Denver Zoo Field Trip: Free, Self-Guided, Cost, and Reservation Details

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Denver Zoo Field Trip: Free, Self-Guided, Cost, and Reservation Details

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Denver Zoo offers a variety of field trip options for schools and groups, including free self-guided field trips and facilitated programs. These trips provide opportunities for students to learn about wildlife conservation, animal care, and sustainability while exploring the zoo.

Free Self-Guided Field Trips

Denver Zoo Field Trip
Image Credit: Wikimedia

The Denver Zoo offers free self-guided field trips for eligible institutions following an academic curriculum, accompanied by a teacher or institutional staff. These field trips are available Monday through Friday, September through May, on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations are required and include bus parking spots.

Eligibility

  • Accredited institutions following an academic curriculum
  • Accompanied by a teacher or institutional staff

Cost

  • Free for all attendees

Dates and Times

  • Available Monday through Friday, September through May

Reservation

  • First-come, first-served
  • Register online, selecting the date and number of guests, including students, staff, and chaperones

Facilitated Programs

Denver Zoo Field Trip

In addition to the free self-guided field trips, the Denver Zoo offers several facilitated programs for different grade levels, each with a specific focus and cost.

Creature Feature

  • For grades Pre-K to K
  • Focusing on classification and animal characteristics
  • Cost: $6 (September to March) or $7 (April to May)

Animal Academy

  • For grades K-3
  • Applying critical thinking and science skills to complete missions
  • Cost: $8 per person for school groups

Conservation Challenge

  • For grades 6-12
  • Exploring human impacts on wildlife and implementing sustainability solutions
  • Includes three sessions: zoo field trip, school visit, and optional student showcase
  • Cost: Free for eligible schools

Chaperone Policy

The Denver Zoo requires a specific chaperone-to-student ratio for field trips.

Ratio

  • One adult per 10 students required

Cost

  • Chaperones are charged at a discounted rate of $5 each

Reschedule and Cancellation Policy

The Denver Zoo has a policy in place for rescheduling and cancelling field trips.

Reschedule Fee

  • $25 transfer fee and 50% of total program cost (less than 14 business days)
  • $25 transfer fee (more than 14 business days)

Cancellation Fee

  • 50% of total program cost (less than 14 business days)
  • No fee (more than 14 business days)

Additional Information

Charter Bus Rentals

  • Available through providers like CharterUP, Shofur, and GOGO Charters

Food and Restrooms

  • Students can bring their own lunch, and groups can rent wagons to transport lunches
  • Multiple bathrooms are available throughout the zoo grounds

Contact Information

References

Denver Zoo. (n.d.). Learn at the Zoo – Denver Zoo. Retrieved from https://denverzoo.org/conservation-challenge/
Explorable Places. (n.d.). Denver Zoo | Explorable Places. Retrieved from https://www.explorableplaces.com/places/denver-zoo
Denver Zoo. (n.d.). Free Self-Guided Field Trips – Denver Zoo. Retrieved from https://denverzoo.org/free-self-guided-field-trips/
Denver Zoo. (n.d.). School Programs and Field Trips – Denver Zoo. Retrieved from https://denverzoo.org/school-field-trips/
Denver Zoo. (n.d.). Creature Feature & Classes – Denver Zoo. Retrieved from https://denverzoo.org/creature-feature-classes/.

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