Field Trips

• All tours are self-guided.
• Wonders of Wildlife is a linear experience. Once you enter the Wildlife Galleries you will not be able to exit your tour until the Wildlife Gallery portion is complete. Likewise, once you enter the Aquarium Experience, you will not be able to exit until ending the tour at the gift shop.
• Wonders of Wildlife is a flash free facility.
• Select groups may qualify for financial aid. For more information click here.

About Chaperones

• All chaperones must be 21 years or older.
• Chaperones must accompany students at all times. Students are not permitted to explore the Wildlife Galleries, Aquarium, Bass Pro Shops or the Conservation Center unsupervised.
• Chaperones may be teachers, school staff or approved parents and volunteers.
• Teachers should fill the required ‘Chaperone’ tickets first before opening up to parents or volunteers.

About Additional Chaperones

• Groups are welcome to purchase as many ‘Additional Chaperone’ tickets as needed if a lower ratio is required by the school or organization.
• Parents may join a field trip for the listed ‘Additional Chaperone’ prices, if invited by the school and in accordance with school background check policies.
• All additional chaperones, including parents, must pre-pay the school to receive the education rate listed.

At this time, we are unable to offer indoor lunch space for large field trip groups. Please plan to eat lunch outdoors on the front lawn near the marlin fountain. There is also a small covered porch to the left of the main entrance of the aquarium that is first come first served. Please stay clear of all doors including the employee entrance. In the case of cold or rainy weather please make arrangements to eat off campus or on your bus. Thank you for understanding and we hope to be able to offer indoor lunch space in the future.

Box Lunch Options

Child Box Lunch

• Choice of sandwich: PB&J Uncrustable or Turkey & Cheese Wrap
• Animal Crackers
• Apple Sauce
• Low Fat Milk

Adult Box Lunch

• Choice of sandwich: Hot Turkey & Avocado, Hot Ham & Swiss, Tuna or Chicken Salad
• Chips
• Bottled Water

Important Information:

• Box lunches must be pre-ordered with a minimum of 2 weeks’ notice.
• Adult box lunches are available for required chaperones only, at the 1:8 ratios. Parents joining the field trip are welcome to purchase food at the café independently.
• Final box lunch numbers must be provided no later than 2 weeks prior to the field trip, or by the final deadline indicated on your confirmation email invoice.
• Education groups are responsible for the full balance of their box lunch order regardless of changes in student/chaperone counts on the day of the field trip.
• Box lunch cancellations must be submitted to WOW via email at fieldtrips@wondersofwildlife.orgwith a minimum of 2 weeks’ notice. The school or organization will be liable for payment if cancellation notice has not been received within the 2-week time frame as supplies will have already been ordered.
• Please plan on eating a picnic style lunch outside at the main aquarium entrance near the marlin fountain. In case of rain or cold temperatures please plan to eat lunch on your bus.

Wonders of Wildlife will accept cash, credit card, check or purchase orders for education groups.

Important Information:

• If paying with cash, amount should be less than $200 and in large bills. Please refrain from bringing large quantities of $1’s, $5’s and $10’s as this slows down the check in process.
• If paying with a purchase order, please provide a printed out copy at the Aquarium ticket counter during check in.
• Refunds will only be evaluated on the day of your visit. Please come prepared with your student and chaperone numbers. Once wristbands have been handed out, if you have received extra, please take the unused wristbands to the Guest Services counter. Refunds will not be granted after your group leaves Wonders of Wildlife.

Education group field trip tickets may not be upgraded to a membership.

Memberships may not be used by students or required chaperones.

Additional chaperones beyond the required 1:8 may use their memberships. Guest passes may not be used.

Wonders of Wildlife will provide a complementary planning ticket to be used 1-2 weeks prior to a confirmed field trip. Please use this ticket to tour the facility and identify specific galleries and exhibits you would like your students and chaperones to focus on. You may also use this time to create custom scavenger hunts for your group.

< 25 students = 1 teacher planning ticket

> 25 students = 2 teacher planning tickets

To redeem your teacher planning ticket(s), please email fieldtrips@wondersofwildlife.org with the following information:

• Reservation Name
• Reservation Date
• Order number
• Teacher name(s)
• Teacher school email(s)
• Date & Time needed for planning ticket

Please note: Teachers redeeming the planning ticket will be asked to present a valid school ID at the ticket counter.

We are excited about your visit to Wonders of Wildlife. Please help us by showing the following video to your students and chaperones. This will help maximize your students’ experience as well as protect our animals and facility.

Student Preparation

Share the Plan: We encourage you to share the itinerary with your students. When students understand what to expect they are less likely to stress, and more likely to learn.

Provide Purpose: Introduce the field trip as part of a lesson. Identify key galleries, or activities that you would like them to observe and participate in.

Ensure Comfort: Students should wear weather appropriate clothing and closed toed shoes. Remember, the floor may be wet from splashing animals.

Introduce Vocabulary: Before your field trip introduce your students to words and ideas that may confuse them.

Make it Fun: Wonders of Wildlife offers a variety of hands on opportunities with animals. Be sure to make them aware so they don’t miss out!

Encourage Safe Exploration: There are many opportunities for crawling and interacting with animals at WOW. Students should obey all posted signage and refer to a staff member when necessary.

Chaperone Preparation

Share the Plan: We encourage you to share the itinerary with your chaperones. Include: school arrival time, meeting location, bus departure time, travel time to WOW, meeting location, entry time, lunch location, departure time.

Introduce Students to Their Chaperone and Provide Name Tags: Please have your students broken into their groups prior to arriving at WOW. It’s a great idea to introduce your chaperone to their students in advance so that students and chaperones are clear on who is in their group. It’s also great to provide each person with a name tag.

Review The WOW Code: It’s important that chaperones understand what the student behavior expectations are while here at WOW. Shoot them an e-mail with a link to the WOW Code video as well as any other expectations you have of your own.

Engage Students: If you are visiting to introduce or expand upon a lesson you are learning in your classroom, prepare your chaperones to engage your students in those topics. Advise your chaperones on the galleries you want them to focus on and provide a vocabulary list.

For important information about arriving at Wonders of Wildlife, please watch this video. Be sure to share this video with your bus drivers and chaperones!

Upon arrival please have the following information ready

• Total number of students
• Total number of required chaperones (1:8 ratio)
• Total number of additional chaperones
• Order number