Registration will open on March 1!

Public or private state K-12 institution, head start program, or accredited preschool associated with an Illinois school.

Participation minimum: 15 students

Cost:
Students: No charge – admission waived courtesy of the (70 ILCS 805/) Downstate Forest Preserve District Act

Teachers: One complimentary teacher admission per individual class or section.

Chaperones: $8.00 – All chaperones not pre-paid with your group booking will be admitted through general admission at the regular admission rates on the date of your visit.

Bus Drivers: $8.00 – please note admission is required for bus drivers who intend to enter the zoo during your visit.

Aides and Assistants: One complimentary chaperone admission will be issued per paid or registered student admission for students with Individualized Education Plans or similar accommodations.

Rates apply for weekday field trips booked during the regular school year. For summer field trips, please see Youth Group cost.

Public or private K-12 non-Illinois school, head start program, or preschool associated with an accredited non-Illinois school.

Participation minimum: 15 students

Cost:
Students: $6.00

Teachers: One complimentary teacher admission per individual class or section.

Chaperones: $8.00– All chaperones not pre-paid with your group booking will be admitted through general admission at the regular admission rates on the date of your visit.

Bus Drivers: $8.00 – please note admission is required for bus drivers who intend to enter the zoo during your visit.

Aides and Assistants: One complimentary chaperone admission will be issued per paid or registered student admission for students with Individualized Education Plans or similar accommodations.

Rates apply for weekday field trips booked during the regular school year. For summer field trips, please see Youth Group cost.

Private Preschools (not affiliated with a school district), home-school groups, daycares, scout groups, or other youth group types.

Participation minimum: 15 students

Cost:
Students: $6.00

Group Leaders: Registered groups will receive one complimentary chaperone admission per individual registered group.

Chaperones: $8.00 – All chaperones not pre-paid with your group booking will be admitted through general admission at the regular admission rates on the date of your visit.

Bus Drivers: $8.00 – please note admission is required for bus drivers who intend to enter the zoo during your visit.

Aides and Assistants: One complimentary chaperone admission will be issued per paid or registered student admission for students with Individualized Education Plans or similar accommodations.

University, college, corporate groups, living facilities, and all other groups.

Participation minimum: 15 students/clients

Cost:

Adult Participant: $6.00

Group Leaders: Registered groups will receive one complimentary chaperone admission per individual registered group.

Chaperones: $8.00 – All chaperones not pre-paid with your group booking will be admitted through general admission at the regular admission rates on the date of your visit.

Lunches

Field trip groups are allowed to bring your own lunch or enjoy food from our concession stand. For the safety of the animals, there are no straws allowed in the zoo. If you plan on having a picnic lunch, you can eat around The Treehouse Snack Shack at the picnic tables and grass (near the playground), or on the Festival Lawn.

Participant number

To receive a group discount, all groups must have a minimum of 15 student participants.

Chaperones: It is highly recommended that field trip groups have one adult chaperone for every ten students. Chaperones must stay with the children they are supervising at all times.

Bus drivers

Drivers are welcome to come into the Zoo at the Chaperone admission rate. Must be prepurchased in advance to receive the discounted admission.

Additional Guests

Any additional adults (non-chaperone) and siblings will be charged the full admission price.

Parking Fee

There is a $5 parking fee per vehicle (including chaperone) and a $15 parking fee per school bus.

Pre-payment

Field trips must be pre-paid 1 week in advance (payments are non-refundable as tickets are good all season).

Make your trip to the Zoo an educational experience! Learn how Niabi inspires conservation action while helping meet state education standards from pre-K to college level.

What you should know about educational tours:

• • Tours are approximately 30 minutes in length.
  • Recommended size of each tour group is up to 25 participants. For groups larger than 25, groups will be divided into multiple tours.

Themed Tours include (but are not limited to):

Amazing Adaptations –

From prehensile tongues and swinging hands to staying alive in desert sands, we’ll take a closer look at the special characteristics that help animals survive. Featured Animals: Gibbons, Bactrian Camel, Giraffe, Snow Leopard

African Safari –

Take a hike in the African Bush as we discover a wide variety of animals and learn about their unique characteristics. Featured Animals: Leopard, Ostrich, Painted dogs, Giraffe, and Colobus Monkeys

Brilliant Biodiversity –

Meaning the variety of life, explore Biodiversity Hall and its wide variety of species to help understand why biodiversity is so important to the survival of life on Earth. Featured Animals: Meerkats, African Crested Porcupine, Crocodile Monitor Lizard, Fennec Fox, Linne’s Two-Toed Sloth

Cool Cats –

Have you ever seen a lion’s skull? How sharp is a leopard’s claw? How far can a snow leopard leap? In this program your group will learn what it takes to survive at the top of the food chain while viewing these impressive carnivores. Featured Animals: Snow Leopard, Amur Leopard, African Leopard, and Bobcats.

NOTE: All programs can be tailored to any age group.

Don’t see what you want? We can custom-design a tour for you! Just give us a call with questions, 309-799-3482 ext 222

Experiences

Hours and availability may vary.