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!

Registration for September 1, 2025-August 31, 2026 will open on August 1, 2025.

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)

STEM Stations at the Zoo

Formerly Field Trip Stations

Presented by Flint Hills Resources

FREE interactive stations will be set up throughout the indoor Zoo areas, facilitated by our Education staff. These stations will feature hands-on activities and biofacts and are open on select dates from Tuesday through Friday, 10 am to 1 pm.

Themes this year include:

Month

Theme

Specific Dates of STEM Stations

November 2025
and January 2026

Adventures in STEM

The weather may be a little frightful, but the STEM activities are so delightful! Stop by the stations to experience how Zoo and conservation professionals use science, technology, engineering, and math in their daily work. Come put your STEM skills to the test!

November 18-21
January 13-16, 20-23

December 2025

Zoo Careers

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 and a few jobs in between!

December 9-12, 16-19

February 2026 and April 2026

Around the World

Head to the Zoo for a global animal adventure! Get up close and personal with amazing animals while learning how to talk about them in different languages. Middle and high school students take the stage with fun, interactive presentations about Zoo topics from sea lions in Spanish to flamingos in French.
**All schools/students are welcome to attend. Presentation tables are requested via a link in your field trip booking confirmation email.

February 18 and 19: Spanish
February 24: German
February 25: French
February 26: Japanese
April 28: American Sign Language

March 2026

Local Conservation

Bison and mussels and butterflies, oh my! Stop by our stations to learn more about the conservation efforts happening in our own state, and easy ways that you can protect and conserve some of our amazing native species. Stations will focus on conservation efforts of the following species: American bison, prairie butterflies, freshwater mussels, and Minnesota native turtles.

March 10-13, 17-20

April 2026

Global Conservation

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. Stations will focus on conservation efforts of the following species: African penguin, chinchilla, Amur tiger, and black rhino.

April 14-17, 21-24

SCHOOL/YOUTH GROUP PRICING

Register at least two weeks in advance to receive 2025-2026 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: 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 before the due date (2 weeks prior to your field trip).

If you are booking several field trips, please book each date on a separate order transaction.

School Group Pricing - School Year

September 2, 2025 to June 5, 2026
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 2, 2025 to June 5, 2026) 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.

Free and Reduced-Price Lunch Percentage

PreK-5th

6th-college

Teachers/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 2, 2025 to June 5, 2026
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

June 7, 2025 to August 31, 2026
Minimum of 8 students to receive the group rate

PreK-5th

6th-college

Teachers/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

Cancellation Policy for Field Trips

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

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?

- 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.

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 or outdoors (if the weather permits). The seating in the food court is reserved for those that are purchasing their lunch at the Zoo.

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