Plan a Field Trip
Thank you for choosing the Minnesota Zoo as your Field Trip destination! A day at the Minnesota Zoo offers discovery, learning and more, whether you opt for a self-guided experience or select from our menu of programs. A year-round destination that offers both indoor and outdoor adventures, our exhibit areas and trails include: Discovery Bay , Medtronic Minnesota Trail, Northern Trail, Russia’s Grizzly Coast, Tropics Trail and the new Treetop Trail!
Registration:
Registration is open for field trips through August 31, 2025. Book Your Field Trip Today!
The following groups are eligible for our youth/school group rate:
School and youth groups are comprised of 8 or more children ages 3 thru college, organized by a recognized provider such as:
● School (Pre-K through College)
● Day care
● School age care
● Scouting associations
● Park districts
● Faith-based organizations
● Community Education
● Non-profit organizations serving youth/families
● Homeschools (with a minimum of 8 youth)
PLANNING YOUR TRIP
Please book your school/youth group online a minimum of 2 weeks prior to the field trip date. Full payment is due 2 weeks before your field trip date. Field trips are available every day of the week, however Mondays are not available during the months of October to March. The Zoo is open to field trip groups and Zoo members starting at 9 am year round.
If you have any questions, please email educate@mnzoo.org or call 952-431-9390.
Field Trip Stations at the Zoo
For the 2024-2025 school year, the Minnesota Zoo is offering an innovative approach to learning at the Zoo.
Interactive stations will be set up throughout the indoor Zoo areas facilitated by our Education staff. These stations will include hands-on activities and biofacts and are included in your field trip admission. Stations will be open Tuesday through Friday, 10 am to 1 pm on select dates.
Themes this year include:
Month
Theme
Specific Dates of Field Trip Stations
November 2024
and January 2025
Adventures in STEM:
Presented by Flint Hills Resources
The weather may be a little frightful, but the STEM activities and interactives are so delightful! Stop by the stations to experience how Zoo and conservation professionals utilize STEM in their daily work and put your STEM skills to the test.
November 12-15,
January 7-10, 14-17
December 2024
Zoo Careers:
Presented by Flint Hills Resources
Ever wonder what it takes to work at a Zoo? These stations are all about investigating what types of careers are available at a Zoo. Learn more about a variety of skills from animal care to exhibit design.
December 3-6, 10-13
February 2025
Around the World:
Presented by Flint Hills Resources
When you visit the Zoo in February, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about Zoo wildlife and conservation efforts while practicing your skills in a variety of world languages with the help of fellow Minnesota middle and high school students.
**All schools/students are welcome to attend. Please note that we don't need additional student presenters for any February dates.
February 5 and 6: Spanish
February 12: German
February 13: French
March 2025
Local Conservation:
Presented by Flint Hills Resources
Bison and mussels and butterflies, oh my! Stop by our stations to learn more about the conservation efforts in Minnesota, and easy ways that you can protect and conserve some of our amazing native species. Our stations will focus on conservation of the following species: American bison, prairie butterflies, freshwater mussels, and Minnesota freshwater turtles.
March 11-14, 18-21 and 25-28
April 2025
Global Conservation:
Presented by Flint Hills Resources
The Zoo aids many programs around the world to protect wild animals and wild places. Field trip groups can talk with educators, interact with biofacts of threatened species, and learn how to help animals across the world from their own homes and communities. Our stations will focus on conservation efforts of the following species: African penguin, chinchilla, Amur tiger, and black rhino.
April 15-18, 22-25
April 2025
ASL Day:
Presented by Flint Hills Resources
When you attend ASL Day, you can learn about Zoo wildlife conservation efforts while practicing your skills in American Sign Language with the help of fellow Minnesota middle and high school students. Interpretation services will be provided.
**All schools/students are welcome to attend. Student presentation tables are requested via a link in your field trip booking confirmation email.
April 29
SCHOOL/YOUTH GROUP PRICING
Register at least two weeks in advance to receive 2024-2025 youth/school group admission rates. You must book tickets and pay 2 weeks in advance for field trips. Memberships will not be accepted as part of a group admission.
Please note as a part of our new ticketing procedures, you will need to use a credit card to hold your spot, but that card will not be charged if you choose the payment plan option during checkout. Two weeks before your field trip is when your payment is due and you may use a different credit card (such as a district/organization card) at that time for the field trip fees. Credit cards are not stored so you'll always need to call in your payment if paying by credit card on or before the due date (2 weeks before).
If you are booking several field trips, please book each date on a separate order transaction.
School Group Pricing
School Year (September 3, 2024 to June 6, 2025)
Minimum of 8 students to receive the group rate
Admission for public school groups will be based on the percentage of Free and Reduced-Price Lunch recipients (from the previous school year) at the school. This pricing will be available during the school year (September 3, 2025 to June 6, 2025) for all eligible public school groups with eight or more students. Minnesota Zoo uses the list from the previous school year as provided from the Minnesota Department of Education to determine eligibility. This change will allow more schools to receive discounted tickets than our previous scholarship program.
Free and Reduced-Price Lunch Percentage
PreK-5th
6th-college
Chaperones (1 to 5 ratio)
Paras and bus drivers
Adults
School with 0-49.99% FRPL or schools outside of Minnesota
$6
$8
Free
Free
$12
School with 50-84.99% FRPL
$3
$4
Free
Free
$12
School with 85-100% FRPL
Free
Free
Free
Free
$12
Parking: $10 per car and $15 per bus
Please remember to book your field trip a minimum of 2 weeks in advance no matter which Free/Reduced Lunch category you fall into. Every group needs to be registered in advance.
Youth Group Pricing
School Year (September 3, 2024 to June 6, 2025)
Minimum of 8 students to receive the group rate
PreK-5th
6th-college
Chaperones (1 to 5 ratio)
Paras and bus drivers
Adults
$6
$8
1 chaperone is free per 5 paid students
Free
$12
Parking: $10 per car and $15 per bus
School/Youth Group Pricing
Summer
Minimum of 8 students to receive the group rate
PreK-5th
6th-college
Chaperones (1 to 5 ratio)
Paras and bus drivers
Adults
$10
$15
1 chaperone is free per 5 paid students
Free
$15
Parking: $10 per car and $15 per bus
If a group cancels a field trip visit less than 3 weeks in advance, they will be billed the following:
• 1 to 3 weeks: 50% of total
• One week or less: 100% of total
Payment is due a minimum of 2 weeks prior to your visit to the Zoo.
- Paying by credit card (preferred method). Please call 952-431-9200 with your order number and credit card payment a minimum of 2 weeks prior to your Zoo visit. The card used to hold your reservation will not be charged if you choose the Payment Plan option during the check out process. It will not be automatically charged when your payment is due, so please call in the information to us a minimum of 2 weeks before your visit.
- Paying by check. Please mail in your check (with your order number referenced) so it is received a minimum of 2 weeks prior to your visit to the following address:
Minnesota Zoo
Finance Department-Field Trip
13000 Zoo Blvd
Apple Valley, MN 55124
- Adult chaperones should stay with their groups at all times. This includes middle school and high school groups.
- Youth/students are encouraged to use the play areas but must be accompanied by a group chaperone and meet the age requirements posted.
- Youth/students are welcome to visit our gift shop but should be accompanied by an adult chaperone when possible.
- Code of Conduct for all Zoo guests, groups, and students: To make the Zoo experience enjoyable for you, our other guests, and the animals that call the Zoo home, we have a code of conduct in place that can be viewed by clicking here.
Teachers/Group Leaders: Please view and show this to your students before your Zoo visit group leader/teacher/student PDF for all the details prior to your field trip.
Lunches can be stored on the shelves or in the black bins by the Target Learning Center. Your group can eat your lunch at the tables at the entrance to the Tropics Trail or outdoors (if the weather permits). The seating in the Call of the Wild food court is reserved for those that are purchasing their lunch at the Zoo.
13000 Zoo Boulevard
Apple Valley, MN 55124
952.431.9200
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