Frequently Asked Questions          

Q.  What type of facilities qualify for Schools on Safari?

K-12 public and private schools are eligible for the Schools on Safari program. Additionally, Pre-K classes ages 4+ may reserve this program.  For Pre-K and day care groups that do not meet this age requirement, please contact us for alternate program options.

Q.  How many adults are required?

We expect that school groups will bring adequate adults to supervise the students in their care. We require at least 1 teacher or school staff member to sit in on the classroom presentation and ride the train with the children if you've elected to include that option, but beyond that please follow your school's policies for adult-student ratios. Additional parent/adult chaperones and or siblings are welcome to accompany your group at your discretion, but please read on for additional info on admission and participation of these individuals.

Q.  Are chaperones included in the per person fee?

No. Schools will be invoiced only for the number of teachers/staff and students determined at check-in. Parent chaperones are welcome to visit the Zoo with your group but will need to pay regular admission fees at the admission gate (and may qualify for free entry if they are valid Zoo Members). If you would like to invite parents to accompany your group on the optional train ride (up to train capacity), they may purchase their individual train tickets with their admission or at the gift shop. 

We understand that some schools prefer to sponsor/pay for parent chaperones. If you are collecting money from students that includes parent chaperones, you may have a school representative pay for the parent group at the admissions gate or request an invoice from our Group Sales team at 765-807-1542 in advance of your visit.

We apologize for any inconvenience this system may cause. This system is intended to streamline your check in process and allow our small team of educators to focus on providing a great program experience. We simply do not have the staff resources to process each school with separate billing system preferences. 

Q.  Can chaperones or siblings come to the animal presentation?  

Sorry, parent chaperones and siblings are not permitted to attend the classroom presentation. We know this may disappoint some families, so we'd like to explain our reasons. First and foremost, we want to ensure that the focus is on the students who are here for an educational (and fun) experience. We have found that the presence of parents and siblings can create unintentional disruptions (adult side conversations, cell phones, parents not always demonstrating positive attitudes towards specific animals, seeking photos, etc) and restricting the classroom presentation to the normal learning group tends to provide a better quality experience for the class. We have also heard your feedback that including parents when our fire code limits may not make it possible for ALL of them to attend puts teachers in an awkward position in determining which parents can go in with their child and which must wait outside. We agree that the last thing teachers need on an already stressful field trip is added stress. So, let us be the "bad guy" - no parents or siblings in the classroom presentation is now our policy. 

Q.  How and when do I pay for my field trip?

We will do a head count on the day of your program at check-in and will distribute passes with the correct number of participants for all scheduled activities.  Your school or PTO will then be invoiced for the fee total and payment can be received after your visit date.  If your school requires an advance invoice, please contact  zooeducation@lafayette.in.gov prior to making your reservation.  We do not accept payment on the day of your visit for Schools on Safari reservations, due to the processing delays involved with getting accurate head counts and generating invoices. Please be patient - we have a very small education staff and have around 5,000 Schools on Safari participants over the course of 4-5 weeks! We do our best to keep things streamlined and prompt!

Q.  What happens if it rains?  Will I still get charged?

Rain is always a possibility.  The Zoo remains open rain or shine, however it is an open-air facility and there are no indoor exhibit areas for groups to shelter during inclement weather.  Although the classroom presentations take place indoors, if you are bringing multiple classes you will likely have students out in inclement weather.  We understand this may be a cause for cancellation for some schools.  For this reason, we will not bill you until after your program has taken place and strongly discourage prepayment.  

If you choose to cancel your visit due to forecast inclement weather (or any other reason) we will simply not invoice you!  We do ask that you provide courtesy notification that you will not be attending, as outlined in your confirmation email, or a $50 no-show fee will be invoiced to your school to offset administrative fees. Additionally, please note that early departures due to rain must check-out as directed in your confirmation instructions in order to have an invoice adjustment applied.  

If the train is unable to run due to inclement weather or any other reason, that portion of your reservation will be removed from your invoice.  No rain vouchers will be issued, as in past years.  Please note, missed train rides due to failure to arrive at the train depot at your scheduled time will be billed as reserved.  Please plan accordingly when scheduling your on-site activities.

Q. Can I add the train at a later date?

In order to receive the Schools on Safari discounted train ride fee, you must reserve your train ride at the time of your original reservation.  The train rides are scheduled for specific departure times.  If you decide later that you wish to add the train, you may inquire at the Zoo Gift Shop on the day of your visit as to space availability and purchase individual train tickets at the regular ticket fee. However, since priority is given to pre-reserved groups, it is unlikely that large groups will be able to add train rides on the day of their visit.  Small groups may be accommodated at the discretion of the Zoo.

Q.  What animals will my students get to see and touch?

The Zoo has a variety of Animal Ambassadors that are eligible to appear in programs like this, but the exact animals presented will vary by date, theme, and a number of other animal management factors.  The safety of our visitors and the well-being of our animals are of the utmost importance, so we cannot guarantee a contact opportunity with all animals seen (although most presentations include at least 1-2 touching opportunities). In general you can expect animals such as smaller snakes, lizards, tortoises, and small mammals like armadillo, chinchilla or sugar gliders, tree frogs, and small invertebrates such as Madagascar hissing cockroaches.  

Q.  Where do we eat?  Is there a place to store lunches?

There are a number of picnic shelters available in Columbian Park (outside of the Zoo's gates) which are available first-come, first-served to the general public, or can be reserved for a fee through the Lafayette Parks and Recreation offices at (765) 807-1500. The Zoo does not have a place to store your lunch items on grounds.

Q. What else is there to do in the park - how much time do we need?

CPZ is a small zoo, which can be fully explored by most field trip groups in an hour or two.  In addition to walking around the exhibits your reservation includes access to downloadable worksheets that can enhance your visit.  Columbian Park is also home to approximately 40 acres of green space, a lagoon, and the multi-age SIA playground. During the Schools on Safari season, Tropicanoe Cove waterpark has not yet opened for the year.  The Zoo Carousel experienced significant construction delays due to the pandemic, and a debut date has not yet been determined.

Q. I have a student with an allergy.  Is it safe for them to participate?

The Zoo is not an allergen-free zone and visitors may be exposed to a variety of allergens.  Presentation take place in the DeFouw Education Center, in which a variety of animals are housed along with animal diets that may include peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, wheat, dairy, soy, and other common allergens.  Please discuss any concerns with Zoo Education staff at the time of your reservation.  Parent inquiries can be directed to zooeducation@lafayette.in.gov.  It is our goal to share exposure risk information, but only you can decide whether or not it is a safe and appropriate venue for your children.

Q. Is the Zoo handicap-accessible?

The DeFouw Education Center is handicap-accessible.  The Zoo exhibits areas have a variety of pathways substrates including paved, gravel and mulch.  Wherever possible, alternate viewing areas have been included in exhibit design, in adherence with ADA requirements.  All areas of the Zoo are sensory-rich.  Please note, service animals including psychiatric service animals, as defined by the ADA, are permitted on Zoo grounds, but are not allowed to enter immersion areas.  ESA or emotional support animals do not qualify as service animals under ADA or Indiana law.  If you have questions regarding these issues please contact us at zooeducation@lafayette.in.gov. 

Have a different question?  Contact us at zooeducation@lafayette.in.gov.