Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens gives educators 10% off a membership with a valid school ID, and it holds an Educator Appreciation Day with free admission. The membership discount isn’t tied to an event, and you claim it at the zoo or by email and phone. The free day is its own event, and when we looked the educator page said only “More info coming Soon.”
If you’re deciding between a membership for your own family and waiting for the free day, the two work differently. The membership discount is there whenever you’re ready to buy, while the free day covers one ticket per school ID and everyone else in your group pays.
How To Get The Jacksonville Zoo Teacher Discount
The educator resources page says educators can receive a 10% discount off a Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens membership with a valid school ID. It says proof of eligibility must be presented at the time of purchase at the membership office at the main entrance of the Zoo, and that the discount isn’t available online.
The offers page describes a second way to do it. To receive your discount, it says to email members@jacksonvillezoo.org with a photo of your valid ID and a contact phone number where the zoo can reach you to complete your discounted purchase via phone. It also says you may show your valid ID and purchase your discounted membership at the Guest Relations window.
The Educator Appreciation Day
The educator page also describes a day at the Zoo designed just for educators and their families. It says educators receive free admission with valid school ID, and that you show a valid School ID on arrival to qualify. One free admission ticket is honored per valid School ID, and everyone else in your party has to purchase tickets.
The page says there are activity stations where families can interact with Zoo Educators and meet some of the Animal Ambassadors. When we looked, the heading read “More info coming Soon” and no new date was listed. The page also lists an Educator Open House, and its date had already passed by then.
Who Counts As An Educator
The page says “educators” with a valid school ID and doesn’t define the word further. It doesn’t limit the discount to Duval County or Florida teachers, and it doesn’t mention a pay stub as proof. The offers page lists the discount for “teachers” alongside seniors 65 or older, military and City of Jacksonville employees, all with a valid I.D.
What The Discount Covers
The offers page lays out conditions: one discount per purchase, and no discounts on Gift Membership Certificates or Heart of the Zoo Society Memberships. Offers are only available at the time of purchase and can’t be applied at a later date, so buy with the discount instead of planning to adjust it afterward.
On what a membership includes, the offers page says that along with 12 months of free admission and free parking, members get discounts at the restaurants, the gift store and special events.
School Trips And Group Rates
School trips are priced separately from the teacher discount. The field trips page says the Duval County public and private school rate is available Monday through Friday during the school year for groups of 15 or more, with Duval County students admitted free. It also says 1 adult per 10 students is admitted free, including teachers, teacher assistants and other educational professionals. Additional adults and chaperones over that ratio are $20.95 each, and additional siblings (ages 3-12) are $15.95.
Groups from outside the county, homeschool groups, childcare centers and Head Start groups pay $15.95 per child (ages 3-12) and $20.95 per adult or teacher (ages 13+). The page says organizers collect payment in advance and make one group payment at the front gate, because individuals who pay separately are charged the full admission rates and don’t get the group rate. It adds that the zoo doesn’t accept cash, personal checks or POs, and that field trip requests must be submitted at least two weeks in advance.
For groups that aren’t on a school trip, the offers page says the zoo offers discounts to reserved groups of 15 or more.
Staying In Touch
The educator page offers a monthly email newsletter for teachers in Jacksonville and beyond, and says it includes information on upcoming events at the zoo. It also lists STEAM curriculum workshops: the zoo’s education staff are certified in multiple nationally acclaimed curriculums and can custom design a workshop for your group.
What We Couldn’t Confirm
The educator page doesn’t give a date for the next Educator Appreciation Day, so we can’t say when it will be or whether it repeats. The educator and offers pages don’t list a membership price, so we can’t say what 10% comes to. The educator page names the membership office at the main entrance while the offers page names the Guest Relations window, so call (904) 757-4463 if you’re not sure which counter to go to. We also didn’t find a standing teacher discount on single-day admission.
Q&A
Does Jacksonville Zoo give teachers free admission?
The educator page offers free admission with a valid school ID on Educator Appreciation Day. When we looked, it said more info was coming soon.
How much is the educator membership discount?
10% off a membership with a valid school ID.
Can I get the membership discount online?
The educator page says the discount isn’t available online. The offers page describes emailing a photo of your ID and finishing the purchase by phone.
How many free tickets do I get on Educator Appreciation Day?
The page says 1 free admission ticket per valid school ID. Everyone else buys tickets.
Are school trips free?
For Duval County public and private schools, students are admitted free along with 1 adult per 10 students, Monday through Friday during the school year for groups of 15 or more. Other groups pay the rates listed above.
More Information:
The details above come from Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens’ own pages as they loaded when we checked, and programs change without notice. See more entertainment discounts for teachers.
