Field Trip Know Before You Go
Zoo Patrol Season
Ready to bring your students’ curiosity to life? Bring learning to life with a self-guided field trip to Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance! Give your students the opportunity to explore wildlife, observe incredible animals, and discover connections to the natural world beyond the classroom.
Find everything you need to plan your self-guided field trip to help prepare for your visit. Be sure your field trip is booked for one of the following dates:
Field Trip Date
October 27
November 12
November 19
November 20
February 2–March 12
April 6–May 12
Is your field trip on a different date? Click here to view Know Before You Go info for other field trip dates.
- Pre-Arrival
Dear Educators,
We’re so excited to welcome you and your students!Please note that all buses must enter through the Main Entrance off of 23rd Avenue. Zoo staff members will board your bus at the bus check-in location to direct your bus to drop-off and parking locations.
Bus parking is limited and is not guaranteed. If you did not reserve bus parking at the time of your reservation, spots in the East Lot are first come, first served.
Procedures have changed since your last field trip, so we recommend reading this email thoroughly as it contains important information and instructions for your visit with us.
- Parking
School buses can ONLY access DZCA by entering through the main entrance on 23rd Avenue at Steele Street. We ask that you communicate this with your bus driver ahead of your arrival. Once you enter, follow staff instructions to the designated drop-off location.
Once your bus is in the designated drop-off location, a Zoo staff member will board your bus to get your headcount. Please ensure your trip leader is at the front of the bus with a headcount ready. Do not get off your bus until you have been checked in.
Bus drivers will be directed to the East Lot where they may park your bus if you reserved bus parking with your reservation.
For chaperones and parents driving separately, they will be asked to park in the east lot by the check-in gate. Once they park, they should proceed to the Main Entrance plaza for check-in with your group. Please share this information with them ahead of your field trip, so they know where to park.
Refer to the map below for arrival and parking information.
- Arrival
Please plan to arrive no earlier than 9:45 a.m. as check-in and entry will not be available until 10:00 a.m.
- Tickets
You do not need tickets for entry. Upon check-in, a staff member will look up your reservation using your school name.
If a parent or chaperone hasn’t been included in your group’s reservation, we highly recommend that they purchase an admission ticket online before they arrive. Otherwise, they will be required to purchase an admission ticket onsite at our Main Entrance.
- Chaperone Policy
All school groups must have at least one adult chaperone or parent per 10 students, regardless of the students’ ages. All chaperones must enter at the same time as the group. During your visit, all students (regardless of age) must remain with their designated chaperone at all times. Groups who do not follow our safety policies will be asked to leave. Students are not permitted to explore our campus without a designated adult chaperone.
- Lunch
Please note that we do not have a lunch storage area. You are welcome to bring your lunches with you or leave them on the bus. You can rent a wagon to carry lunches.
School groups are welcome to eat lunch at the designated lunch Spots on the map. in Wildlife Plaza or Kamala Café.
- During Your Visit
- Questions + Concerns?
Please contact guestcare@denverzoo.org or call 720-337-1400 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. daily. There’s also a lot of helpful information in our FAQs and on our Rules & Regulations page.
We look forward to hosting your group—and inspiring the next generation of wildlife conservationists!