When Wild Meets Life | Teachers & Schools
Qualified Groups | Discounted Rates
- Public, private, religious schools
- Colleges, universities and trade schools
- Home school groups
- Preschools & Daycares
- After-school programs
- YMCA/YWCA
- Boys & Girls Club
San Antonio Zoo is one of the finest learning environments in South Texas! San Antonio Zoo could be just what your class needs to introduce or reinforce your TEKS curriculum!
School-group field trips are available year-round.
School-group rates are available only for school field trips that register online at least 10 days in advance.
Payment due upon arrival; payment in advance available.
Register at least 10 days in advance to receive the listed field trip pricing. Field Trips with less than 10 days’ notice are subject to Standard Admission rates.
Title 1 Funding
Through generous funding provided by community foundations, San Antonio Zoo is excited to award grants to cover the cost of in-person programming to a limited number of Title 1 schools in the San Antonio Area.
Title 1 Funding is only available for eligible school-groups registering for Self-Guided Tour field trips, September – February. Funding is limited and not guaranteed.
Please review the CRITERIA FOR TITLE 1 FUNDING
Funding has already been dispersed for the 2022-2023 school year. If you would like to be notified when additional funding becomes available, please fill out the information in the link below.
Get notified for ADDITIONAL FUNDING
Visit The Zoo
Self-Guided Tour
Cost: $5 person, Sept. 2022 – Feb. 2023
Cost: $10 person, Mar. 2023 – May 2023
5-person minimum
Time: Available daily*
Enter the zoo as early as 9:00 a.m. and explore the zoo with your students at your own pace! Pricing applies to all students, teachers and other school chaperones/admin, bus drivers and parents.
School Safari Days
*Nov. 28-Dec. 16, Tuesday -Friday
Register for a Self-Guided Tour on the above dates and enjoy a morning just for school groups!
The zoo is closed to the general public until 11 a.m. Tuesday –Friday and 12:00 p.m. (noon) on Fridays, allowing school groups to visit the zoo in the morning without the hassle of the crowds and lure of cotton candy! Education Stations will be located throughout the zoo on select dates: Tuesday – Friday, Nov 28 – Dec. 16.
School groups are welcome to stay in the zoo beyond and enjoy all the amenities the San Antonio Zoo has to offer.
Please note, all concessions, restaurants, gift shops, and experiences (train, carousel, Lory Landing, Giraffe Feeding, Project Selva 4D Theater, Kangaroo Krossing, etc.) open at 12:00 p.m.
Education Program – Zoo Connection Class
Cost: $12 per person; $8 per person/Title 1 Schools
15 person minimum
Available: Tuesday – Friday; Flexible start times
Connect your students with nature as they participate in TEKS supported lessons and activities, explore bio facts, and experience up-close encounters with animal ambassadors.
Choose from several themed topics to make the most of your visit to the zoo.
View Zoo Connection Class Theme and TEKS information
Education Program – Wild Walk
Cost: $12 per person; $8 per person/Title 1 Schools
15 person minimum
Available: Tuesday – Friday; Flexible start times
60-minute program
Take a walk on the wild side! Explore the zoo with seasoned zoo experts and discover facts and fun stories about San Antonio Zoo’s favorite animals.
View Wild Talks TEKS information
Roars & Snores – Overnight Classroom
Cost: $50 per person
16 person minimum
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 a.m. the next day
Email education@sazoo.org to request date/more information
Grab your sleeping bag and bring your classroom to the zoo for an overnight experience you’ll never forget! Before you roll out your sleeping bag for some climate-controlled, indoor camping, enjoy animal presentations, zoo activities, and a guided flashlight tour of the zoo after dark.
- Evening snacks and taco breakfast are included, pizza dinner upgrade available.
Home School Programs
Explore learning the San Antonio Zoo way! Join with families from across the San Antonio Area as you get up close to wildlife, explore hands on activities, and make new friends.
Home School Family Safari
Join other home school families for an interactive classroom program and mini zoo safari adventure! These hour-long, themed and engaging programs support TEKS initiatives through lessons and activities, biofacts, animal ambassadors and topic-related zoo exploration. Home School Family Safari educational experiences are geared towards learners 6-10 years and are designed to enhance learning the following Science TEKS: 1.9.A, 1.9.C, 1.10.A, 2.9.A, 2.9.B, 2.9.C, 2.10.A,3.9.A, 3.9.B, 3.9.C, 3.10.A, 4.9.A, 4.9.B, 4.10.A, 4.10.B, 5.9.A, 5.9
Cost: $12 per person; zoo admission included
- Minors must be accompanied by a paying adult
- Programming geared towards ages 6-10 yrs
Where: San Antonio Zoo Education Center
Dates: Vary by topic
Giants of Africa – May 15th at 10:00 am or May 24th at 10:00 am
Rhinos, Hippos, and Giraffes, oh my! Learners will get to know some of the largest animals in the world and the sometimes-weird adaptations that allow them to survive in an ecosystem full of competition.
Neotropica Explorers – June 14th at 10:00 am or Jun 20th at 10:00 am
Explore the realm of the Jaguar! Learners will investigate the diversity and distribution of life in the Amazon Rainforest, how species are uniquely adapted to meet their needs, and steps they can take to secure a future for the rainforest.
Feathered Friends – July 6th at 10:00 am or July 19th at 10:00 am
Birds of a feather flock together! Birds as a group vary widely in color, size, shape, and physical appearance. Learners will swoop into the world of birds and become junior ornithologists by investigating these different adaptations.
Distance Learning
Classroom Program: $125/up to 30 participants
Assembly Program: $175/up to 95 device logins
Time: 45 minute program; available Tuesday-Friday. Flexible start times
Educator Resources
Teacher Trunks
Each Teacher Trunk has a themed curriculum with activities, biofacts, such as skull models, feathers, fur pelts, snake sheds, etc., that can supplement hands on learning in the classroom.
Cost: $5.00 and must be paid with a credit card at the time of pick-up.
Time: Flexible. Each trunk can be checked out for a maximum of 2 weeks at a time.
A maximum of 2 trucks can be reserved/checked-out at a time.
Registrant is responsible for replacement of lost/damaged items.
Submitting the request form does not guarantee availability.
Submit a Request for a Teacher Trunk.
Adventure Backpacks
Adventure Backpacks are designed as an easy-to-use resource complementing zoo field trips and exploration. Within the back, you’ll find 3 different zoo exploration route suggestions, as well as a variety of hands-on models and biofacts, activity sheets, scavenger hunts, and other education-based items to help facilitate your zoo field trip.
Cost: No cost but a state issued photo ID is required.
Time: Available weekdays during the school year
A maximum of 9 Adventure Backpacks are available per day
Registrant is responsible for the replacement of lost/damaged items.
Submitting the request form does not guarantee availability.
Submit a Request for an Adventure Backpack
MAKE YOUR ZOO VISIT AN ADVENTURE.
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS
Starting at $48 per person
There's always something new to see at the zoo. Each year is packed with events and exciting additions.
PROJECT SELVA 4D THEATER
Tickets for just $6!
The action spills out of the screen over the audience with thrill-enhancing sensory special effects— bubbles, snow, scent, FX lighting, water mist, seat vibrations, and wind.
