Field Trips at The Zoo

Thursday and Friday dates are the most requested days and frequently sell out. For smaller crowd sizes please consider visiting earlier in the week. Or consider a visit in the fall or winter – fall is a great time to visit the zoo!

Explore the Zoo and White River Gardens with your school group to learn more about plants and animals from around the world. Exhibits at the Indianapolis Zoo highlight various habitats, including Plains, Deserts, Forests, Oceans and the new Simon Skjodt International Orangutan Center. You can also explore a variety of plants in the Hilbert Conservatory and outdoor gardens.

Enjoy a dolphin presentation, which runs daily at 10:30am and 2pm (On busier days additional times may be available. Check with the guest services staff when you check in for that day’s availability.) Presentations are limited and tickets are issued first-come, first-served at the admissions windows. Tickets cannot be reserved in advance. The doors open 30 minutes prior to the presentation and will close five minutes before the presentation starts.

In the Oceans exhibit, your students will have the opportunity to touch smooth dog sharks and rays. Please share these shark petting rules with your students and chaperones prior to your field trip:

• Touch the sharks and rays on the side only, using two fingers.
• Do not grab the shark’s fins.

The Indianapolis Zoo requires one adult at least 19 years of age to accompany every 10 students. Adult chaperones, including school staff, are expected to accompany students (through Grade 12) at all times. An adult must accompany students in the restrooms and the gift shops. Security staff will escort undisciplined or un-chaperoned groups from the Zoo. Include your chaperones in planning and conducting the field trip.

Parent chaperones that are Zoo members may use their membership card for entrance for themselves and their child. They will enter on their own and meet you inside the gates. The adult whose name is on the card must be present with proper ID to use the card. Children cannot use memberships without their parents.

You may bring lunches to the Zoo, however, for the safety of our animals, food may not be carried into the Zoo. Groups can eat lunch in the picnic areas available near the bus parking or along the river behind White River Gardens. Please check with Guest Services for additional picnic areas. The Zoo is not able to store or refrigerate lunches.

Arrangements for box lunches may be made through the Zoo’s exclusive caterer, Centerplate Catering. For prices, menu selections, or to order, please view options here or call (317) 275-5606.

Show us your school pride! To help keep track of your class, students and adult chaperones are encouraged to wear nametags, or hats or T-shirts with your school name or logo on them. Nametags featuring pins or strings are not allowed on Zoo grounds as they can be hazardous to our animals.

Everyone must have a mask upon entering the Zoo. Visitors are required to wear a face covering to enter all buildings including restrooms. In addition, the Zoo will require masks to enter aviaries, participate in interactions at Tembo Camp, Giraffe Feeds, Flamingo Feeds and Flamingo Mingle as social distancing is not possible at these activities. Masks must be worn in outdoor areas where social distancing of 6 feet is not possible.