it for the group in a bag, as space to store lunches is limited to the Safari Camp
Shelters and is limited to first come, first serve OR to groups that have rented a shelter space for the day. This also prevents
adults from having to carry large coolers or boxes through the Zoo to the designated picnic location.
Where to eat: Picnic shelters can be reserved for large groups for a fee by calling Group Sales at (513) 487-3481. Otherwise,
they are first come, first serve. There are also smaller picnic areas scattered throughout the Zoo for smaller groups to eat. We
encourage each school group to carry their lunches with them and sit wherever they find a spot to eat.
Where should we park?
When you register for your field trip, you will receive a confirmation packet that includes directions and maps for parking. Buses may
park for free, but any additional chaperone vehicles will be charged the Zoo parking fee of $9.00 per vehicle upon exiting the parking
lot.
What are the Field Trip Rules & Policies for the Cincinnati Zoo?
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Registration for a Cincinnati Zoo Field Trip constitutes acceptance of the terms and conditions set forth. Upon entry to the Zoo,
school groups grant the Zoological Society of Cincinnati (the “Zoo”) permission to use images or media of anyone in the school
group in advertising, publicity and other promotions without payment or compensation to holder. The school group voluntarily
assumes all risk of personal injury (including but not limited to death) and loss of property, by accident or otherwise, incidental
to attending the Zoo and using its rides, attractions and facilities, and agrees that the Zoo, its directors, officers, employees,
and agents are not responsible for and shall not be liable for any such injuries or losses, no matter how caused. Entry to the
Zoo evidences a revocable license to enter the Zoo’s property, and this license may be revoked (and the holders ejected from
the Zoo’s property) at the sole discretion of the Zoo, without refund, if misused or if the holder fails to abide by the policies,
rules or regulations of the Zoo. Such policies, among other things, prohibit the possession and/or use of controlled substances
and intoxicants on Zoo property. Park hours, prices, policies, and programs are all subject to change without notice.
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One chaperone per ten students is required. Students in grades PreK-12 must be supervised by their chaperone at all times.
Unsupervised groups may be detained by Zoo staff or security until their chaperone is located.
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All school groups must respect Zoo animals and property. Climbing on rails or fences, littering, picking plants or flowers,
tapping on windows, screaming at exhibit animals, unauthorized feeding of exhibit animals, chasing free-roaming peacocks,
ducks, chickens, or geese are all grounds for dismissal from Zoo grounds without a refund.
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Cincinnati Zoo Memberships may not be used for school group entry or rides and attractions. This policy exists to make our
school discount possible. Charging students and chaperones $6 per person allows us to accommodate lots of schools in the
area and sometimes up to 3,000 students and teachers per day. As the Zoo has over 55,000 member households, allowing
members to use their pass when they are with a school, on a field trip, would cut our educational funding significantly and
possibly restrict the amount of schools we can accept in day, thus making the Zoo field trip not possible for some schools.
Further, this revenue makes our educational programs inside the Zoo possible- such as the various keeper encounters and a
Close Encounters program given just for school children, daily. Many Zoos, Aquariums, and Museums follow the same policy
to help support their educational programs.