Planning Your Field Trip:

Cost:

1. Schools and educational facilities visiting Potawatomi Zoo with at least 10 paying students qualify to receive a discounted group rate.
2. This group rate is not available on weekends or holiday and is subject to change. Teachers and chaperones must pay admission; only bus drivers are exempt.
3. Group Rate: Students = $4.50, Adults = $5.50.
4. Using Memberships: If anyone in your group is using a Zoological Society Membership, the admissions staff will need to see membership cards and identification at the entrance. If a student is using the family’s membership without their parent or guardian in attendance, we recommend that you copy the card and submit the copy with your payment.

Payment:

1. Potawatomi Zoo accepts cash, checks, Visa, Mastercard, and purchase orders.

Education Programs:

1. If you want a little more from your field trip experience, you can schedule a 30-minute classroom animal presentation with the Education Department.
• During the program, you will meet and learn about three different animals. The Education Department can also try to incorporate a specific theme that would coordinate with your curriculum.
• Classroom presentations are limited to 30 participants and cost $35.00 per program.
2. To schedule a classroom animal presentation, contact the Education Department at 574-235-7621. Dates and times are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Rules:

1. During your field trip at Potawatomi Zoo, you are visiting the animals’ homes, so please be respectful and abide by the following rules.
• Stay on public pathways.
• Please do not run or yell inside the zoo.
• Students must remain with chaperones at all times. This rule applies to all ages and grade levels.
• Do not tap or bang on exhibit glass as this can frighten the animals.
• Do not throw anything into exhibits. The animals are on strict diets and ingestion of other objects can be harmful or even fatal.
2. Try to insure a chaperone-student ratio that will help insure the zoo rules are followed and that everyone has an ed-zoo-cational and fun field trip.

Registering Your Field Trip:

• Download a field trip registration form.
• Fax the completed form to 574-235-9080.
• You will then receive a confirmation form from the zoo in return.

The Day of Your Field Trip:

• Bring the bottom portion of your confirmation form with you to the zoo. Fill in the number of students and adults included with your group.
• Go over the zoo rules with your students prior to arriving at the zoo.
• Bus parking is available along the zoo’s perimeter fence. Students may be unloaded at the zoo entrance curb, but please be respectful of other buses behind you waiting to unload.
• One representative should present the total number of students and adults in your group with payment. Exact payment is appreciated and will expedite your entrance to the zoo.

1. If you have registered for an education program, remember to submit your statement stub with your payment.

2. Tell the cashier know if you will be using a purchase order at the beginning of your transaction, so that any corrections can be made and signed

Have Fun!

 Let Potawatomi Zoo bring some of the zoo to you with a Zoo-to-You Outreach Program! 

The Potawatomi Zoo’s Zoomobile can travel to your location with Edzoocators and animals for a fun and educational experience. 

Edzoocational Outreach Programs for Schools 

Preschool Zoo-to-You Outreach Programs - Introduce your preschoolers to the world of animals with a 30-minute Zoo-to-You Outreach Program.  Your students will meet 3 animals and learn about where they live, what they eat, and why they look like they do.  Cost: 0-30 miles = $60; 31-60 miles = $90; Additional programs = $15 each 

School Zoo-to-You Outreach Programs - Primary & Secondary teachers compliment your lessons with a Zoo-to-You Outreach Programs.  During these 45-minute presentations, your students will meet 4 animals and learn how they are adapted for survival.  Cost: 0-30 miles = $70; 31-60 miles = $100; Additional programs = $25 each 

Cost:

• 0-30 miles = $30.00
• 31-60 miles = $60.00

Company or Group Event Programs: If your company or group is hosting an event, you could include an Animal Outreach Program as part of your function. These programs last approximately 45 minutes and include 4 animals.

Cost:

• 0-30 miles = $50.00
• 31-60 miles = $80.00
• 61-90 miles = $110.00
• 91-120 miles = $140.00
• Additional programs = $15.00 each

When scheduling an outreach program, you may request a theme/topic that coordinates with a current lesson or season. The Education Department will make every effort to facilitate special requests, but may not be able to fulfill every one. Animals used during outreach programs are not part of the zoo’s exhibit collection.

Potawatomi Zoo does not offer Outreach Programs at private homes. The Education Department will schedule programs at outdoor locations but reserves the right to cancel the programs due to extremely high or low temperatures or inclement weather that poses a health risk to our animals. To schedule an animal outreach program or for more information, contact the Education Department at 574-235-7621.

Know a student interested in pursuing a career working with animals or in a zoo setting? Then recommend them for a Potawatomi Zoo Job Shadow!

Potawatomi Zoo offers 2-hour job shadow experiences that allow students insight into a zookeeper’s daily routine and provide students with the opportunity to ask the keepers questions about their job and the animals they care for. Job shadows do not include direct animal contact.

Students are not able to choose the animal area in which they will shadow as these experiences are arranged at the convenience of the zookeepers. Job Shadows are available for students in 8th-12th grade.

Job Shadow students are required to submit a letter from their schools along with a signed job shadow contract. Contracts are to be signed by the student and a legal guardian. To schedule a job shadow or for more information, contact the Education Department at 574-235-7621.