Field Trips

Wonders of Wildlife (4 Hours)

*Includes both the Aquarium and Wildlife Galleries tours, allowing for a break in between

Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium is one of the largest, most immersive conservation attractions in the world. WOW consists of an all-new 1.5-million-gallon aquarium adventure and immersive wildlife museum that brings visitors eye-to-eye with the greatest collection of record-setting game animals ever assembled. The 350,000 sq foot experience celebrates the critical role responsible hunting and fishing plays in wildlife conservation and inspires visitors to enjoy, love and conserve the great outdoors.

Aquarium (2 Hours)

Dive into a world-class aquarium adventure featuring 35,000 live fish, mammals, reptiles and birds in an immersive journey through the world’s underwater habitats including colorful coral reefs, tropical coasts, freshwater swamps, steamy rain forests and more.

Wildlife Galleries (1 Hour)

Go eye-to-eye with wildlife and discover the greatest collection of record-setting big game animals ever assembled. Completely immersive Wildlife Galleries transport visitors to the wildest places on Earth through meticulously recreated 4-D dioramas that include the realistic sights, sounds and smells of awe-inspiring habitats from North America, Africa and the Arctic.

Behind the Scenes Tour (1 Hour)

If you love Wonders of Wildlife and want to experience it in a new way, then going behind the scenes is a must! You’ll join one of our talented team members and take a peek at our back of house areas and the equipment that keeps the clean, clear water flowing into our aquatic habitats. Learn about water chemistry, veterinary care, diet calculation, and filtration practices as you get off the beaten path and find out what it takes to run a world-class aquarium. Explore the fantastic views enjoyed by our staff and be inspired!     

*One chaperone is required for every 8 students.

*Item may be discounted when paired with a Wonders of Wildlife tour.

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.

A live animal program is a great add-on to an Aquarium or Wildlife Gallery experience. Groups may also schedule a live animal program as a stand-alone field trip option. Due to time constraints these programs are not available in conjunction with the full Wonders of Wildlife tour.

Live Animal EdVenture + Activities (20 – 80 Students)

$5 per student/$3 per chaperone

Meet some of the WOW Animal Ambassadors and introduce or expand your students’ knowledge with hands-on activity stations. This program is designed to meet the Missouri curriculum standards and you will choose your topic based on your students’ grade.

Includes:

• 90 minutes in the education classrooms (75 minutes for kindergarten)
• 3 to 4 live animals
• 2 hands-on activities
• Please note: 1 chaperone per 8 students required; max of 20 chaperones

Topic Choices:

Kindergarten – Staying Alive: All living things need food, water, and shelter to survive. Get up close and personal with some of our animal ambassadors as we learn about the many things plants, animals, and even YOU need to survive!

1st Grade – Growing Pains: All living things go through a life cycle. Some animals look just like their parents while others do not. Come learn and explore the many similarities and differences between young plants and animals and their parents!

2nd Grade – National Parks: National Parks are some of the United States greatest treasures. We will learn about some of our most popular national parks, who influenced the creation of national parks, and meet some animals that live there!

3rd – 4th Grade – Creature Features: Ever wonder how animals survive in freezing cold temperatures or scorching hot temperatures? Animals look and behave in different ways which help them survive in extremely different environments. Meet some of our animal ambassadors and learn about their extraordinary adaptations and extreme senses!

5th – 8th Grade – Pass the Energy: Patterns of energy exist in all types of ecosystems. Each living thing is linked up and has a purpose. Learn about how energy is passed through different organisms that live right here in the Ozarks!

9th – 12th Grade – Dynamic Ecosystems/Ecology: Ecosystems around the globe are delicately balanced and can be disrupted by many different factors. This program offers high school students a look into the study of ecology through live animal encounters and in depth activities.

1st – 5th Grade – Discovering Nature with Lewis and Clark:  In a time without telephones and internet, explorers used journals to document what plants, animals and geological wonders they discovered. Learn about the many contributions Lewis and Clark made as they explored the new territory acquired in the Louisiana Purchase.

1st – 5th Grade – Show Me Wildlife:  The forests, caves, prairies and rivers of Missouri host some of the worlds most diverse wildlife. Take a trip through Missouri’s habitats and discover some of the animals that live in the Show Me State.

Live Animal EdVenture (35 – 150 Students)

$3 per student/$3 per chaperone

All living things need four basic things to survive, food, water, shelter, and space. During this program, students will get up close and personal with our WOW animal ambassadors as we learn about what animals need to survive and how they thrive in certain habitats using unique adaptations.

Includes:

• 45 minutes in the education classrooms
• 3 to 4 live animals
• Please note: 1 chaperone per 8 students required; max of 20 chaperones

K – 5th Grade

• Describe what plants and animals need to survive Identify the basic characteristics of living things
• Understand that not all plants and animals need the same things to survive.
• Describe how animals have many shapes, sizes, coverings and colors to help them survive.

6th – 8th Grade

• Understand the interactions among plants and animals in different ecosystems.
• Describe biotic and abiotic factors within an ecosystem.
• Understand how matter moves among plants and animals and how that energy was once from the sun.

9th – 12th Grade

• Describe how organisms interact with biotic and abiotic factors within their environment to obtain energy.
• Understand that changing conditions within an ecosystem may result in new ecosystem dynamics.
• Understand that animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival and growth.

Select groups may qualify for financial aid or scholarships

Lunch Space

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 – $5 each

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

Adult Box Lunch – $7 each

• 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.

Please allow a minimum of 72 hours for your request to process. Approval time may take longer based on the volume of requests. Requests will be processed in the order in which they are received. Please add fieldtrips@wondersofwildlife.org to your email contacts to be sure your email confirmation is received.

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