School Field Trip Guide

Parking Passes

All buses that are parking at the Zoo must purchase a bus parking pass.

We highly encourage all chaperones to ride with the bus, or if driving cars to carpool, and for school buses to drop off students and come back for afternoon pick-up rather than park. Please share the address with your bus driver and chaperones as parking locations have changed from past years.

Where to Park/Drop-off Pick-Up

Buses:

• Buses: Please park in the lot at 3311 Euclid Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45220.
• All teachers will pay for parked buses at check-in and be issued a parking pass.
• Parking Passes will be scanned on exit.

Cars:

• Vine Street parking lot at 3400 Vine Street or next open lot.
  • Chaperones driving separately that are not Zoo members will need to purchase their parking pass on the day before leaving the lot. Look for signs with the QR code at the Zoo or lot entry.
  • Chaperones driving separately should cross the bridge to the main entrance and meet their group at the turnstiles.

Parking for buses and cars will be limited in the spring. On busy days, buses and cars may be directed to overflow lots. Please follow road signs and staff directions.

• Please arrive at your program location 5-10 minutes before program start time.
• Program Locations (please see confirmation for program size/location)
  • Small/Classroom Program (8-20 students) – Wolf Woods
    • NOTE: During Festival of Lights, Small Close Encounters will be in the Frisch’s Theater located in the Education Building.
  • Large/Assembly Program (20-35 students) – The Clubhouse at the Train Station
  • Check out locations 9 & 10 on our Field Trip Map.

Due to space limitations, Close Encounters are limited to 1 adult to 10 students, with up to 3 adults for small encounters and 5 adults for large encounters. Additional chaperones are encouraged to enjoy the Zoo during the encounter and reunite with the group upon its completion.

• Please arrive at your program location approximately 5-10minutes before program start time.
• Due to limited indoor space, groups are limited to 15 people.
• Program Meet-Up
  • Please meet your Tour leader at the CREW building.
  • Check out location 7 on our Field Trip Map.

How to Change

There is no fee to reschedule or cancel your trip by 8:00am the day of your field trip. Please email [email protected] with your school name, teacher name, and field trip date. Schools that register for a Close Encounter are committed to a $25 per program fee, unless cancelled 48 hours before arrival to the Zoo.

Rescheduling

We can move most schools from one date to another. Please note that due to high school numbers in April and May, dates may be limited. Rescheduling Close Encounters, CREW Tours, and Sustainability Tours may be difficult due to limited availability.

Cancelling 

Send us an email with the name of your school, teacher name, and confirmation number and we can cancel your field trip.

Schools that register for a Close Encounter are committed to a $25 per program fee, unless cancelled 48hrs before arrival to the Zoo.

School Lunches

If you have placed a school lunch order, you must contact [email protected] 48 hours prior to your scheduled date to reschedule your school lunch pickup or to receive a full refund for a cancellation.

Final numbers and payment are due at check-in on the day of your field trip. When the school arrives at the Zoo, the lead teacher should take a final count of the students and adults (staff and chaperones) and go to the ticketing window. The ticketing staff will give the final total due.

• Groups may enter the zoo while the lead teacher is checking in.
• Payment can be paid via check, credit card, purchase order, or cash.
• Receipt will be printed and given to the lead teacher.
• If using a purchase order, a copy must be given to the ticketing staff. A bill will be sent to the billing contact on the purchase order based on the number of students and adults that visited, program fees, and bus parking fees.
  • To ensure smooth entry, purchase orders should be for the maximum number of students and adults that may be expected visit. We will only bill for the number of students and adults that visit.
• Over-payments less than $10 will not be refunded. Over-payments of $10 or more will be mailed by check and may take 2-3 weeks for processing.

Dining Options

• Bring your own lunches. We strongly encourage students to pack a sack lunch and either carry it themselves or have a chaperone carry it for the group in a bag.
• Purchase Lunch Individually. There are general dining options around the Zoo to purchase lunch. Concessions are located throughout the park but are open seasonally and weather-dependent.
• Purchase Lunch through the Zoo. We have a convenient lunch program for children and adults. Let the Zoo do the work for you! School lunches are available to purchase for groups of 10 or more, Monday-Friday, year-round. Lunches must be booked at least 2 weeks in advance.  Add Lunches to Your Field Trip

Where to eat

• Throughout the Zoo. For the easiest lunch experience, we encourage each school group to carry their lunches with them and sit wherever they find a spot to eat at their convenience.
• The Grove Picnic Shelters. Picnic Shelters are first come, first served. Shelters are available for rent.
• Spaces in lunch areas are limited. Groups may need to picnic along pathways.

Already Booked a School Lunch through the Zoo?

• Confirmation: All lunches are ordered and paid directly through our catering team. You will receive a separate confirmation from our catering team once your order is confirmed. At that time, orders can be increased only.
• Pick up Location: Base Camp Café (Check out location 6 on our Field Trip Map).
  • You can bypass the line at Base Camp Café and go to the left side of the counter. Please provide the school’s name to a food associate who will hand the food and beverages over to you and your chaperones to take it from there.
• Pick up Times: 10:30 am, 11:00 am or 11:30 am

School Lunch Cancellation Policy

• You must contact [email protected] 48 hours prior to your scheduled date to cancel or reschedule your school lunch order. We require a 48 hour notice prior to your scheduled date to receive a full refund.

• Plan Your Visit
• Printable Zoo Map
• Chaperone Field Trip Guide
• Self-Guided Activities
• Free Cincinnati Zoo Mobile App
  • Download the free app, tap the map to explore, in the top header, scroll left until you see the “School Programs” title and touch that to explore that filter

If any students in your group require special accommodations, please notify our registration team and touch base with your instructor the day of your program.

Click here to review all of the resources available in our Access for All Program.

The Zoo has single and double strollers, manual wheelchairs, and electric wheelchairs that are available for rent. Manual wheelcairs and ECVs can be reserved ahead of time by contacting education. Strollers can be rented at the Welcome Center after you enter the Zoo.

Click here to reserve a rental for your visit!

For more information about mobility and permittable OPDMD’s, please email Annie DeGrood.

View the Emergency Action Plan