WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT YOUR VISIT
This checklist will help you finalize your plans, prepare for your day and ensure a safe and educational visit for your group. Enjoy your day at the Dallas Zoo!
FEES
We know it's confusing, but we need separate school check(s) or cash in large bills for each event scheduled during your visit.
- Zoo Admission Fees: Payable upon arrival at the front gate.
- Monorail Safari Tour Fees: Payable upon arrival at Monorail cashier booth.
- Parking Fees: $5.00 per vehicle. Government-funded school buses (yellow buses) park free.
- Education Program Fees: Must be pre-paid at least two weeks before your program date.
CHAPERONE POLICIES
Chaperones are important. They help make field trips safe, fun and educational for everyone. Help chaperones do a good job by reviewing these guidelines with them before you arrive. We cannot make exceptions to these policies.
Assign chaperones to their group before you leave school . Be sure students know their chaperones. Chaperones and their assigned students must stay together the entire day. Undisciplined or unchaperoned students may cause the entire group to be expelled from the Zoo.
Chaperone Requirements (to qualify for the Educational Group Rate):
- Zoo: Minimum of one (1) adult chaperone for every ten (10) students with your group
- Monorail Safari Tour: Minimum of one (1) adult chaperone for every seven (7) students
- Must be at least 21 years of age or older
- Please discourage chaperones from bringing additional children with them on the visit.
Chaperone Responsibilities:
- Know the schedule for arrival, program, Monorail Safari Tour, lunch and departure
- Know the educational goals of the visit
- Enforce all Zoo rules
ON-SITE PROGRAM RULES
Program payment must be received at least two weeks prior to the scheduled program in order to confirm your reservation. If you need to cancel a program, you must notify the Education Department at 214-670-6832. Programs must be cancelled at least two weeks before your program date or you will be billed the program fee.
- Class size is strictly limited to a maximum of thirty (30) students per program for most K-12 programs and twenty two (22) students for Pre-K programs. Exceptions include Live from Texas and Discovery Quest.
- All programs begin promptly at the scheduled time.
- Tardiness may result in the cancellation of scheduled program.
- Check your confirmation letter for the location of your program.
ZOO RULES
Rules ensure a safe and enjoyable field trip experience. Failure to follow the rules may result in the expulsion of your entire group from the Zoo. Please review these rules with your students and chaperones before arriving at the Zoo.
- All students must stay with their chaperone(s) at all times.
- For safety and security, have students wear a nametag that includes their name, the school's name and the teacher's name.
The following will not be tolerated:
- Climbing on rocks, walls, railings or fences
- Defacing Zoo property
- Screaming, running or tapping on the exhibit glass
- Feeding exhibit animals
- Throwing objects of any kind into exhibits
- Littering
MONORAIL SAFARI TOUR RULES
Getting started:
- Arrive at the Monorail Station (in the Wilds of Africa) fifteen (15) minutes before you tour is scheduled to depart.
- Pay at the Monorail Safari Tour cashier booth. Personal checks are not accepted-you must pay with credit card, school check or cash.
- Save your receipt - it is your boarding pass.
- Proceed to the Monorail platform at least ten (10) minutes before your tour is scheduled to depart. Late arrivals cannot be accommodated.
Group size requirements:
- Only the exact number scheduled for the tour can be accommodated. Additional group members may have to wait for the next available opening.
- There must be one (1) adult chaperone for every seven (7) students. For safety reasons, exceptions cannot be made. Chaperones must be at least 21 years of age or older.
- Each car seats eight (8) and must be filled. Please divide into groups of eight (8) - seven (7) students and one (1) chaperone.
On the train:
- For health and safety reasons, there is no eating, drinking, or smoking allowed on the Monorail Safari Tour.
- Follow all instructions given by Monorail Safari Tour personnel.
MAPS AND DIRECTIONS
The Dallas Zoo is located just south of downtown Dallas off I-35E, at 650 South R.L. Thornton Freeway.
Take the Marsalis exit off Interstate 35E, go north on the service road and turn right at the 67-foot giraffe into the parking lot.
Please check with Zoo parking station attendant for specific parking instructions.
QUESTIONS
Questions? Call our Scheduling line at 214.670.6832. Also, please feel free to email us at fieldtrips@dallaszooed.com if you have any additional questions.
We look forward to seeing you at the Dallas Zoo!
