Queens Zoo, in Queens, New York, doesn’t list a discount on a teacher’s own ticket. What it does offer is free general admission for a class that books one of its education programs. The zoo’s registration page says that after you book, an invoice comes back with the program information, and that letter is valid for free general admission for your classes.
Programs are priced per class, from $150 for a self-guided scavenger hunt to $200 for several of the elementary classroom programs, so a booked trip comes down to one invoice. If you’re coming with your own family instead, the Visiting On Your Own section covers the discounts the zoo’s FAQ does list.
How To Get The Queens Zoo Teacher Discount
You book through the Education Department, not at the gate. The registration page says to email qzeducation@wcs.org or call 800-433-4149 and press 1, then 2 when prompted. Once your booking is made, an invoice with the program information, including the date and time, is sent to you. The page says that letter is valid for free general admission for your classes and must be shown at the entrance gate on the scheduled dates, so keep it somewhere you can find it that morning.
The zoo’s program pages put a price on each option. A guided tour is one hour on a single theme, such as the Protecting the Environment tour or the Habitats and Diets tour, and costs $175 per class. The self-guided scavenger hunts cost $150 per class and include admission into the zoo: Mystery Animal for kindergarten through third grade and Wild Science for fourth through eighth. Those are for a maximum of 45 people, an inclusion class of 35 students and 10 adults. On the elementary school page, Meet an Animal, a private meet-and-greet with ambassador animals for pre-K through fifth grade, is $175 per class, and programs such as Junior Scientist and Climate Conversations are $200 per class.
The registration page also sets class limits. Pre-K and kindergarten classes max out at 25 students and 7 adults, including the teacher. First grade and up can bring 35 students and 7 adults. Schools can’t combine classes to reach the maximum, and the page asks for at least 1 adult chaperone for every 10 children, who have to stay with their group at all times.
Payment in full is due at least 5 weeks before your program date, or right away if you book less than 3 weeks out. You can pay by check, credit card or purchase order. Moving your program date costs a $50 change fee, and there are no refunds on cancellations made within 3 weeks of the program. Programs run rain or shine, and instructors can only take a group that arrives up to 20 minutes late.
If your class is coming by bus, read the parking note before you pick a date. The page lists a free public lot at 111th Street and 53rd Avenue that doesn’t belong to the zoo. It’s first come, first served, so it may be full when you arrive, and the page points to the NY Hall of Science for a fee or to street parking if it is.
Visiting On Your Own
The zoo’s FAQ page says the ticket discounts it offers are for US Military and Veterans and for Museum Council of New York City members, and it doesn’t mention teachers. Cool Culture cardholders are eligible for up to five complimentary General Admission tickets, and Museum Council passholders for two complimentary tickets. Both need an advance ticket reservation, so line that up before the day you go.
If you’re bringing 10 or more people, WCS Group Sales is the contact, at (800) 433-4149 or wcsgroupsales@wcs.org. The FAQ says advance reservations are required for all schools or camps and for all groups of 10 or more, with no walk-up tickets.
The FAQ puts the zoo near the #7 train at 111th Street and the Q58 bus stop on Corona Avenue. It says there’s no parking lot at the zoo and recommends mass transit. The zoo opens at 10 a.m. every day, and the FAQ expects the average visit to run 1 to 1.5 hours. All ticket sales are final, so check your date before you buy.
What We Couldn’t Confirm
None of the pages we read print a price for a teacher’s own ticket or for the Group Sales rate, so call Group Sales for a quote. The registration page says the invoice letter is valid for free general admission for your classes, but it doesn’t say whether the chaperones are covered, so ask when you book. We read the guided tour, scavenger hunt and elementary school prices. The middle school and high school program pages carry their own.
Q&A
Is there a teacher discount at Queens Zoo?
Not on a teacher’s own ticket, according to the FAQ. A class that books an education program gets an invoice letter that is valid for free general admission for the class.
How do I book a program?
Email qzeducation@wcs.org or call 800-433-4149 and press 1, then 2 when prompted.
How much do the programs cost?
Guided tours are $175 per class. Scavenger hunts are $150 per class with admission included. Elementary classroom programs are $175 or $200 per class.
How big can my class be?
Pre-K and kindergarten classes can bring 25 students and 7 adults. First grade and up can bring 35 students and 7 adults, and both counts include the teacher.
What if I need to change the date?
The page says there’s a $50 change fee if the school needs to change the program dates.
Where does a school bus park?
The page lists a free public lot at 111th Street and 53rd Avenue that isn’t the zoo’s. It’s first come, first served and may be full.
Do I need a reservation for a group of 10 or more?
Yes. The FAQ says advance reservations are required, and there are no walk-up tickets.
More Information:
The details above come from Queens Zoo’s own pages as they loaded when we checked, and programs change without notice. See more entertainment discounts for teachers.
