“A zoo is like a library.” – Gerald Durrell, Keepers of Eden, Infinite Voyage Series

The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is home to over 1,400 species of animals and 1,000 species of plants from around the world.  It is also the field trip destination for nearly 100,000 school students, teachers and chaperones every year from as far away as Columbia, SC & Savannah, GA, Orlando & Tallahassee, FL.  Whether you are studying Life Cycles and Adaptations or Animal Behavior or Ecosystems, there is plenty to see and do while visiting the Zoo.  Field trips are self-guided, but we encourage you to download scavenger hunts, attend keeper talks and schedule an education program to maximize the resources available to you and your students.

Education Rates: Public and private school groups of 15 or more receive a deeply discounted Education Rate when they visit the Zoo between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday – Friday during regular school days and make a reservation at least two weeks in advance.  For more information or to request a field trip via email, please send requests to:  education@jacksonvillezoo.org or call the Education Department at (904) 757-4463 ext. 122.

DUVAL COUNTY PUBLIC & PRIVATE SCHOOLS of 15 or more receive FREE admission and 1 chaperone for every 10 students receives FREE admission when they visit the Zoo between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday – Friday during regular school days and make a reservation at least two weeks in advance.

DUVAL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Kindergarten through 3rd Grades and 5th Grade are required to participate in the on-site program when scheduling a Zoo field trip.  Through a memorandum of understanding with the Duval County School Board, these grades are approved for field trips to the Zoo when they participate in the on-site program.  Student admission is FREE, 1 adult per 10 students are admitted FREE, and the on-site program is FREE.

Education Programs - Click here to see what’s available

SEASONAL WARNING: March, April & May are the busiest months for school visits.  Nearly 50,000 or 50% of our annual field trip attendance occurs during these spring months.  It is strongly recommended that if you want to schedule a field trip during this time that you make your reservation in January or February.  We also recommend that you visit in the fall and winter to avoid the spring rush.

Scavenger Hunts

The Education Department has prepared a variety of scavenger hunts to help you maximize the educational resources at the Zoo.  All of the answers may be found in animal graphics and identification panels at the exhibits.

Click here for the Basic Scavenger Hunt
Click here for the Basic Scavenger Hunt Answer Sheet


Click here for the Freshwater Food Web Activity in Play Park & Answer Sheet

Click here for the Play Park Scavenger Hunt & Answer Sheet

Click here for the Upper Elementary Culture Scavenger Hunt
Click here for the Upper Elementary Culture Scavenger Hunt Answer Sheet

Click here for the Upper Elementary Animal Population Dynamics Scavenger Hunt
Click here for the Upper Elementary Animal Population Dynamics Scavenger Hunt Answer Sheet

Click here for the Upper Elementary Habitats & Geography Scavenger Hunt
Click here for the Upper Elementary Habitats & Geography Scavenger Hunt Answer Sheet

Click here for the Secondary Scavenger Hunt for Range of the Jaguar & Answer Sheet

Are you using The Great Water Odyssey™ curricula from the St. Johns River Water Management District for 3rd, 4th & 5th Grades?

Click here for The Great Water Odyssey™ Scavenger Hunt in Play Park & Answer Sheet

FIELD TRIP POLICIES

Teachers, chaperones and students are expected to follow these guidelines while visiting the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens:

• One adult chaperon is required to accompany every 10 students at all times regardless of student’s age.  Chaperons must stay with the students (all ages) and are responsible for the behavior of the students under their supervision at all times.

• Students must wear nametags that identify each by first name and school regardless of age.

• Please observe our “NO FEEDING” policy.  Zoo animals are on special diets and outside food can be harmful.  Feeding is allowed in selected animal areas.  Only feed the food available for purchase in these areas.

• For your safety, we ask that you observe all signs and gates.  Please stay on the public walkways and do not climb on or over fences.

• The Zoo is proud to be a smoke free and tobacco free facility.  The use of tobacco products is prohibited in the parking lot and on Zoo grounds.

• Food may not be brought into the zoo.  A picnic area is provided at the south end of the parking lot.

SCHOOL LUNCHES MUST BE RESERVED AT THE SAME TIME THE FIELD TRIP RESERVATION IS MADE!

LUNCHES ARE AVAILABLE ON A FIRST-COME, FIRST- SERVED BASIS

School lunch reservations should be made at the same time that field trip reservations are made.  The number of lunches that the Zoo can accommodate per day is limited.  Lunch reservations are available on a first-come, first served basis only.  When the lunch reservations are at capacity, the Zoo cannot accommodate last minute requests.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do the teachers pay?

If you are a Duval County, FL, public or private school, you are permitted 1 adult FREE for every 10 students, which includes the teachers.  If you are from a public or private school outside of Duval County, FL, all adults, including teachers, pay a deeply discounted rate when accompanying a school groups.

When does the Zoo open?

9 a.m. everyday!  You may plan to arrive and start your field trip at that time!

What facilities do you have available for lunch?

A picnic area is located at the south end of the parking for your convenience.  It will seat up to 400 comfortably and has a playground area, indoor restrooms, outside hand-washing stations with drinking fountains and drink vending machines.

You may also purchase lunch through our restaurant.  School lunches must be reserved at the time you make your field trip reservation to guarantee that lunches are available the day of your visit.  Lunch includes your choice of a hamburger, hot dog or peanut butter and grape jelly Uncrustable sandwich, a bag of chips, a bag of animal crackers and a juice box for $3.75 per person plus tax unless tax exempt in the State of Florida.

What does it mean when I am told that you are FULL on the day I want to schedule?

All school groups want to enter the Main entrance during a 90-minute window at the start of the day (9:15 – 10:45 a.m.).  The gates can safely accommodate so many people during this time, so to help maximize the enjoyment of your experience we set a limit on school reservations per day.  Once our reservation count for a day reaches 1200, we close the day to additional reservations.  This is what we mean when the day is FULL.  It means that no more reservations may be taken for that day.

Which days typically fill?

Since 2004, we have filled every weekday in April.  We also typically fill all Wednesdays through Fridays in March and May.  If you must plan a field trip during these times, we strongly recommend that you make these reservation no later than early February.

How should I plan my field trip?

The following itineraries have been developed for school groups that reserve an on-site Education Program.  These are just suggestions and may be adapted to fit your situation.

9:30 AM Program Time

8:30 – 9:00 A.M. Depart for the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens on Bus(es)
9:00 – 9:30 A.M. Arrive at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’ PepsiCo Foundation Education Campus

9:30 A.M. Formal Program

10:30 AM Enter Zoo – initiate scavenger hunt
12:00 PM Picnic Lunch in the Picnic Grove adjacent to Bus Parking at the south end of the Zoo’s parking lot.
12:30 PM Re-enter Zoo and complete scavenger hunt
1:30 PM Board Bus(es) for return to school
2:00 PM Arrive at school

10:30 AM Program Time

8:30 – 9:00 A.M. Depart for the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens on Bus(es)
9:00 – 9:30 A.M. Arrive at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’
9:15 – 9:45 A.M. Enter Zoo – initiate scavenger hunt
10:15 AM Meet at Zoo’s entrance to walk to the PepsiCo Foundation Education Campus for 10:30 AM Program

10:30 AM Formal Program

11:30 AM Picnic Lunch in the Picnic Grove adjacent to Bus Parking at the south end of the Zoo’s parking lot.
12:00 PM Re-enter Zoo and complete scavenger hunt
1:30 PM Board Bus(es) for return to school
2:00 PM Arrive at school

11:30 AM Program Time

8:30 – 9:00 A.M. Depart for the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens on Bus(es)
9:00 – 9:30 A.M. Arrive at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’
9:15 – 9:45 A.M. Enter Zoo – initiate scavenger hunt
11:15 AM Meet at Zoo’s entrance to walk to the PepsiCo Foundation Education Campus for 11:30 AM Program

11:30 AM Formal Program

12:15 PM Picnic Lunch in the Picnic Grove adjacent to Bus Parking at the south end of the Zoo’s parking lot
12:45 PM Re-enter Zoo and complete scavenger hunt
1:30 PM Board Bus(es) for return to school
2:00 PM Arrive at school

12:30 PM Program Time

8:30 – 9:00 A.M. Depart for the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens on Bus(es)
9:00 – 9:30 A.M. Arrive at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’
9:15 – 9:45 A.M. Enter Zoo – initiate scavenger hunt
11:45 AM Meet at Zoo’s entrance to walk to the PepsiCo Foundation Education Campus for 12:30 PM Program
12:00 PM Picnic Lunch in the Picnic Grove adjacent to Bus Parking at the south end of the Zoo’s parking lot

12:30 PM Formal Program

1:15 PM Board Bus(es) for return to school
2:00 PM Arrive at school

Do you have guides available to walk us around the Zoo?

The Zoo is 69 acres developed with another 30 acres to be developed over the next 5 to 10 years.  We simply do not employ enough educators to give each group a guided tour and cover on-site education programs.  We do provide keeper talks in various areas around the Zoo that give you and your students the opportunity to talk to the experts who care for the animals.  Education Exhibit Guides are also available to talk to your group at the Giraffe Overlook, the Lorikeet Aviary, the Animal Care Yard in Play Park, the Discovery Center in Play Park, and the Field station in Range of the Jaguar or at the Bonobo Overlook in Great Apes.  Seasonally, guides are available to interpret the marine animal sculptures in the Splash ground at Play Park, too.  To find out more, click here to go to the Your Visit page to download a map and schedule of keeper talks.

What is included with the admission fee?

Your entrance into the Zoo and the keeper talks!  Train rides may be added at a discounted rate and paid for on the same check used to pay admission.  Wildlife Carousel: $2/person – children less than 42” must be accompanied by an adult (no charge for the adult).  Kids Shop Souvenirs: a variety of souvenirs are available between $1 and $5 each. 

Lorikeet Feeding: $1/person

Giraffe Feeding: $2/person

Stingray Bay: $2/person (school group rate ONLY)

Wheel Chair Rentals: $6 each
Single Stroller: $6 each
Double Strollers: $8 each

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