Bringing Students Closer To Nature...

Mission Statement:
To strengthen the connection to the natural world by
entertaining, educating and empowering the community.

Discounted Admission is $3 for students, $5 for chaperones.

On-Site Programs

Give your students or youth group a “wild experience” they will never forget.  Our Animal Encounters Programs allow students to learn about arthropods, birds of prey, mammals, reptiles and “Charlie” our Amazon parrot.  This 25 min. interactive presentation is aligned with TEKS guidelines. A special “hands-on” opportunity included at the conclusion of each program. Be the coolest teacher or group leader and sign up for an Animal Encounter Program today!

“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” Confucius

Customize your zoo visit with an on-site “animal encounter”, held in the zoo amphitheater, featuring live animals. $85 for one program with a discounted price of $65 for each subsequent back-to-back program. Programs must be scheduled at least one weeks prior to visit. 50 person maximum per program.

Color Safari
Why are zebras striped, giraffe spotted, and parrots wildly colored? Find the answers to these and other mysteries of pattern and color in the animal kingdom. Students may touch one animal at conclusion of the program. Hand sanitizer supplied.

Animal Defenses
What is mimicry? Why does a hedgehog have spines? Students will discover the concepts of protection and animal defenses. Students may touch one animal at conclusion of the program. Hand sanitizer supplied.

Animals In Our Backyard
What Lone Star mammal grows it's entire life and is immune to native snake venom? Allow us to dispel common myths and introduce students to some amazing Lone Star natives. Students may touch one animal at conclusion of the program. Hand sanitizer supplied.

Zoo Keeping 101 (high school)
Zoo keeping is more than rakes and shovels! Students learn about various careers in the zoo world as they get a glimpse at what goes on behind the scenes at the Frank Buck Zoo. Discover what hand-on opportunities are available to students ages 14-18 when they are enrolled in Frank Buck Zoo's Jr. Zoo Crew summer volunteer program.

Tips For A Successful Fieldtrip

Thank you for choosing the Frank Buck Zoo for your field trip! We are delighted to host your group, and want your visit to be a pleasant and memorable one. Here are some guidelines that will help you to plan your group’s visit. Please make sure all chaperones have a copy.

*Please plan to have the buses arrive at the zoo no later the 30 mins. prior to your first scheduled activity.*

Please plan to have one point person arrive early to purchase all student admission bands and settle the invoice. Please print two invoices one for your files and bring the other to the zoo for payment. Please keep one copy for your files and bring the other copy to present to the cashier the day of the visit. This will save time and eliminate confusion. If the point person is riding a bus, please have the driver drop that person off at the entry before proceeding to the east end of the park for parking. Your cooperation will streamline entry time, eliminate long lines and congestion at the entry.

Admission Tips:
-Please collect money in advance, have money in one envelop for the cashier, or consider paying with a credit card.
-Please be prepared with number of students/teacher admission needed and a copy of an invoice for activities.
-Meet group in the park with the admission wristbands to be distributed and applied.

Food Tips:
-For the safety of the animal collection no outside food is allowed in the zoo. Drinks without lids or straws are permitted.

-Please plan to leave coolers on the bus, as there is no cooler storage inside the zoo.

-You may picnic at tables or in the park pavilion in Leonard Park, outside the zoo.
-Beverages, ice cream and snacks are available in the gift shop.
-Animal feed is available from vending in designated areas. Vending feed is 25 cents. Giraffe feeding is $1 @ 10:30 daily.

Gift Shop Tips:
-Souvenirs are available for as little as $1, stuffed animals start at under $6.
-So that we may best serve your group please limit number of students visiting gift shop to 15-20 with chaperones at one time.

Parking Tips:
-Buses proceed directly to east side of the park past zoo entry for student unloading and parking. 
-Chaperones are welcomed to park in any other available parking spaces.

Programs Tips:
-Please make sure your chaperones know what time the program they are attending begins.
-We will have someone at the turnstile ready to escort your group to the amphitheater for the program your group has scheduled. It takes approx. 10 mins. for little ones to walk to the amphitheater from the entry, so please consider that in you planning.

Restroom Tips:

-Have students use the restrooms in the park before entering the zoo (more stalls).

-The only restrooms in the zoo are located at the entry. Please help us keep the zoo restrooms clean by chaperoning students while they are in the restrooms.

To Schedule Field Trips:
Ryan Herman, Education Coordinator
rherman@cogtx.org
940-727-9097