Programs are available year-round and take place between 10am-4pm.

Programs are 30 minutes long.  When booking multiple programs, please factor in 5-10 minutes of transition time.  You should typically plan for at least 2-3 hours for your entire visit.

We recommend giving students an hour to explore the zoo with their chaperones. Check out our daily schedule and upcoming events here for other offerings that may be happening during your visit, including Keeper Talks, Creature Features, or other special events or programming.

Extend your visit by:

• Having lunch in the beautiful Brandywine Park, just below the zoo, where there are plenty of picnic tables.
• Planning time to explore the Josephine Gardens, which are adjacent to the zoo.
• Walk along the Brandywine River to the Northern Delaware Greenway Trail, or complete a circuit around the river by crossing bridges and backtracking along the opposite bank.
• Visit the 18th Street Playground, across the street from Warner Elementary.
• Visit the Sugar Bowl, constructed in 1895 and recently restored. The Sugar Bowl is an observatory that sits on a cliff-face above the Zoo and offers  pict

Programs start at $8-9/person. This fee includes zoo admission.

• Step 1: Complete Group Visit Registration Form
• Step 2: Someone from the Education Department will check program availability and get back to you within two weeks of your registration. If you do not hear back, please email us at education@brandywinezoo.org
• Step 3: You will receive a tentative invoice with your program date (based on availability).
• Step 4: Submit your payment for your visit by credit card or check following the instructions on your invoice. Reservations are not considered complete until we receive your payment. Payment is required no later than two weeks before your program date.

Animals will vary and may change depending on the program theme, weather, and availability. We have education Ambassador Animals including mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates, with most programs receiving a visit from 2-3 animals.

Cancellation Policy

The primary contact person will notify the Brandywine Zoo in writing at least 48 hours in advance in the event that a program must be cancelled. We will work with you to reschedule your program to another date as much as possible. Multiple reschedulings may be subject to an administrative fee.

• Cancellations received more than 2 weeks before selected program date will be given a refund and are subject to a $25 administrative fee.
• A 50% refund can be returned if notice of cancellation is given between 2 weeks and 48 hours of the program. No refunds are given for cancellations within 48 hours of the program
• Programs rescheduled less than two weeks from the program date are subject to a $25 administrative fee.

Program Confirmation and Payment Policy

• All programs require full payment 2 weeks prior to your program date.
• Payment can be made using the credit card link or by submitting a check following the instructions on your invoice.

Due to a very full programming schedule, programs will not be extended for late-arriving field trip groups beyond the scheduled end time. Groups arriving later than 15 minutes after original scheduled start time are subject to program cancellation with no refunds.

Late Policy

Please plan on arriving at least 15 minutes prior to the start of your program to allow time for parking, disembarking from the bus, and check-in, and walking to your final destination for your program.

• Staff will make every attempt to cover as much material as possible in the time available.
• Please obtain information on how to locate the Zoo and the specific meeting location for your group prior to your visit. Refer to the zoo map or find directions to the zoo on our website.

We recommend that groups have at least one adult for every 5 students PreK-Grade 2, and at least one adult for every 10 students grades 3-12.

Guidelines for Chaperones

• Chaperones must be 21 or older
• Chaperones must pay the program fee and cannot use their Zoo membership for free admission to school and group programs.
• Middle and High School students must be attended by chaperones. Unattended students will be escorted to the main gate to wait for their teacher.
• Teachers should set clear expectations about personal conduct for both students and chaperones and then model this conduct throughout the trip.
• During formal presentations, chaperones should remain as attentive, quiet and engaged as the students. Teacher should provide expectations in writing to chaperones and reinforce them throughout the field experience.
• Chaperones must stay with their students during the entire zoo visit and monitor the group’s conduct at all times.

You should plan to arrive 15-20 minutes before your program time to allow for bus unloading time.

Once you arrive, please report to the zoo’s main entrance unless otherwise directed. See the map of the zoo for locations of education building, admissions gate and school bus parking and drop-off areas.

School buses should park in the lot along the Brandywine River. Please refer drivers to the map of the zoo when giving them directions. Parking is free in Brandywine Park.

Yes. Either their ticket must be purchased prior to entrance with the rest of the group or at the ticket window upon arrival.

All chaperones/parents should be included in your total person count and must be paid for in advance of your program. Please encourage parents to arrive in advance of the bus rather than at the same time. Parents can park in the lot along the Brandywine River, which is where the school buses will be parking. By arriving early, they will have the opportunity to park and identify the school bus with their student. We additionally suggest that you share cell phone numbers, or if that is not possible, arrange a second meeting site and time if you happen to miss each other upon arrival.

You may bring your own lunch or snacks , however, there is very limited seating for groups inside the zoo. Seating cannot be reserved for any group, and unfortunately we do not have any indoor space to accommodate groups for lunch. We do not have any lockers or lunch storage space available, so you may want to make arrangements to leave lunches on your school bus.

• Brandywine Park is available outside the main zoo gate; it offers several public picnic tables for your group to eat lunch. Brandywine Park is a carry in/carry-out park; you will need to provide your own trash bags. Please suggest to the students that they pack lunches in reusable containers to minimize waste.
• Our concession stand offers small snack options such as chips, popcorn, hot dogs, and ice cream.

Our gift shop, Zootique, is located at the front gate. If you would like to schedule a trip to the gift shop we ask that you plan that for after your program and regulate your students entering to 10 at a time.