School Groups

Bring your class to the Chattanooga Zoo as a fun and educational extension to your classroom!

Who Qualifies as a School Group?

To qualify for school group rates and programs, the group must be from an accredited public or private school, Headstart program, pre-school or organized home school group. The group must have 15 or more students and register online at least 2 weeks in advance. School group rates are only available during the school year (Aug. 15 - May 31).

All Hamilton County Headstart programs qualify for admission on the condition that they make a reservation online at least 2 weeks in advance and the appropriate letter proving Hamilton Co. Head Start status is brought with group.

Field trips can be scheduled Monday - Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. If your group wishes to visit the Zoo during weekend hours, normal group admission rates will apply.

Please note, outside food or beverages are not permitted in the Zoo. To pre-order boxed lunches, click here or call Linda with Family Concessions at: 423-505-8697.

Pricing

Students

$2 each
Adults

1 teacher / chaperone is required for every 10 students and is admitted free (grades K - 12)

1 teacher / chaperone is required for every 5 students and is admitted free (Preschool)
All additional adults & siblings

$Regular Admission

$1 each for students who participate in the National School Lunch Program

(special price admission days and coupons do not apply to groups)

Add an Education Program to your visit!
The Zoo is not your ordinary classroom. Enhance your group’s zoo visit with a 45-minute class led by our education staff.

$2.00 per participant (1 free teacher / chaperone per 10 students for grades K – 12, 1 free adult per 5 students for preschools, all other participants $2.00 each)

* [Membership benefits do not apply to education programs]

Education programs are offered Tuesday - Friday at: 9:30 / 10:30 / 11:30

(Programs after 1:00 are an option but based on staff availability. To schedule a program after the set programs times, please contact the Zoo Education Department or call (423) 643-5780)

** Please plan to arrive at least 15 - 30 minutes before your scheduled program time to allow enough time to check in, get your group organized and back to the education building to start your program on-time. Programs will be shortened accordingly for late arrival and will be cancelled if 15 or more minutes late.

Payment is collected at check-in.
One person is responsible for the payment of the school group upon arrival by school check, VISA, MC, DISC, AMEX or cash. All students and parents must be present at check-in in order to receive discount.
To speed up the check in process, please have the total number of students (broken down by regular and F/R lunch program price) and number of required free adults ready for the cashier.

All programs feature up-close encounters from some of our education animals and will have at least 1 animal that the students will get to interact with.
Program	Grades	Description
Super-Duper Senses	Pre-K & K	Can you taste with your feet or smell with your tongue? We’ll look at some of the ways humans and other animals use their senses.
Animal Encounter: Choose Mammal Mania or Reptile Round-Up	Pre-K & K	Mammal or Reptile? It’s a difficult choice, but either program you choose will introduce the basic characteristics of what makes that group special. Of course you’ll meet some animals that help illustrate those characteristics.
Recipe for a Habitat	1^st & 2^nd	We’ll add and mix up the “ingredients” that go into making a habitat and discover why habitats are so important to plants, animals, and to us.
Animals Under Wraps	1st & 2nd	Fur, feathers, scales, skin and exoskeletons - OH MY! Animals have all kinds of different body coverings, making that a great way to group them in this basic introduction to animal classification.
** Amazing Adaptations	3^rd – 5^th	Animals have and do some pretty bizarre things to help them to survive. We will explore some of their Amazing Adaptations and a few of our own too!
** Food Web Feast	3^rd – 5^th	Worms, trees, birds, snakes and even fungus have their special roles! You’ll find out how important the entire cast is as we build a rainforest food web.
Buy, Sell, SAVE	6^th – 8^th	What we do in our daily lives and things we buy while on vacation or online can have great effects on wildlife – both good and bad. Find out how we can help protect and conserve wildlife in this game show style program.
** These programs can be adapted for 6 – 8^th grades

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