Riverbanks Zoo & Garden doesn’t list a discount for individual teachers. What it does list is a discounted group rate for school groups of 15 or more who reserve at least two weeks ahead, so the savings come with the class booking, not with your school ID.
More than 100,000 school children visit Riverbanks each year, according to the zoo’s field trips page, and the school reservation form is built for the teacher who ends up organizing the day. It asks for your grade level, how many buses are coming, and a head count of teachers, chaperones and students.
How To Get The Riverbanks Zoo Teacher Discount
There isn’t an individual teacher discount to claim, so the way in is a school field trip reservation. The zoo says K-12 school groups are eligible to receive a discount by making reservations at least two weeks before the visit date, and the reservation form adds that reduced rates are only available to groups of 15 or more.
On the school field trip reservation form, you also say whether you’d like information about adding a standards-based education program to the trip. Changes or cancellations are due 2 business days before your visit date, or you can be charged for the reservation.
What The Group Rates Cover
With a reservation, group adults (ages 13 and up) pay $21.55 and group children (ages 2 to 12) pay $18.55, and children younger than 2 are free. Walk-up groups pay $25.95 for adults and $22.95 for children, so reserving ahead is what gets you the lower number. The rate includes entry to the Zoo and Botanical Garden.
On the day, one group representative checks in at the ticket window with a complete count of students and chaperones, your confirmation letter and a lump sum payment. Group members who don’t enter with the entire party are charged full price, so plan on arriving together. The group visits page also asks for one adult chaperone for every 10 children.
Lunch For Your Class
Pets, food, beverages and coolers aren’t allowed in the park, so lunch is something you plan ahead. The zoo offers “Jungle Meals” designed for school groups of at least 25, available Monday through Friday and served at the Safari Camp picnic pavilion. The reservation form lists the Amazon meal (a plain hot dog) and the Congo meal (a PB&J sandwich) at $9 per person, and the Madagascar meal (a turkey sandwich) at $10 per person.
Meal orders have to be made at least two weeks in advance. Final meal counts are due 2 business days before your visit, and payments are due 10 days before it.
Visiting On Your Own
For a day with your own family, we couldn’t find anything aimed at teachers. The visitor information page lists regular adult admission (ages 13 to 61) at $27.95 online and $30.95 at the ticket window, and children (ages 2 to 12) at $24.95 online and $27.95 at the window. Buying online saves $3 per ticket and $3 on parking per vehicle, which runs $3 online and $6 at the window.
The individual discounts the FAQ describes are for military families with military ID and for seniors over age 62, and the visitor information page prices both at $25.95 online or $28.95 at the ticket window. It also mentions Free Fridays for residents of Lexington and Richland counties with proof of residency, and a summer Toucan Tuesdays promotion where two people get in for the price of one if they bring in two canned or non-perishable items. None of those mention teachers, and neither does the membership page.
What We Couldn’t Confirm
The group visits page asks for one adult chaperone for every 10 children, while the reservation form says to plan on one chaperone for every 7 students. We couldn’t tell which one applies, so ask when you reserve.
The page also gives one group adult rate and one group child rate, and it doesn’t say whether the teachers on your booking pay the adult rate even though the form counts teachers separately from chaperones. The parking table has a separate row for grant-receiving schools without explaining what counts as grant-receiving, so we left the group parking fees out.
Q&A
Does Riverbanks Zoo have a teacher discount?
Not for individual teachers. The FAQ and membership pages don’t mention teachers or educators. School groups can get discounted group rates by reserving at least two weeks ahead.
How many people do we need for the group rate?
The reservation form says reduced rates are only available to groups of 15 or more.
What does a school group pay?
With a reservation, $21.55 for adults (ages 13 and up) and $18.55 for children (ages 2 to 12), and children younger than 2 are free. Walk-up rates are $25.95 and $22.95.
Does the group rate include the botanical garden?
Yes. The page says admission includes entry to the Zoo and Botanical Garden.
Can my class bring packed lunches?
The page says pets, food, beverages and coolers aren’t allowed in the park. Jungle Meals are the lunch option listed, for groups of at least 25, ordered at least two weeks ahead.
How late can we change or cancel?
The reservation form says changes or cancellations are due 2 business days before your visit date to avoid being charged for your reservation.
More Information:
Everything above comes from Riverbanks Zoo & Garden’s own group visits, reservation, visitor information and FAQ pages as they loaded when we checked. Rates and rules change, so confirm them when you reserve. See more entertainment discounts for teachers.
