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 more!

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

Field trips are open for registration! Please register your school/youth group online. From October to March, field trips may be scheduled every day of the week except for Member Mondays. Zoo classes may be added to your field trip on Tuesday through Friday, from September 19, 2022 through May 12, 2023.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected] or call 952-431-9390.

NEW! Field Trip Stations at the Zoo

For the 2022-2023 school year, the Minnesota Zoo is piloting an innovative approach to learning at the Zoo.

Interactive stations will be set up throughout the Zoo facilitated by our Zoo educators. These stations will include hands-on activities and biofacts and are included in your field trip admission. Stations will be open Tuesday through Friday, 9 am to 12 pm on select dates.

Themes this year include:

Month

Theme

Specific Dates of Field Trip Stations

November

STEM at the Zoo

November 1-4 and 8-11

February

Zoo Careers

February 14-17 and 21-24

March

The World of Water

March 14-17, 21-24 and 28-31

April

Conservation

April 4-7, 11-14, 18-21, 25-28

SCHOOL/YOUTH GROUP PRICING

Register at least two weeks in advance to receive 2022-2023 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.

School Group Pricing

School Year (September 6, 2022 to June 16, 2023)
Minimum of 8 students to receive the group rate

Admission for school groups will now be based on the percentage of Free and Reduced-Price Lunch recipients at the school. This pricing will be available during the school year (September 6, 2022 to June 16, 2023) for all eligible 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: $7 per car and $10 per bus

School Group Pricing

Summer or Holidays
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: $7 per car and $10 per bus

Youth Group Pricing

School Year (September 6, 2022 to June 16, 2023)
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: $7 per car and $10 per bus

Youth Group Pricing

Summer or Holidays
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: $7 per car and $10 per bus

Cancellation Policy for Field Trips

School/Youth groups have one option to reschedule.

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

In an event of inclement weather where school or programs are cancelled, school/youth groups must call or email to say they are not coming. The group will then be rescheduled.

How do I pay for my group’s visit?

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

What is expected of our group during our visit?

- Please see the Zoo’s most up-to-date COVID guidelines.

- 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.

Teachers/Group Leaders: Please view this teacher/group leader PDF for all the details prior to your field trip. Also have your students/youth view the student PDF prior to your visit.

Where can we store and eat our lunches?

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, in Discovery Bay 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.

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