Being prepared makes all the difference with so many things and a trip to the Zoo is no exception. We offer two lists to make your next trip to the Zoo more enjoyable. And Scavenger Hunts make everybody’s visit more interactive. So check out the appropriate Trip Planning List and get ready for a great day!
Reminder for Summer Groups: Visit dates fill up quickly so please register early to secure the date you want and please remember to check out our website for our new programs - free with admission!
Booking your School Field Trip
Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is a non-profit organization and does offer group rate admission fees to schools, camps, scouts and other non-profit organizations with 10 or more paying people, that make a reservation at least 3 weeks in advance, and pay at least 2 weeks in advance, using one group payment, and enter the Zoo as a group, all at once, not as individual arrivals. These visits are considered field trips and they are self-guided. Food, rides, show tickets, popsicles, ice cream, wind tunnel, gift shop souvenirs and appliance rentals are extra cost items. Field trips do not include transportation, storage, or private use of any Zoo area.
We do not offer tours. During the school year, we do offer the live Wild Adventure Show for an extra cost and during the summer, groups are welcome to participate in our “critter chats”, “talks” and shows offered on various days and times, at various locations throughout the Zoo, free of charge to the general public. Visit our website and download free scavenger hunts to round out your visit.
$9.00 – Children (Ages 3 to 11)
$9.00 – Youths (Ages 12 to 17)
$9.00 – Camp CIT’s
$9.00 – Seniors and Special Needs
$9.00 – Adults, Teachers, Aides, Parents and Chaperones age 18 and older.
We offer one free adult admission fee for every ten paying children (ages 3 to 11). The minimum age requirement for chaperones is 18. There is no front gate admission fee for children under the age of 3 but there is a fee for them to attend the WAS and to ride the carousel so please include them in the reservation. We will issue wristbands for toddlers under age 3 however, they do not count towards free chaperones.
$2.00 – Carousel ride per child if purchased at the site of the ride, all children pay including infants and toddlers. Group Special: $1.00 carousel ride per child only if paid 2 weeks in advance through the Group Sales Office. Adults ride free with paid children.
How to Book
May and June dates are very popular for school field trips and dates fill up quickly. Most groups are now booking a year in advance to get the date they want. Fridays are the busiest for groups, Mondays are the quietest. Peak arrival time is 10:00 am. Off peak times are 9:30; 9:45; 10:15; 10:30 am. All groups must book at least 3 weeks in advance, and pay at least 2 weeks in advance. Don’t forget to order your lunches, souvenirs and tickets to the Wild Adventure Show at this time. Remember to include ALL adults, teachers, paras, chaperones, staff, aides, parents, siblings, infants, toddlers & camp counselors. Camp CIT’s and LIT’s ages 12 to 17 should be included in the paying youth section. Everyone paying the $9 rate needs to be included in your reservation. Please do not send people to pay at the ticket window. There are no in-person tickets available at the windows. Online website tickets are $19, and they do not include the wristbands needed. Remember to Include an RSVP cutoff date on your parent permission slips to allow enough time for parents to pay you. For current ways on how to book a field trip, please email groupsales@beardsleyzoo.org.
Payment
All groups are responsible for submitting their final head counts for attendance, shows, lunch and souvenir orders with full payment by their payment due date. Time is needed to process payments and mail back wristbands. We no longer accept money or issue wristbands at arrival time. All groups must be pre-paid and all groups must be wearing their wristbands before arriving at the Zoo. Payment due dates are provided and it is up to groups to pay before that date. We do not send reminders. Our “Pay, Rain, Cancel” info sheet explains how to pay with one business check or one credit card. Sorry, we do not accept purchase orders or personal checks. We do not process payments in person. All payments are done through the mail or over the phone with a credit card.
Before You Arrive
After your payment is processed, we will send you wristbands, carousel tickets (if ordered) bus driver drop off directions, pre-visit instructions, day of arrival instructions, and an orange check-in pass to help expedite your entrance into the Zoo. Groups must be wearing their wristbands before arriving at the Zoo. Arrival times can be very busy, and with buses constantly arriving, there is no place to stop or gather to put on wristbands. Groups must disembark with wristbands already on and enter straight in. You can download a copy of our map right from the QR code on the wristbands.
When You Arrive
Groups must disembark with wristbands already on. There is no place to stop or gather to put on wristbands. Please do not disembark until instructed to do so by the Zoo greeters. The chaperone in charge should be the first one off the bus with the orange check-in pass. Please finalize all plans prior to arriving. Greeters cannot stop to answer questions about lunches, bus parking, etc. The greeter will direct groups to the orange tiger footprints where everyone will need to show a wristband to gain entry. Do not stop in the bus drop off area to count heads or give instructions. Please proceed inside to the “Globe” or “Conservation Crossing” bench areas where you can re-group, and go when you are ready. Groups looking to eat upon arrival should proceed straight to the Picnic area, please do not eat in the entrance area.
Wild Adventure Show
Our live, outdoor animal show is offered only during the school year on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays. There is one show at 11 am and currently limited to 100 guests. Shows are 30 minutes in length. Reservations and advance payment are required. Everyone pays and needs a special wristband ahead of time to attend this show including free chaperones, teachers, toddlers, infants, siblings and parents arriving separately. The cost is $5 per person plus current group rate admission fees. Note: This show takes place outdoors and will present under “shine” only and the show is not guaranteed on your rain date.
Parking
There is no charge for parking. All vans & buses must follow the yellow signs and the white ground arrows to our drop off / pick up area to disembark. Afterwards, vans may park in the car lot only if they fit in one spot without sticking out and All buses, regardless of size must park in the bus parking lot down inside the city park. Groups are responsible for making sure that each driver receives the yellow copy.
Lunches
We offer $7.00 bagged lunches and reduced rate popsicles. Popsicles are 18 to a box for $10. Both must be ordered and paid for two weeks in advance.
You are always welcome to bring in your own lunches however; we do not have an indoor area to store your lunches. You can have each child carry their own lunch or you can bring coolers and wagons and leave them off to the side in our outdoor picnic grove. We do not reserve tables. We have complimentary pull carts near the Welcome Center that can be borrowed to transport the lunches to the picnic grove. Groups are asked to return the carts to the same place so that others may use them. Please do not leave paper bag or plastic wrap lunches unattended, anywhere, at all. We have no control over ants, squirrels guinea fowls, etc., who will chew right through paper bags. Please do not leave your lunches on the bus. Buses and cars get very hot, very fast and food will spoil unless packed in coolers. Please finalize your lunch plans prior to arriving at the Zoo.
Seating
Groups are encouraged to eat outside in the picnic grove as indoor seating is very limited inside the Café and Carousel. There are 60 picnic tables for outdoor use. All groups are responsible for cleaning up after themselves and for our animal’s safety we ask for everyone’s help in picking up all juice box plastic straw wrappers.
Restrooms
Restrooms are located in two areas. They are at the Zoo’s Front Gate Entrance Plaza and up the road, past the picnic grove, just around the corner from the Peacock Café. Tip; If your group can wait, using the restrooms nearest the picnic area is faster as there are more restrooms up there than there are at the Zoo’s Front Gate entrance.
First Aid
First Aid kits are located throughout the Zoo and marked by green + signs. Please contact any Zoo staff member for assistance. The Zoo has a Public Address System (PA) should an emergency arise. All Zoo staff members carry short wave radios. In the event of an emergency, please, please stay calm. Please contact any Zoo staff member for assistance.
Shopping
We offer low cost exclusive souvenirs starting @ $0.50 (tax not included) by bulk order for groups not planning to visit our gift shops. This allows groups more time to visit with the animals especially those groups with younger age children. Small groups at a time may visit the Trading Post with a chaperone and backpacks must be left on the front porch.
Reminders
All children, including middle school and high school students, Camp CIT’s and LIT’s must be under the direct supervision of an adult chaperone age 18 or older at all times. Children may not wander about the Zoo with an understanding to “check-in” later. These items are not permitted on Zoo grounds: Pets; roller skates; roller blades; heelys; bicycles; bouncing balls; balloons; whistles; cooking of any kind; alcohol of any kind; catering vehicles or reserving picnic tables. Prior management approval is needed to bring in outside entertainment such as, but not limited to: clowns; magicians; face painters, etc. We will send you a copy of our etiquette guidelines ahead of time to review with your group prior to arriving at the Zoo.
We do not offer tours. During the school year, we do offer the live Wild Adventure Show for an extra cost and during the summer, groups are welcome to participate in our “critter chats”, “talks” and shows offered on various days and times, at various locations throughout the Zoo, free of charge to the general public. Visit our website and download free scavenger hunts to round out your visit.
$9.00 – Children (Ages 3 to 11)
$9.00 – Youths (Ages 12 to 17)
$9.00 – Camp CIT’s
$9.00 – Seniors and Special Needs
$9.00 – Adults, Teachers, Aides, Parents and Chaperones age 18 and older.
We offer one free adult admission fee for every ten paying children (ages 3 to 11). The minimum age requirement for chaperones is 18. There is no front gate admission fee for children under the age of 3 but there is a fee for them to attend the WAS and to ride the carousel so please include them in the reservation. We will issue wristbands for toddlers under age 3 however, they do not count towards free chaperones.
$2.00 – Carousel ride per child if purchased at the site of the ride, all children pay including infants and toddlers. Group Special: $1.00 carousel ride per child only if paid 2 weeks in advance through the Group Sales Office. Adults ride free with paid children.
How to Book
May and June dates are very popular for school field trips and dates fill up quickly. Most groups are now booking a year in advance to get the date they want. Fridays are the busiest for groups, Mondays are the quietest. Peak arrival time is 10:00 am. Off peak times are 9:30; 9:45; 10:15; 10:30 am. All groups must book at least 3 weeks in advance, and pay at least 2 weeks in advance. Don’t forget to order your lunches, souvenirs and tickets to the Wild Adventure Show at this time. Remember to include ALL adults, teachers, paras, chaperones, staff, aides, parents, siblings, infants, toddlers & camp counselors. Camp CIT’s and LIT’s ages 12 to 17 should be included in the paying youth section. Everyone paying the $9 rate needs to be included in your reservation. Please do not send people to pay at the ticket window. There are no in-person tickets available at the windows. Online website tickets are $19, and they do not include the wristbands needed. Remember to Include an RSVP cutoff date on your parent permission slips to allow enough time for parents to pay you. For current ways on how to book a field trip, please email groupsales@beardsleyzoo.org.
Payment
All groups are responsible for submitting their final head counts for attendance, shows, lunch and souvenir orders with full payment by their payment due date. Time is needed to process payments and mail back wristbands. We no longer accept money or issue wristbands at arrival time. All groups must be pre-paid and all groups must be wearing their wristbands before arriving at the Zoo. Payment due dates are provided and it is up to groups to pay before that date. We do not send reminders. Our “Pay, Rain, Cancel” info sheet explains how to pay with one business check or one credit card. Sorry, we do not accept purchase orders or personal checks. We do not process payments in person. All payments are done through the mail or over the phone with a credit card.
Before You Arrive
After your payment is processed, we will send you wristbands, carousel tickets (if ordered) bus driver drop off directions, pre-visit instructions, day of arrival instructions, and an orange check-in pass to help expedite your entrance into the Zoo. Groups must be wearing their wristbands before arriving at the Zoo. Arrival times can be very busy, and with buses constantly arriving, there is no place to stop or gather to put on wristbands. Groups must disembark with wristbands already on and enter straight in. You can download a copy of our map right from the QR code on the wristbands.
When You Arrive
Groups must disembark with wristbands already on. There is no place to stop or gather to put on wristbands. Please do not disembark until instructed to do so by the Zoo greeters. The chaperone in charge should be the first one off the bus with the orange check-in pass. Please finalize all plans prior to arriving. Greeters cannot stop to answer questions about lunches, bus parking, etc. The greeter will direct groups to the orange tiger footprints where everyone will need to show a wristband to gain entry. Do not stop in the bus drop off area to count heads or give instructions. Please proceed inside to the “Globe” or “Conservation Crossing” bench areas where you can re-group, and go when you are ready. Groups looking to eat upon arrival should proceed straight to the Picnic area, please do not eat in the entrance area.
Wild Adventure Show
Our live, outdoor animal show is offered only during the school year on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays. There is one show at 11 am and currently limited to 100 guests. Shows are 30 minutes in length. Reservations and advance payment are required. Everyone pays and needs a special wristband ahead of time to attend this show including free chaperones, teachers, toddlers, infants, siblings and parents arriving separately. The cost is $5 per person plus current group rate admission fees. Note: This show takes place outdoors and will present under “shine” only and the show is not guaranteed on your rain date.
Parking
There is no charge for parking. All vans & buses must follow the yellow signs and the white ground arrows to our drop off / pick up area to disembark. Afterwards, vans may park in the car lot only if they fit in one spot without sticking out and All buses, regardless of size must park in the bus parking lot down inside the city park. Groups are responsible for making sure that each driver receives the yellow copy.
Lunches
We offer $7.00 bagged lunches and reduced rate popsicles. Popsicles are 18 to a box for $10. Both must be ordered and paid for two weeks in advance.
You are always welcome to bring in your own lunches however; we do not have an indoor area to store your lunches. You can have each child carry their own lunch or you can bring coolers and wagons and leave them off to the side in our outdoor picnic grove. We do not reserve tables. We have complimentary pull carts near the Welcome Center that can be borrowed to transport the lunches to the picnic grove. Groups are asked to return the carts to the same place so that others may use them. Please do not leave paper bag or plastic wrap lunches unattended, anywhere, at all. We have no control over ants, squirrels guinea fowls, etc., who will chew right through paper bags. Please do not leave your lunches on the bus. Buses and cars get very hot, very fast and food will spoil unless packed in coolers. Please finalize your lunch plans prior to arriving at the Zoo.
Seating
Groups are encouraged to eat outside in the picnic grove as indoor seating is very limited inside the Café and Carousel. There are 60 picnic tables for outdoor use. All groups are responsible for cleaning up after themselves and for our animal’s safety we ask for everyone’s help in picking up all juice box plastic straw wrappers.
Restrooms
Restrooms are located in two areas. They are at the Zoo’s Front Gate Entrance Plaza and up the road, past the picnic grove, just around the corner from the Peacock Café. Tip; If your group can wait, using the restrooms nearest the picnic area is faster as there are more restrooms up there than there are at the Zoo’s Front Gate entrance.
First Aid
First Aid kits are located throughout the Zoo and marked by green + signs. Please contact any Zoo staff member for assistance. The Zoo has a Public Address System (PA) should an emergency arise. All Zoo staff members carry short wave radios. In the event of an emergency, please, please stay calm. Please contact any Zoo staff member for assistance.
Shopping
We offer low cost exclusive souvenirs starting @ $0.50 (tax not included) by bulk order for groups not planning to visit our gift shops. This allows groups more time to visit with the animals especially those groups with younger age children. Small groups at a time may visit the Trading Post with a chaperone and backpacks must be left on the front porch.
Reminders
All children, including middle school and high school students, Camp CIT’s and LIT’s must be under the direct supervision of an adult chaperone age 18 or older at all times. Children may not wander about the Zoo with an understanding to “check-in” later. These items are not permitted on Zoo grounds: Pets; roller skates; roller blades; heelys; bicycles; bouncing balls; balloons; whistles; cooking of any kind; alcohol of any kind; catering vehicles or reserving picnic tables. Prior management approval is needed to bring in outside entertainment such as, but not limited to: clowns; magicians; face painters, etc. We will send you a copy of our etiquette guidelines ahead of time to review with your group prior to arriving at the Zoo.
Tips for a Great Family Trip
- Watch a family nature video on your child’s favorite animal prior to your visit. Bring binoculars to the Zoo, so your child can “go on safari”.
- On your drive to the Zoo, discuss trips to the Zoo when you were a child, or what your favorite animal was when you were growing up.
- Use one of the Zoo Scavenger Hunts on our website to stimulate your child’s interest while at the Zoo.
- Make a game of stopping at every exhibit to spot the animals; they can often be secretive or lying in the shade. Let your little explorer find each animal, with hints from you. Read our signs to your child so they’ll know more about each fascinating species. And you might be amazed how much they already know!
- After your trip, visit your local library to borrow books on animals that piqued your child’s interest.
- Inquire about free and exciting family events via our website or in person.
- Plan your visits throughout the year to take advantage of our beautiful fall foliage, our animals playing in snow and our Zoo babies in the spring. We also have special programs during most school vacations. Check our website throughout the year.
- Remember these special hours to get the most out of your visit:
New World Tropics Rainforest – 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Carousel – 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Peacock Café – 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. - Restrooms are located near Front Gate and alongside the Peacock Café.
- First Aid Kits are located at the Front Gate, Gift Shop, Victorian Greenhouse, Peacock Café, Carousel and New England Farmyard areas.
Tips for a Great School Field Trip
- Watch a nature video prior to your visit to get the students thinking about animals and their natural habitats.
- Use one of the Zoo Scavenger Hunts on our website to stimulate your students’ interest and help structure their visit.
- After your Zoo trip, craft an assignment around the student’s favorite animal. It could be a poem, a short research paper, a story or an art project.
- Have your students study the native people that live in the same area as the student’s favorite animal (i.e.: bison & native American, ocelot & Yanomamo).
- Check our website for exciting and free upcoming events.
- Book in advance by emailing groupsales@beardsleyzoo.org. At least three weeks advance notice is required to qualify for our group rates and full payment is due two weeks in advance.
- Plan to visit the Zoo in the Fall. The Zoo is far less crowded and the animals are more active. The months of May and June are our busiest, often leading to crowded conditions and long lines at the Zoo’s most popular places.
- Allow three or more hours for your visit with stops at our Peacock Café, Carousel and Zoo gift shops. Please review information on the Café and Gift Shop on our website for further teacher information.
- Visit in orderly, mid-sized groups (20 or fewer). Chaperones should stay with their groups, encouraging them to read the signs and take time to view each enclosure. Animals can be secretive and enjoy a spot of shade, so take the time to see every animal you can. The kids will enjoy being the first in their group to spot all the animals. You’ll see more of the Zoo and the kids will get more out of their visit.
