School and Group Programs at the Zoo

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Get your students out of their seats and make the curriculum come to life! Get closer with animal encounters; check out some amazing artifacts and explore the Zoo as you learn about adaptations, endangered species, habitats and many other topics.

We have tailored programs to entertain and engage groups of all ages. Bring your group to the Zoo for an adventure during the day, or even spend the night in a sleepover!

Are you unable to visit us in person? Check out our Virtual Program options!

Book Your School or Group Program

(2025/26 School Year)

Book Now

Have you booked your program(s) at the Edmonton Valley Zoo during the months of September-April? The Valley Zoo Development Society is looking to Pay it Forward for the Planet by providing up to 200 schools each year with a subsidy of up to $250.

Learn more and apply today!
Note: Overnight and virtual programs are not eligible for the subsidy.

Year-Round Programs

Animal Senses (Ages 3+)

Program Length: 1.5 hours
Fees:
July 2024 - March 2025: $245 (No zoo admission on days facility is closed to the public)
April - August 2025: $265 (Zoo admission Included)

Stimulate your senses at the Zoo! Discover how animals find food, perceive predators, and pick a partner using their five (or more!) senses. Meet some animals with senses very similar to ours and some that are very different. Your group will look and listen as they tour around part of the Zoo, feel some artifacts, meet a live animal, and probably experience some rather unique smells.

Program Information Package

Due to limited animal availability and in accordance with important CAZA guidelines prioritizing animal welfare, animal encounters may be cancelled without notice if animals exhibit behaviours indicating they prefer to remain in their habitats.

Animals Around the World (Ages 3+)

Program Length: 1.5 hours
Fees:
July 2024 - March 2025: $245 (No zoo admission on days facility is closed to the public)
April - August 2025: $265 (Zoo admission Included)

Get closer to animals from around the world! Students will discover exotic animals, as well as some closer to home, as they go on a globetrotting tour without ever leaving Edmonton. You will meet some of our animals up close as you learn how the zoo (and you, too) can help animals all over the world.

Program Information Package

Due to limited animal availability and in accordance with important CAZA guidelines prioritizing animal welfare, animal encounters may be cancelled without notice if animals exhibit behaviours indicating they prefer to remain in their habitats.

Fur, Feathers and Scales (Ages 4+)

Program Length: 1.5 hours
Fees:
July 2024 - March 2025: $245 (No zoo admission on days facility is closed to the public)
April - August 2025: $265 (Zoo admission Included)

Get closer to the animals at the Edmonton Valley Zoo to see what they have covering their bodies. What can mammals use their fur for? What are birds’ feathers made out of? Do animals covered in scales feel slimy? Students will get a chance to see and feel the difference between fur, feathers, and scales when we tour the zoo, check out some animal artifacts, and even get to meet a live animal.

Program Information Package

Due to limited animal availability and in accordance with important CAZA guidelines prioritizing animal welfare, animal encounters may be cancelled without notice if animals exhibit behaviours indicating they prefer to remain in their habitats.

Night Creatures (Ages 4+)

Program Length: 1.5 hours
Fees:
July 2024 - March 2025: $245 (No zoo admission on days facility is closed to the public)
April - August 2025: $265 (Zoo admission Included)

How do whiskers help animals scurry around at night? Can owls see in the dark? Children will discover some of the amazing adaptations of the night-loving animals that live in our nocturnal wing. We’ll also visit familiar and exotic animals from around the world that are most active at dawn and dusk. Children will learn about the incredible lives of night creatures as we look at bats, owls and more.

Program Information Package

Due to limited animal availability and in accordance with important CAZA guidelines prioritizing animal welfare, animal encounters may be cancelled without notice if animals exhibit behaviours indicating they prefer to remain in their habitats.

Animal Appetites (Ages 5+)

Program Length: 1.5 hours
Fees:
July 2024 - March 2025: $245 (No zoo admission on days facility is closed to the public)
April - August 2025: $265 (Zoo admission Included)

It’s a dog-eat-dog, or maybe a wolf-eat-deer world! Visit the zoo and Get Closer to a variety of herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores all while learning where each falls on the food chain! Tour a part of the zoo while discussing the different types of diet classifications, meet an animal up close and learn how animals use their senses and adaptations to detect food. All while you explore identifying ways you can keep animals and the environment healthy and safe!

Program Information Package

Due to limited animal availability and in accordance with important CAZA guidelines prioritizing animal welfare, animal encounters may be cancelled without notice if animals exhibit behaviours indicating they prefer to remain in their habitats.

Animal Movers & Shakers (Ages 5+)

Program Length: 1.5 hours
Fees:
July 2024 - March 2025: $245 (No zoo admission on days facility is closed to the public)
April - August 2025: $265 (Zoo admission Included)

Slither like a snake, leap like a lemur, and fly like a falcon at the Edmonton Valley Zoo! Students will explore how and why animals move, and observe a variety of local and exotic animals in motion! Meet an animal up close and tour part of the zoo to see animals who also migrate, hibernate, and stay active all winter long! Learn why some animals move with the seasons while others stay put, and try your hand at moving just like them!

Program Information Package

Due to limited animal availability and in accordance with important CAZA guidelines prioritizing animal welfare, animal encounters may be cancelled without notice if animals exhibit behaviours indicating they prefer to remain in their habitats.

Winter Animal Adaptations (Ages 5+)

Program Length: 1.5 hours
Fees:
July 2024 - March 2025: $245 (No zoo admission on days facility is closed to the public)
April - August 2025: $265 (Zoo admission Included)

Discover some of the animals that call Canada home! An interpreter will guide your group around the Zoo to meet some of our Canadian animals, as well as ones that live in similar Northern habitats around the world. Learn about diverse ecosystems found in the northern parts of the world and how animals adapt to living in them. You’ll have a chance to see some awesome animal artifacts and meet an animal up close.

Program Information Package

Due to limited animal availability and in accordance with important CAZA guidelines prioritizing animal welfare, animal encounters may be cancelled without notice if animals exhibit behaviours indicating they prefer to remain in their habitats.

Endangered Species (Ages 7+)

Program Length: 1.5 hours
Fees:
July 2024 - March 2025: $245 (No zoo admission on days facility is closed to the public)
April - August 2025: $265 (Zoo admission Included)

Meet some of the world’s most endangered species and discover ways that you and the Zoo can help protect and preserve endangered animals here and around the globe! We’ll examine artifacts that come from endangered species, meet an animal up close and personal, and participate in discussions to help your students understand why so many animals are endangered. As we visit the Zoo’s endangered animals, students will learn about our Species Survival Plan and the conservation efforts that the zoo supports.

Program Information Package

Due to limited animal availability and in accordance with important CAZA guidelines prioritizing animal welfare, animal encounters may be cancelled without notice if animals exhibit behaviours indicating they prefer to remain in their habitats.

Seasonal Programs

A Merry Zoo Christmas (3+)

Program Length: 1.5 hours
Fees: $245 (No zoo admission on days facility is closed to the public)
Available: November-December, Monday-Thursday

We have made our list and checked it twice, and all the animals have been on their best behaviour! During the Christmas season, you will have a chance to Get Closer to some of our animals and learn all about Christmas traditions from around the world. You will even have the chance to deliver a gift for an animal and make their holiday wishes come true.

Program Information Package

Due to limited animal availability and in accordance with important CAZA guidelines prioritizing animal welfare, animal encounters may be cancelled without notice if animals exhibit behaviours indicating they prefer to remain in their habitats.

Overnight Programs

Zoo Sleepover (Ages 5+)

Program Length:
Arrive at 6pm, depart at 11am the following day
Fees: $750
Groups staying later than 11am will be charged an additional $30/hr or part thereof. Those wishing to visit the Zoo on their own after the overnight experience must pay self-guided admission fees.
Available:
Friday and Saturday evenings in September–April

Note: During the spring, there may be full facility rentals at the Zoo in the evening. Your group will still be able to do all of the activities, but you will not be the only group in the Zoo for part of the evening.

This exciting overnight stay at the Zoo will provide your group with an immersive learning experience tailored to meet your group's learning needs. Check out the animals that are just waking up as an interpreter guides you around the Zoo outside of regular visiting hours. The sleepover program includes two 1.5 hour programs of your choice, time for supper and breakfast*, and free time for a movie or games. Program can also include an evening campfire by request (depending on weather conditions.)

At time of booking, please indicate which two programs you would like included with your sleepover (select from the year-round program themes listed above), and if you would like a campfire.

* No meals are provided.

Meals

You plan and supply your supper and breakfast. Adult supervisors will be responsible for preparing meals, with some staff guidance, and for clean up. Please note that cooking facilities are limited.

Sleeping Arrangements

Students will sleep in our classrooms in the EdVenture Lodge at the Edmonton Valley Zoo. Groups can be separated into two separate rooms if requested during the booking process. Participants must supply their own sleeping bags, ground mat, cutlery, mess kits and personal items. Lights-out will be at or before 11pm, depending on grade of students and teacher preferences.

Staff and Parent Volunteers

A minimum of four adult supervisors are required to stay overnight. You can choose to bring your own adult volunteer supervisors or pay an additional charge of $125/staff member to meet the required number of supervisors.

Overnight Program Information Package

Due to limited animal availability and in accordance with important CAZA guidelines prioritizing animal welfare, animal encounters may be cancelled without notice if animals exhibit behaviours indicating they prefer to remain in their habitats.

Booking Checklist

Please be prepared with the following information to make your booking:

Program name
2-3 potential program dates
School mailing address, including postal code
School telephone and fax number
Contact name and names of teachers for all classes being booked
Email address(es) of teacher(s) booking and attending the program
Number of children attending
Number of supervisors
Individuals with diverse abilities/accessibility arrangements
Location and address for travelling programs
Name and phone number of on-site contact person for travelling programs

Fees and Payment

The amount owing is shown on your program confirmation. Payment is required prior to the program. Invoices are sent out on the first of each month. You will receive your invoice in the same month as your program runs. For example: for a May booking, you will be issued your invoice on May 1. Payment can be made by cheque, Visa, MasterCard, or American Express. Please make cheques payable to The City of Edmonton and write your booking confirmation numbers on your cheques.

Credit card payment can be made over the phone by calling 311 (outside of Edmonton: 780-442-5311).

Mail cheques to:
Citizen Services Payment Processing
PO Box 2359
19th Floor, Edmonton Tower
Edmonton AB, T5J 2R7

Group Size

The maximum number of students permitted in a program is 35. The maximum number of adults permitted in a program is 10. Groups exceeding 35 students must book an additional program.

Adults are required to remain with their group and supervise participating students at all times during the program. Adult supervisors are admitted free of charge into the program in the following ratios:

Pre-school (3-4 years): 1 adult per 3 students
Kindergarten - Grade 6: 1 adult per 5 students
Grades 7-12: 1 adult per 10 students

Additional parents and children/siblings exceeding these ratios will be asked to pay facility admission fees and tour the facility on their own. Additional participants can rejoin their group after the registered program ends. To ensure a high quality program, we recommend that all children participating are within the age range advertised for the program.

Cancellation and Rescheduling

You are required to submit written notice of cancellation of program(s) via email to artsattractionsbookings@edmonton.ca.

Programs cancelled with 30 days notice or more will not be charged the program fee or a cancellation fee. Programs cancelled with 8-29 days notice are subject to be charged 50% of the program fee. For programs cancelled with 7 days notice or less, the full program fee will be charged.

Programs run rain or shine. In the event of poor weather, you must email artsattractionsbookings@edmonton.ca if you are not coming.

Programs cancelled due to severe weather conditions will not be charged a cancellation fee as long as they are rescheduled within the current or upcoming school year fall term (September - November).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have questions about our school and group programs? Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we receive. If the answer to your question isn’t listed here, please refer to the teacher information packages for additional information.

Additionally, you can contact the school and group bookings office by emailing artsattractionsbookings@edmonton.ca, and we will be happy to answer your questions!

I have questions about the status of my program request, or I would like to book a program. Who do I contact?

To request to book a program, fill out the booking form. A member of our bookings team will be in touch within a few days.

To request a status update for a booking request, please email our bookings team at artsattractionsbookings@edmonton.ca

Note: Response time may vary throughout the year as increase in program requests happen in the spring and fall.

How do we book a group visit to the zoo without a guided program?

Please email attractions@edmonton.ca requesting a self-guided visit for your group, including the date and time you would like to schedule it for. One of our customer service representatives will be in touch with additional information shortly. The cost is the price of admission per participant.

Self-guided visits are a great way to visit the zoo, especially during our peak season in May and June when guided programs are sold out. Educational kits may be rented for your visit, while supplies last.

Groups who book a self-guided tour with more than 10 individuals will receive a 10% discount on the total price.

The Air Quality Health Index rating for Edmonton is very high. What does this mean for my program?

Our programs run in all types of weather conditions; we do not automatically cancel any of our on-site programs due to weather. When the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) on the Government of Canada website is 7 or above in Edmonton, interpreters running programs will arrange their tours to prioritize time indoors and limit time spent outside. However, with many of our animals in outdoor enclosures, we do spend short amounts of time outside seeing those exhibits as well as walking between buildings. We do not have the facilities to run programs exclusively indoors.

If you decide to cancel your program, please refer to the Program Cancellation policy. You are required to submit written notice of cancellation of program(s) via email to artsattractionsbookings@edmonton.ca to officially cancel and/or reschedule your program. Cancellation fees may apply.

Do we get to touch or hold animals during our program?

Animal encounters will continue to be no-touch encounters in order to prioritize the health, safety and comfort of our tractable animals. During encounters, animals may be held by a trained employee for the group to see closer or placed on the ground with the group sitting in a circle around the animal, but the animals are not permitted to be touched or held by program participants at any time.

Due to limited animal availability and in accordance with important CAZA guidelines prioritizing animal welfare, animal encounters may be cancelled without notice if animals exhibit behaviours indicating they prefer to remain in their habitats.

What happens if I need to be on the bus at the time or before my program is scheduled to end?

Please let your interpreter know prior to or at the start of the program or at the time of booking when you need to be on the bus, so that they will leave enough time to walk the children back to the front gate.

What happens if we arrive late?

Your program will start when you arrive at the Zoo, and will end at the scheduled end time indicated on your booking confirmation sheet.

Do your programs automatically include time for a snack and/or bathroom break?

No, they do not. If you would like to ensure that your group has enough time for a break mid-program, you can include this information at the time of booking. When you are contacted by your interpreter prior to your program to confirm program details, you can discuss the inclusion of a break time with them. Schools and groups are responsible for providing their own food and beverages for snack time.

What happens if the weather is poor the morning of my program and I want to cancel/reschedule?

Our programs run rain or shine. We do not automatically cancel any of our on-site programs due to weather. If you want to cancel and/or reschedule your program, please refer to the Program Cancellation policy section. You are required to submit written notice of cancellation of program(s) via email to artsattractionsbookings@edmonton.ca to officially cancel and/or reschedule your program. Cancellation fees may apply. Even if you have already talked to your interpreter prior to the program and have expressed interest in cancelling/rescheduling, you need to formally request a change to your program booking through the bookings office.

We will already be at the Zoo for a self-guided tour in the morning before the start of our afternoon program. Where should we meet our interpreter?

The default meeting location for all programs is at the front gate of the Zoo. If you would like to arrange an alternate meeting location within the Zoo (for example, at the Saito Centre or in front of the Administration Building), please mention this at the time of booking or discuss this with your interpreter when they call to confirm your program.

We are staying at the zoo for lunch. Are there food services on-site?

There are beverage and snack vending machines, a change machine, and an ATM year-round in the main entrance plaza and Saito Centre. You can also visit the Charity Cafe in the front entry plaza year-round. Seasonally, Farmer’s Kitchen restaurant and Moo at the Zoo (ice cream) operate out of their space at the Urban Farm during the spring and summer. We recommend that groups bring their own food to the Zoo to avoid line-ups at the concession and vending machines.

Please call 311 (outside of Edmonton: 780-442-5311) or visit our website for hours of operation, winter/summer season dates, and for other questions about on-site services at the Edmonton Valley Zoo.

Please Note: There is limited space at the Zoo for lunch. Our program spaces are needed for scheduled programs morning and afternoon. Other spaces (indoor and outdoor) are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. You are welcome to have your students bring their lunches and eat in any of the public spaces, but please help to keep our facility clean by tidying up after your group and ensuring all garbage and recycling is placed into the appropriate containers on-site.

We are staying at the Zoo for the whole day. Is there a space for us to leave our belongings?

We recommend that all participants bring their own backpacks or totes and keep these with them at all times. Our program spaces are needed for programs morning and afternoon, and do not have lockable storage areas. The Edmonton Valley Zoo is not responsible for any lost or stolen items left in any area that is accessible to the public.

Can I rent the Program Tent or a BBQ for our group to have lunch on-site?

Propane BBQ units are not permitted on-site, but you can rent one of the program tents for lunch. To reserve a sheltered site for lunch, please call 780-496-2601 or email specialmoments@edmonton.ca.

There are some children with specific needs or allergies in my class/group. Can these be accommodated?

As much as possible, we will do our best to accommodate your class' needs. Please mention any specific needs or allergies to a booking agent over the phone, by email, or through the online request form when you are booking your program, so that your interpreter is prepared for your class. If you have any questions about needs specific to your group, our booking agents would be happy to answer your questions.

Please Note: The Edmonton Valley Zoo is not a nut-free or allergen-free facility. Our collection includes many fur-bearing animals. Common allergens at the Zoo include fur, feathers, straw, hay, dust and pollen. Many animals receive nuts and/or seeds as part of their diets. Members of the public may also bring in their own food or items that contain allergens. If you have any specific concerns regarding your upcoming program, please discuss these with one of our booking agents.

What does the zoo offer to assist participants with sensory accessibility needs?

The Edmonton Valley Zoo has partnered with KultureCity® to enhance our ability to assist and accommodate guests with sensory needs. Our goal is to provide an inclusive experience for all guests during all programs. We strive to raise awareness of the needs and challenges faced by individuals with sensory processing needs by supplying our staff with annual training and by offering the resources and accommodations below to our guests.

Please visit our Sensory Accessibility page for additional details.

We have been to the Zoo before or have had the same program before. Can we request to see specific animals or do specific activities that we have done previously?

At the time of booking, please include these requests as part of your booking information. Your interpreter will do their best to accommodate your requests during your program. Please be aware that we cannot guarantee any visits or encounters with specific animals, due to animal health and availability. Zookeeping program-related activities are dependent on animal health, time of day, and zookeeper availability. Additionally, some animals may not be on public display at certain times of the year. Location(s) of the animal(s) of interest to your group may depend on the season and the current construction projects taking place at the Zoo.

Do you offer language interpretation/translation services at your site, or do you offer your programs in languages other than English?

We do not have language interpretation services or translators at the Zoo, but you are welcome to bring your own if your class or group requires one. All of our programs are offered in English. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to provide programs in other languages. Availability of our programs in other languages is dependent upon whether a bilingual interpreter is available at the time of your program.

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Other School and Group Programs

Looking for more program options? See the complete list of school and group programs at attractions and recreation centres.

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Educational Kits & Self-Guided Tours

Rent one of our new Educational kits filled with artifacts, activities and so much more at the Edmonton Valley Zoo!

Contact Us

School/Group Program Reservations Office

13315 Buena Vista Road (87 Avenue)
PO Box 2359
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2R7

Email	artsattractionsbookings@edmonton.ca