When Wild Meets Learning | Teachers & Schools
At San Antonio Zoo students discover wildlife from diverse ecosystems around the world. A field trip could be just what your class needs to introduce or reinforce your TEKS curriculum!
Lead your own wild adventure with a Self-Guided Tour or work with zoo experts to engage your students with wildlife through a Science TEKS aligned Zoo Connection Class or Wild Walk.
School-group field trips are available year-round.
School-group rates are available only for school field trips that register online and submit payment before the field trip date.
Self-Guided Tour
Cost: September– February: $5/person
Cost: March-May: $10.50/person
Cost: June-August:
5-person minimum
Time: Available daily*
Lead your own wild adventure! Enter 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 staff. The teacher will receive information to share with volunteer parent chaperones to purchase discounted tickets.
Groups That Qualify for Discounted Rates
- Public, private, religious schools
- Colleges, universities, and trade schools
- Home school groups
- Preschools & Daycares
- After and out of school programs
- YMCA/YWCA
- Boys & Girls Club
Plan Out Your Visit
Funding for Title 1 Schools
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 visiting on a Self-Guided Tour field trip from September to February. Funding is limited and not guaranteed.
Please review CRITERIA FOR TITLE 1 FUNDING
School Safari Days
*Nov. 20-Dec. 20, Monday -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. Monday – Thursday 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 popcorn!
Please note, all concessions, restaurants, gift shops, and experiences (Train, Carousel, Project Selva 4D Theater, Kangaroo Krossing, etc.) will open when the zoo opens.
Upgrade Your Field Trip
Make the most of your visit to San Antonio Zoo by adding a thrilling 4-D movie, a class favorite ride, or a stroll through our enchanting Butterfly Rainforest.
More Field Trip Options
Zoo Connection Class
Cost: September-February: $12/ person; Title 1 School Discount $8/person
Cost: March-May: $15/person; Title 1 School Discount $12/person
Cost: June-August: $15/person
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
Wild Walk
Cost: September-February: $12/ person; Title 1 School Discount $8/person
Cost: March-May: $15/person; Title 1 School Discount $12/person
Cost: June-August: $15/person
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.
Attention: Home School Families, are you looking for an educational opportunity for your learners at the zoo? Check out our Home School Programs!
Roars & Snores – Overnight Classroom
Cost: $65 per person
20 person minimum
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 a.m. the next day
Email [email protected] 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, TEKS supporting zoo activities, and a guided flashlight tour of the zoo after dark.
- Pizza dinner, evening snacks, and breakfast tacos are included.
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 trunks 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
Mueso Institute
Dinosaurs, hippos, and Monet, oh my! Museums and zoos are more than galleries and things—they are laboratories for learning and research. Join the education and curatorial staff at San Antonio Zoo and The DoSeum, The Alamo, McNay Art Museum, Briscoe Museum of Western Art, San Antonio Botanical Garden, and the Witte Museum for an immersive, year-long professional development opportunity like no other in San Antonio: Museo Institute!
Museo Institute is a year-long professional development program that invites formal educators to explore informal learning and teaching approaches! Upon successful completion of the program, educators receive up to 70 CPE credit hours.
Still have questions?
The Education Center is open Monday-Friday during regular zoo hours.
Contact us at [email protected] or (210) 734-7184
San Antonio Zoo reserves the right to change pricing and policies without notice.