2020 Season - Opening April 11th
Groups are welcome during our regular season with discounted rates available Monday through Friday. Reservations are now made online! Groups must book 2 weeks in advance of their requested date. Current rates for your group type and additional details can be found by visiting : https://www.niabizoo.com/education/field-trips/
Where to find us: Conservation in the Classroom 13010 Niabi Zoo Road Want to help your classroom connect to Coal Valley, IL 61240 conservation in a meaningful way? Get 309-799-3482 started with easy ideas and program CLICK HERE for Google Maps information on page 5 of this guide.
1 Day of visit information: When and where to arrive for your trip
When your group arrives we ask that you unload from your vehicles and meet on the green space in front of our administration building by the sign with your group name on it. Please check in with a member of our team at the group check-in kiosk on the plaza or send one group leader to the very first ticket booth to the right (attached to the building) when you arrive. Your reservation will be checked and your group will be escorted through the gates. Please note that anyone arriving with your group who has not purchased tickets online or as part of your reservation will be asked to enter through the general admissions lines. Those using zoo memberships or passes will also enter through their usual line and join your group on the other side. Food and Beverage
We have many outdoor spaces available to enjoy while having lunch or a snack. We do allow coolers in the zoo. Many visitors choose to leave them under the picnic pavilion next to our playground equipment located behind the Tree House Snack Shack. Please note that coolers are left at your own risk, we highly suggest labeling the outside of each cooler to avoid confusion with other visiting groups. Depending on your schedule some groups choose to have lunch in the green space near the bus parking area, this is also allowed. Meals and concessions can also be purchased from either of our dining locations in the zoo. The Tree House Snack Shack is located near the front gift shop between the entrance and exit. The Wild Paw Concessions can be found across from the African Yellow Backed Duikers, and in front of our Red Wolves. For the safety of the animals, you may NOT bring: alcoholic beverages, glass containers, grills, straws. Tours
Group tours must be booked in advance of your visit. If you have made this arrangement you should have received a confirmation email with the date, time, tour type, and meeting place information on where to find your guide. If you have not received this email please contact [email protected] Parking and Bus Driver Information
Buses may pull up to the front entry plaza for unloading and loading. We ask that buses not remain in this area for more then 15 minutes. Please note that buses are not to be left unattended in this area at any time. We have a designated parking area for buses and over-sized vehicles. It is located on the West end of our parking lot. Buses parked in any other area will be asked to move. For those arriving individually or vehicles of regular weight and size may be parked in the main parking lot. Ample handicapped parking can be found nearest to the admission gates. Please note that bus drivers who intend to enter the park for more than restrooms and concessions are required to have a ticket. Discounted tickets can be purchased by your group organizer ahead of time. If you do not plan to purchase a ticket for your bus drivers we do ask that you inform them of this policy ahead of time. 2 WHAT TO DO AT THE ZOO? We offer bonus experiences for your group!
Train and Carousel Rides are available daily from 10:00 AM until 4:30 PEANUT ALLERGY INFORMATION PM. Additional tickets can be purchased at any time from our gift shops or admissions gates. Please note that a ticket is required for all children Please note that our parakeet seed 1 year of age and up. For children’s safety one adult is allowed to ride sticks contain peanut butter. We also the carousel standing next to the ticketed child. Unused tickets are CANNOT ensure other animal foods valid through the end of the season. from dispensers are peanut free.
Unless otherwise noted all experiences require advanced ticketing from our admission gate or gift shop.
Make some new feathered friends during a parakeet feeding inside our Australia habitat. Feedings run from 10AM to 4:30PM daily. Tickets are required for individuals PARAKEET age 1 year and up. Everyone needs a ticket to enter the feeding area. Children 10 and FEEDING under require one adult at no charge (adult will not receive a seed stick). $3.00 Tickets Please note start date availability for the season depends on weather.
Meet the tallest animals in the zoo AND give them a snack! Giraffe Feedings happen twice a day at 11:00AM and 2:00PM. Tickets are required for each guest age 1 year and GIRAFFE up. Everyone needs a ticket to enter the feeding area. Children age 10 and under re- FEEDING quire one adult at no charge (adult will not receive feeding lettuce). Feedings run for 30 minutes from the start time. $5.00 Tickets
Pet and feed your favorite domestic animals like goats, mini-donkeys, alpaca and more! Kids of DOMESTIC all ages will enjoy this interactive experience. ANIMAL $0.50 feeding* FEEDING Dispenser only takes quarters. No advanced ticketing required.
Take a tranquil walk out on our koi pond deck under a beautiful gazebo and feed our KOI POND lively koi! Keep an eye out for other pond residents like the white swan, ducks and turtles. FEEDING $0.50 feeding/coined dispenser in area. Dispenser takes quarters only.
Keeper Chats! Hear about our animals directly from the people who know them best. Each chat is an informal gathering of guests near the listed animals habitat. Keeper Chats are free and open to everyone!
Start Times: Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
12:00 PM Inverts Red Wolves Yellow backed Guenon and Singing Dogs Amur Leopard Giraffe Duiker Swamp Monkey 3:00 PM Reptile Bactrian Binturong Aldabra Pallas Cats Gibbons Red Fox Feeding Camel Tortoise
3 Make your visit even more educational, take a tour! Learn how Niabi inspires conservation action while helping meet state education standards from pre-K to the college level. Book your tour online!
What you should know about educational tours:
Tours run for 20-30 minutes. Cost is $4 per student and chaperone (teachers can attend at no cost). Groups exceeding 25 participants may be split into more than one group at no extra cost.
We welcome details about your groups current classroom studies to help your tour experience build on their current knowledge.
Tour Types:
Adaptations Habitats From prehensile tails to swinging Which animals live where? What hands and how to survive in desert about their environment best suits sands, we’ll take a closer look at the particular animals? Join us as we look special characteristics that help at animals from around the world, the animals survive. different habitats they call home and how everything is connected. Africa See our giraffes, zebras, ostrich, lions Reptiles and colobus monkeys as we explore Discover the ancient world of reptiles the animals from Africa. and what makes them unique. See our Reptile House and learn about the Biodiversity characteristics that make reptiles so Meaning the variety of life, explore fascinating! Biodiversity Hall and its wide variety of species to help understand why Zoo Careers biodiversity is so important to the Learn what it takes to professionally survival of life on Earth. work with animals.
Big Cats NOTE: All programs can be tailored to any Have you ever seen a lion’s skull? age group. How sharp is a leopard’s claw? How Don’t see what you want? We can custom far can a snow leopard leap? In this design a tour for you! Just give us a call program your group will learn what it with questions, 309-799-3482 ext 239. takes to survive at the top of the food chain.
4 Student and Group Fundraising We always welcome the fundraising efforts put on by student and civic organizations. We are able to allocate your donation to the enrichment project of your choice or our conservation fund. Please let us know if you are bringing a donation along on the day of your visit so arrangements can be made to present your contribution to a member of our zoo staff and have a photo opportunity to recognize your efforts. Ways Groups have raised funds for zoo conservation: Paid classroom electronics parties Bake sales and lemonade stands Bring a donation to have your favorite stuffed animal on your desk School wide casual days for .50 or Coin collecting contest among $1 per person school classes Paid entry conservation art contest
ADOPT your group’s favorite animal! Most groups are able to adopt an animal by raising just $1.00 per participant
African Crested Porcupine New Guinea Singing Dogs Snow Leopard
Amur Leopard Red Wolf Two-toed Sloth
Bald Eagle Reticulated Giraffe The “A” Team (Wolf’s Guenon & Allen’s Swamp monkey) Black and White Colobus Monkey Reticulated Python Fennec Fox
Package option can be found by visiting: https://www.niabizoo.com/support/adopt-an-animal/
Bring the Zoo to your School or Organization! Niabi ZOO2U OutReach Programs: Our interactive education outreach programs allow participants to interact with live animals while learning about their habitats, diet, adaptations and behavior. These curriculum based programs are presented by professional educators and animal handlers in a way that is fun yet safe.
Our outreach programs are available for schools, libraries, daycare/preschools, senior centers, scouting events, community events, camps, nature centers, corporate functions and teacher devel- opment workshops.
Have questions? Please call 309-799-3482 ext. 225
Full details available at : https://www.niabizoo.com/education/outreach-programs/ 5