Requirements

To qualify for the field trip rate, you must meet the following criteria:

• Submit an online request form in advance.
• Be a public/private school (Pre K – High School), college/university, or homeschool co-op.
• Bring a minimum of 12 paying students. (If your school would be bringing fewer than 12 students, please reach out to [email protected] to see if accommodations can be made.)
• Have a 1:5 chaperone ratio. One adult chaperone for every 5 students (pre-K through grade 12)
• Pay for ticket order at least 15 days in advance of the visit date.

Admission Rates

• $12 each for students and chaperones.
• One free teacher ticket for each classroom attending the field trip.
• One free ticket for each 1:1 caregiver who is required to assist a student with a disability or behavioral issue.
• One $5 group processing fee per order (NOT per ticket).

Groups who do not qualify for the field trip rate may be eligible for a discounted group rate.

Is your group interested in riding the carousel? Add carousel tickets to your order for $3 per ride. Pay ahead of time for everyone in your group and pick up your carousel tickets at the front gate on the day of your visit! Each ticket can be redeemed at the carousel register for one ride on the carousel. (Please note, pre-purchased tickets do NOT allow you to skip the carousel line, so please plan accordingly and be prepared for wait times on busy days. Pre-purchased carousel tickets are only valid for the day of your visit and are non-refundable.) Additional carousel rides purchased on the day of your visit will be the standard price.

Scholarships

Thanks to support from The Zoo Society, limited scholarships are available for the 2025-26 school year.

Scholarship Eligibility Requirements

Must be a Public school (pre-K-12), Headstart, or ECEAP program in one of the following school districts: Tacoma, Clover Park, Bethel, Fife, Puyallup, Franklin Pierce, Auburn, Yelm, or Eatonville, or a State-Tribal Education Compact School.

PDZA uses data from the WA OSPI report card at the time the request is submitted, to determine an individual school’s scholarship eligibility.

• Schools in qualifying districts whose percentage of low-income students is 60% or higher are eligible for a full scholarship
  • Full Scholarship includes: free admission for 1 teacher for each classroom attending, free admission for all students, and free admission for 1 adult chaperone for every 5 students
  • Once approved, you will receive instructions for requesting reimbursement for bussing, which will be provided as funds allow.
• Schools in qualifying districts whose percentage of low-income students is 40-59% are eligible for a partial scholarship
  • Partial Scholarship includes: free admission for 1 teacher for each classroom attending and a reduced field trip ticket price of $6 per student and chaperone.
  • Partial scholarships do not receive assistance with bussing costs.

No separate application is required to apply for scholarships – please submit our online Field Trip request form. You will be notified of your scholarship status via email (usually 2-3 business days after submitting your request).