• Field Trip Request

    2026 -27

  • Visit the Zoo with Your Group Today!

    Enhance your students’ learning with a field trip where the Zoo is your living classroom! Field trips to the Zoo are available year round every day of the week.

    Requests should be made at least 2 weeks in advance, but can be made up 3 business days in advance. Dates sell out so request early!

     

    Pricing

    Admission is $9 per person August-May, $15 per person June-July. Registration is required for all guests 3years and older.

     

    Student Supervision

    The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden require 1 adult for every 10 students (PreK through 12th grade). Adults are any non-student over the age of 18 years, including teachers and staff. Required supervisory adults are free. Any adults over the 1:10 ratio will be the field trip admission rate, though 1:1 student aides and bus drivers are always free.

     

    What happens next?

    You will receive an email copy of your request form. Once your request is received by the Registration Team and your group is registered, an email confirmation will be sent to you.  

    The Education Department will always reach out, regardless of field trip status. If you do not receive communication within 5-7 days, please reach out to us at education@cincinnatizoo.org. Please add education@cincinnatizoo.org and tickets@cincinnatizoo.org to your Safe Senders list to ensure you receive confirmations and other correspondence.

     

    Financial Aid

    Thanks to our sponsors and the Living Classroom Education Access Fund, qualified schools can apply for financial assistance for educational school programs. Not available for non-school groups or homeschools. 

    Learn more here and if you are eligible, fill out our Financial Aid Application.

     

  • School/Organization Information

  • Format: (000) 000-0000.

  • Requester's Information

  • Will you be the lead adult checking in on the day?*
  • Is there a separate party responsible for billing/payment?*
  • Format: (000) 000-0000.
  • Format: (000) 000-0000.
  • Check mark who should receive the field trip confirmation.*

  • Billing Information

  • Format: (000) 000-0000.

  • Day of Lead Adult

    This is the person who will be checking the group in and is on grounds for emergencies.
  • Format: (000) 000-0000.

  • Field Trip Information

    All request should be made at least 2 weeks in advance, but can be made up 3 business days in advance. Dates sell out so request early!
  • Choose your own date or join one of our School Event Days

  • School Event Days are held at the Cincinnati Zoo and are free with admission. Please note: other school programs (such as Close Encounters and Sustainability Tours) are not be available during School Event Days.

    Planet Protectors (1st -5th grade) November 5, 2026

    Join us for a day dedicated to protecting the panet! From learning how to sort your recycling to meeting animals you can help in your own school yard - this day is sure to inspire your students to do their own part in protecting our planet!

     

    More School Event Day information coming soon.

    • Bird Days Oct
    • Math Days Feb/Mar
  • First Choice for Visit Date*
     - -
  • Second Choice for Visit Date*
     - -
  • Third Choice for Visit Date*
     - -
  • Grade Levels*
  • Will your group bring a service animal?*
  • Do you require a manual wheelchair or ECV?*
  • Rows

  • Field Trip Information

    All request should be made at least 2 weeks in advance, but can be made up 3 business days in advance. Dates sell out so request early!
  • First Choice for Visit Date*
     - -
  • Second Choice for Visit Date*
     - -
  • Third Choice for Visit Date*
     - -
  • Children's Grade/Age Levels*
  • Will your group bring a service animal?*
  • Do you require a manual wheelchair or ECV?*
  • Rows

  • Vehicle Parking

    All vehicles that are parking at the Zoo must purchase a parking pass. No charge for vehicle dropping off. All vehicles will be charged a parking fee. Member may use their Zoo membership for individual car parking.
  • Do you need to purchase bus parking passes?*
  • Rows
  • Type A Buses - Full Size Buses (40-90 capacity), Mid-size (15-40 capacity), Type B- Small bus (10-30 capacity), Type C- Vans- (up to 15 capacity)
  • Do you need to purchase car parking passes?*
  • Rows

  • Education Programs (optional)

    • Paid Education Programs 

    • Close Encounter Programs (PreK-8th Grade) $25

      Get up close and curious with Close Encounters - an interactive, hands-on program designed to bring science to life! Led by a Zoo Educator and aligned with Next Generation Science Standards, each session engages students through participatory activities and includes a memorable meet-and-greet with an animal ambassador. It's an exciting way to connect classroom learning with the natural world. Available September 28-May 14. Programs must be cancelled 48 hours in advance to avoid charges. $25 per program.

    • Close Encounters are available September 28-May 14. Programs must be cancelled 48 hours in advance to avoid charges. $25 per program.

      Adaptations (PreK-8th Grade)
      Explore the fascinating world of animal adaptations in this interactive, educator-led program! Students will discover how physical features and behaviors help animals survive, thrive, and interact with their environments. Younger learners will identify adaptations and understand how they help animals survive in various habitats, while our older learners will dive deeper into the relationships between adaptations, species interactions, and their impact on survival.

      Dates: Monday-Friday, September 28-May 14
      Time: 10:45-11:15am, 11:30am-12:00pm, 1:00-1:30 (afternoon programs March-May only)
      Cost: $25/program


      Careers and Conservation (6th-12th Grade)
      Did you know that you can help with conservation no matter where you work? Through this program, students will learn more about the conservation opportunities present in careers both inside and outside of the Zoo! Students will also get to meet an animal ambassador and learn about their conservation story.

      Dates: Monday-Friday, September 28-May 14
      Time: 11:30am-12:15pm, 1:00 -1:45 (afternoon programs March - May only)
      Cost: $25/program

    • Rows
    • Do any of your students have developmental disabilities or other special needs?
    • If programs are unavailable on your first choice date, we will book your second or third choice date. If programs are unavailable for any date, we can contact you.
    • Free Education Programs (optional) 

    • Sustainability Tours (9th-12th Grade)

      Sustainability Tours introduce students to the sustainability and green practices that go on at the Zoo everyday

    • Sustainability Tours are available Monday - Friday September 28 - November 20 and March 1 - March 19.

      This is a 45 minute walking tour and will begin at the time of your arival at the front Turnstiles, which can be from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM. Please enter your estimated time of arrival, and if your program is confirmed, we will call you the morning of your trip to confirm arrival time.

      We can accomodate up to two groups of 25 people with a required 1:10 ratio of adults to students. 

    • Rows
    • Do any of your students have developmental disabilities or other special needs?
    • If programs are unavailable on your first choice date, we will book your second or third choice date. If programs are unavailable for any date, we can contact you.

    • CREW Building Tours (7th Grade-College)

      The CREW Tour introduces students to the conservation research science that goes on at the Zoo everyday. Monday-Friday, September-July. 30-minute Building Tour. 7th Grade-College. We can accommodate up to 15 people (1 adult min for students 7th-12th) per timeslot.
    • Rows
    • Do any of your students have developmental disabilities or other special needs?
    • If programs are unavailable on your first choice date, we will book your second or third choice date. If programs are unavailable for any date, we can contact you.

    • Self-Guided Activities (PreK-12th Grade)

      A list of free self-guided activities can be found by scrolling to the bottom of this link to 'School Resources' and clicking on 'Expand for more'.

      Link: https://cincinnatizoo.org/education/school-programs/field-trips/

      Self guided activities include: 

      • New! Conservation Scavenger Hunts (K-12th)
      • Ani-Math (PreK-K)
      • Crazy Legs (PreK-K)
      • Animal Inquiry Guided (K-12)
      • Brilliant Bird Bodies (1st-3rd)
      • Science of Survival (2nd-4th)
      • Pollinator Party (3rd-5th)
      • North American Natives (3rd-5th)
      • Animal Defense Skills (3rd-5th)
      • Animal Inquiry Open (4th-12th)
      • Pollinator-Palooza (6th-8th)
      • Critters and Climate (7th-12th)
      • Science of Survival (7th-12th)

  • Programs

  • Behind the Scenes Experiences (Click Here)

    Add a wild encounter to your Zoo visit today! Get up close and personal with some of your favorite animals! We’re bringing you close enough to care with these special animal experiences. These experiences support the animals in our care and conservation efforts for their wild counterparts.

     

    • Check out the BTS FAQ

     

    Self-Guided Activities (Click Here)

    The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is committed to supporting teachers, students, and families around the world. Below, you will find resources to engage learners in grades pre-K to 12 with science, the natural world, wildlife and conservation.
     
    At the Zoo

    Get your students involved in learning while at the Zoo! These standards-based, multi-curricular activities are meant to be a la cart so teachers can choose which topics and subjects they want their students to explore. See how these activities align with Ohio’s state standards and NGSS.

    In the Classroom

    There are thousands of wildlife and conservation organizations across the United and around the world that are doing amazing work to conserve wildlife and wild places and educate the public.

     

  • Rides, & Lunches (optional)

  • Rides

    Unlimited Train and Carousel Ride Tickets ($4 per person; students must be accompanied by an adult on rides). To receive the school field trip rides rate, tickets must be issued at time of check-in. No refunds for unused rides tickets. Must purchase 1 adult ticket per 10 student tickets.

  • Lunches

  • Lunches are available Monday-Friday, year-round. Lunches must be ordered at least two weeks in advance, and are made directly to our catering partner, SSA.

    Lunches are ordered as number of hot dogs ($8/hot dog), or number of pizzas (8 slices per pizza, $24/pizza), and then number of chips/water ($6) you would like.

    If you select that you would like to order lunches, once your field trip is confirmed, you will receive a link to the Group Lunch order form. Your lunch order will be paid directly to SSA.

  • Should be Empty: