Zoo New England gives teachers who belong to the MTA, BTU or AFT-MA 40% off general daytime admission. The special offers page limits it to members of those three groups, and it’s paid at the admissions gate, not online. It applies to the teacher only, so the people with you aren’t covered by that rate.
If you carry one of those union cards, keep it handy at the gate. If you don’t have one, the group and library-pass routes further down might still save you something, and a class visit can be free.
How To Get The Zoo New England Teacher Discount
Zoo New England runs Franklin Park Zoo and Stone Zoo. Its special offers page says teachers who are members of the MTA, BTU, or AFT-MA receive 40% off general daytime admission, and that you should present the appropriate ID for each individual. In practice that means your union card at the admissions gate.
The page is clear about three limits. The discount is available at the admissions gate only, it isn’t offered on online tickets, and it applies to the teacher only. Zoo New England also says teachers receive membership discounts, which are covered below.
Who Qualifies
The special offers page names the MTA, BTU and AFT-MA. The membership discounts page spells them out as The Massachusetts Teacher Association, American Federation of Teachers MA Chapter, and Boston Teachers’ Union. Both pages ask you to show ID or proof of membership, and neither lists substitute teachers, retired teachers, home school teachers or teachers from out of state as a separate route.
If you teach in Massachusetts and aren’t sure whether your union counts, check your card against those three names before you go.
The Membership Discount
Zoo New England’s membership discounts page has a Students & Teachers section that says to save up to $35 off your membership. It says the discount is valid for members of the three teacher groups above and for college and university students, and that you must provide proof of your MTA, AFT or BTU card or student ID.
The page says “up to” $35, and it doesn’t say how the amount changes from one membership level to another.
Visiting With A Class
School trips are a separate benefit from the teacher discount. The group reservations page says Massachusetts students in grades K-12 get free admission Monday through Friday during the regular school year, and that reservations must be made as far in advance as possible.
Required chaperones are free too. Kindergarten classes need 1 adult for every 5 students, and grades 1-12 need 1 adult for every 10 students. Students with special needs who require 1:1 supervision may be accompanied by one adult at no cost. Standard group rates apply for any additional adults, and if your number of students changes, the page says costs may differ and your visit may no longer be free.
The page also says free field trips aren’t available for camps, daycares, preschools, after-school programs, or during vacation weeks and holidays. For availability, pricing or planning help, it lists the Groups Coordinator at 617-379-5151.
Visiting Without A Union Card
General groups of 10 or more non-members can book discounted admission. The group page lists $21.95 per adult and $14.95 per child at Franklin Park Zoo, and $19.95 per adult and $13.95 per child at Stone Zoo. Group tickets for general groups can’t be purchased online, and payment is made together on entry.
The special offers page also lists library passes: holders receive 40% off standard daytime admission for up to six guests, applied at the gate, and you present the physical library ticket at the Zoo’s admission booth. If your local library lends a pass, that’s a way to get the same percentage for a family without a union card.
What We Couldn’t Confirm
The special offers page doesn’t say whether the 40% teacher rate applies at both Franklin Park Zoo and Stone Zoo, so ask at the gate you plan to use. It doesn’t say whether a photo of your union card on your phone is accepted or whether the discount can be combined with another offer. The membership page doesn’t say which membership levels the up-to-$35 savings applies to.
Q&A
Is the Zoo New England teacher discount open to any teacher?
No. The special offers page gives it to teachers who are members of the MTA, BTU, or AFT-MA.
Can I use it on an online ticket?
No. The page says it’s available at the admissions gate only, not for online tickets.
Does the discount cover my family?
The page says it applies to the teacher only.
What do I show at the gate?
The page says to present the appropriate ID for each individual, which for the teacher discount is your MTA, BTU or AFT-MA card.
Do school field trips cost anything?
Massachusetts K-12 students are free Monday through Friday during the regular school year with a reservation, and required chaperones are free, with the exclusions listed above.
More Information:
The details above come from Zoo New England’s own pages as they loaded when we checked, and programs change without notice. See more entertainment discounts for teachers.