Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden®

Home of the world famous hippo Fiona. Family friendly Zoo committed to inspiring visitors with wildlife and saving species.

Living Classroom Education Access Fund (LCEAF)

Thanks to our sponsors and the Living Classroom Education Access Fund, qualified schools can apply for financial assistance for educational school programs. See details for eligibility below.

School Year 2022-23 Applications Open
Field Trips 2022-23After Hours Programs 2022-23Virtual Programs 2022-23Wild Wednesdays @1

Living Classroom Education Access Fund

Living Classroom Education Access Fund Financial Assistance is available to under-resourced schools in our target areas. To receive Financial Assistance, teachers must complete an application and agree to the LCEAF terms and conditions noted in “More Details” section below.

NOTE: Applications can take 2-3 weeks for approval. Teacher must apply for each field trip date and/or program. Apply early.

MORE DETAILS

Terms for Free Field Trips & Virtual Programming

  1. School serves a student population of at least 50%* free and reduced lunch students. Teacher needs to attach a statement of financial need to their application. This can be either a signed statement from your school principal or a source stating your status. *Updated 9/17/21
  2. School must be from our target areas for field trips, after hours programs, and virtual programs.
    • For Field Trips and After Hours Programs at the Zoo: School must be from the Greater Cincinnati Tri-State Area (including Indiana and Kentucky).
    • For Virtual Zoo on the Move and Wild Chats:  School must be from the Greater Cincinnati Tri-State Area (including Indiana and Kentucky), or any other Ohio county.
    • For list of eligible counties, see details in tabs below.
  3. For Field Trips at the Zoo: a detailed lesson plan explaining the activities your students will complete during your field trip (can be Zoo Self-Guided Activities) including objectives and standards being met.
  4. Agree to participate in a Zoo post-assessment with your students.

To expedite the review of your application, please be sure to include all required forms and complete all required questions before submission. Failure to do so will delay the review of your application.

Eligible Counties

  • Ohio: Adams, Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Fayette, Green, Hamilton, Highland, Montgomery, Preble, Warren
  • Kentucky: Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, Mason, Pendleton
  • Indiana: Dearborn, Franklin, Ohio, Switzerland

Field Trips Dates

  • Field Trips are limited to Monday-Friday September-March, and July.
  • Field Trips are limited to Monday-Wednesday April-June. Some limited capacity now available for Thursdays and Fridays.
  • Field Trips are unavailable in August.

Lesson Plans

  • Lesson Plans for your Field Trip can be Zoo provided Self-Guided Activities, or a lesson plan activities created by the teacher.

Chaperones and Parking

  • If your school receives the Living Classroom Education Access Fund, all students will be FREE, and 1 chaperone per 7 students* will also be FREE!
  • Additional chaperones are only $7.00 each! School bus parking is free, but private vehicles are $10.00 per vehicle. *Some groups require additional aides to assist students with challenges.  These required aides are also free of charge.

Sold Out Dates

  • If your requested dates, times or programs are already fully booked, we will contact you for alternate options.

Confirmation

  • Submitting an application DOES NOT confirm your school has received financial aid.
  • Prior approval does not confirm future approval.
  • If you receive financial aid, you are only approved for the number of students listed on your invoice. If you bring additional students the day of your trip, those students will be charged the $7.00 rate.

Eligible Counties

  • Ohio: All Ohio Counties
  • Kentucky: Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, Mason, Pendleton
  • Indiana: Dearborn, Franklin, Ohio, Switzerland

Virtual Program Dates

  • Virtual Wild Chats are available Monday-Friday; September 19- May 19, 9am-4pm. You pick the date and time.

Participants

  • Each Virtual program is limited to 30 students. For groups with more than 30 students, you will need to apply for multiple programs.
  • See the Virtual Wild Chats page for details.
  • Participants can log in from their school or from home. Virtual programs are available for in-school and remote learning.

Sold Out Dates

  • If your requested dates, times or programs are already fully booked, we will contact you for alternate options.

Confirmation

  • Submitting an application DOES NOT confirm your school has received financial aid.
  • Prior approval does not guarantee future approval.

For more information about programming and available topics, visit our Virtual Wild Chats. Return to this page to apply for a financial assistance.

Eligible Counties

  • Ohio: Adams, Brown, Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Fayette, Green, Hamilton, Highland, Montgomery, Preble, Warren
  • Kentucky: Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, Mason, Pendleton
  • Indiana: Dearborn, Franklin, Ohio, Switzerland

Program Types and Topics

  • You may choose to participate in a Sunset Safari or Overnight Adventure. Overnight Adventures are the same nighttime program as a Sunset Safari, you will just spend the night at the Zoo!
    • Sunset Safari: 7:00pm-10:00pm
    • Overnight Adventure: 7:00pm-9:00am the next morning
  • Topics: African Predator Prowl or Sleep with the Manatees
  • For more information on our After Hours Programs, please visit the program page.

After Hours Dates

  • After Hours programs are limited to Wednesday-Friday September-June.
  • After Hours programs are unavailable November-December and July-August.
  • Overnight Adventures include admission to the Zoo the next day. *please see parking for additional details.

Chaperones

  • A minimum of 1 chaperone/teacher per 7 students is required.
  • Under the Living Classroom Education Access Fund, all students and chaperones (per 1:7 ratio*) will be free of charge
  • *Some groups require additional aides to assist students with challenges.  These required aides are also free of charge.

Parking

  • During program hours for Sunset Safaris and Overnight Adventures, parking is free for schools bussing and private vehicles.
  • If your class participates in an Overnight Adventure, you may stay for a field trip the next day free of admission charge. School bus parking is $10-50/bus and private vehicles are $10.00/vehicle if parking at the Zoo during regular Zoo hours.

Sold Out Dates

  • We will contact you with alternative dates if your requested dates are already booked

Confirmation

  • Submitting an application DOES NOT confirm your school has received financial aid.
  • Prior approval does not guarantee future approval.
  • You are only approved for the number of students listed on your invoice. If you bring additional students the day of your trip, those students will be charged the general program rate.

LCEAF/Financial Assistance Terms and Conditions

If you are approved for financial assistance:

  • You are only approved for the number of programs and students listed in your application.
  • If you receive financial assistance, all requirements must be met (ie. post-surveys).We maintain records of requirements being fulfilled and failure to do so may affect future financial assistance requests.

Fields Trips at the Zoo:

  • Financial assistance only covers the cost of admission for approved students and required adults in our 1:7 adult student ratio, and required student aides. Adults over the 1:7 ratio will be charged the $7 admission rate.
  • If you bring additional students and/or chaperones the day of your trip, they will be charged the $7.00/person school rate.
  • Buses receive free parking. Private vehicles parking at the Zoo are charged $10.

Wild Wednesday School Safari

Join us every Wednesday at 1pm EST on the Teacher Connections Facebook group, for a FREE live program. Our education team will be visiting animals and their care teams behind the scenes to learn more about wildlife and conservation. Groups  will be able to ask questions via the chat, and a follow-up activity will be posted to the group page.

Join the Teacher Connections Facebook Group

MORE DETAILS

Audience: all school children (in school or remote learning) from preschool through 12th grade.
Program Length: 15-20 minutes
Program Capacity: unlimited
Program Cost: FREE

Dates: Wednesdays, Spring 2023
Times: 1:00pm EST

Thank You Sponsors!

The Living Classroom Education Access Fund was made possible through generous support from our lead partner, The Helen G., Henry F. and Louise Tuechter Dornette Foundation.

Additional support was provided by these founding partners:

The Ambassador Council of the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Duke Energy logo 2013 The John A. Schroth Family Foundation, PNC Trustee The Sutphin Family Foundation

Call or email: 513-559-7730 or [email protected]

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