School + Group Programs

	Admission	60 - 90 Minute Program Fee
Student (K - 12)	$8.50 + GST	$1.50 + GST
Child Care	$8.50 + GST	$1.50 + GST
Extra Chaperone	$12.50 + GST

Each participant will be charged admission and a $1.50 program fee plus GST, per program. 

One chaperone per 10 students (1:10) is included free of charge.
Extra chaperones (above the 1:10 ratio) are $12.50/adult + GST.

Groups not associated with a school or registered daycare may purchase regular admission and add a program for $1.50 + GST per participant. Click here for regular group admission rates. 

	Admission	120 Minute Program Fee
Student (K - 12)	$8.50 + GST	$2.00 + GST
Child Care	$8.50 + GST	$2.00 + GST
Extra Chaperone	$12.50 + GST

Each participant will be charged admission and a $2.00 program fee plus GST, per program. 

One chaperone per 10 students (1:10) is included free of charge.
Extra chaperones (above the 1:10 ratio) are $12.50/adult + GST.

Groups not associated with a school or registered daycare may purchase regular admission and add a program for $2.00 + GST per participant. Click here for regular group admission rates. 

• All programs are subject to a minimum charge of $150 + GST, regardless of the number of participants. 
• Minimum charge of $150 + GST must be sent within 30 days of booking your program.
• Groups who fail to pay their deposit in a timely manner will lose their time slot.
• An invoice for the balance owing will be emailed within one week following your program.
• Payments can be made with cash, credit card or cheque to “Assiniboine Park Conservancy."
• All prices are subject to change.

Space is limited and spots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. To ensure availability, please contact us at least 2 - 4 weeks in advance for non-peak months and 2 months in advance for the peak months of April, May and June.

If you need to cancel your program, please do so as soon as possible by contacting our Education Department at education@assinboinepark.ca or call 204-927-6070. We will work with you to find another date or time that is available.

Refunds:
• Cancellations made 15+ business days in advance = full refund
• Cancellations made 11 - 14 business days in advance = partial refund. Cancellation is subject to a $35 + GST administrative fee.
• Cancellations made 10 or less business days in advance = no refund.

We reserve the right to cancel or reschedule any program.
A full refund will be issued if the Education Department cancels your tour or program.

All programs run rain, snow or shine, with the exception of severe weather conditions (e.g. thunderstorms, high wind-chills, unsafe travel conditions, school closures). In the event of an unstable weather forecast, please contact us about possible cancellations on the day of your program.

• Groups visiting the Zoo must respect and follow the Zoo rules.
• Please be kind to the Park and Zoo. Do not litter. Use the available garbage and recycling cans. 
• Class and group behaviour is the responsibility of chaperones NOT Assiniboine Park Conservancy’s Program Instructors.
• We reserve the right to ask a group that is disruptive, or presents a danger to themselves or others, to leave the Zoo without compensation.

• We require a minimum of one chaperone per 10 students.
• Chaperones must be responsible adults (i.e. teacher, volunteer, or parent).
• Chaperones provide safety and help guide your students’ educational experience at Assiniboine Park and Zoo and should take an active role in supervision.
• Class and group behaviour is the responsibility of chaperones NOT Assiniboine Park Conservancy’s Education Coordinators.

One chaperone per 10 students (1:10) is included free of charge.
Extra chaperones (above the 1:10 ratio) are $12.50/adult + GST.

IF A STUDENT IS LOST OR INJURED, PLEASE NOTIFY ANY STAFF MEMBER OR VOLUNTEER. THEY WILL IMMEDIATELY ALERT SECURITY.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

• ALL ZOO VISITORS are to arrive at the Zoo entrance located at 2595 Roblin Blvd. Buses are to park at the Zoo overflow parking lot located inside the Park on the East side of the Zoo (view maps). Your group can exit through the former East Gate entrance however re-entry is not allowed at this location. For re-entry to the Zoo you must enter at the Zoo entrance (2595 Roblin Blvd).
• For Guided Programs led by our Education Coordinators, please bring the confirmation sheet that has been emailed to you in advance of your visit.
• We strongly encourage all visitors to bring filled water bottles.
• Please dress appropriately for your visit. We recommend visitors wear weather-appropriate clothing and protection from the elements.
• We do not offer lockers or storage and are not responsible for visitors’ personal belongings.
• Outside food is not allowed in Tundra Grill. Food can be purchased in the restaurant and at various concessions located within the Zoo.
• Picnic tables can be found throughout the Zoo. There are covered eating spaces available in the Zoo, Nature Playground and Duck Pond.
• It is recommended that groups bring a wagon for lunches as there is nowhere to refrigerate or store them during your visit.
 

PAYMENT:

•  FOR SELF-GUIDED VISITS: For payment, we ask that you bring a credit card, debit card, cash or cheque. We will only accept business cheques for self-guided groups that book their Zoo visit in advance. Any self-guided groups that do not pre-book must pay by Visa, MasterCard, cash or debit card.
•  FOR GUIDED PROGRAMS (BOOKED IN ADVANCE & LED BY OUR EDUCATION COORDINATORS): An invoice will be emailed to you after your visit (based on numbers in attendance).

Qualico Family Centre | 330 Assiniboine Park Drive
Please meet your instructor in the lobby of the Qualico Family Centre located next to the Riley Family Duck Pond. 

Assiniboine Park Zoo | 2595 Roblin Boulevard
Please meet your instructor at the Zoo Entrance at 2595 Roblin Boulevard. A Program Instructor will meet you and guide you to your program.

The following items are not allowed in The Pavilion or at the Zoo: bikes, skateboards, rollerblades and scooters, flying discs, balls, balloons or pets. Please leave these items at home or enjoy them elsewhere in the Park.

Join us for interactive programs and work toward achieving your badges at Assiniboine Park and Zoo. Our programs can be tailored for Scouts and Guides at all levels. To get started, contact us at education@assiniboinepark.ca or call 204 927 6070.

Education Programs Badge Connections

As part of our mandate to create accessible programming, we have secured funding to assist qualifying Manitoba schools and child care centres with program fees. Some schools and child care centres may also qualify for a subsidy for a portion of their transportation costs to Assiniboine Park and Zoo. 
 
If your class or child care centre is in need of field trip financial assistance and may be considered rural or low socio-economic school/centre, please fill the appropriate application from below:

Zoolympics

This 75-minute program is perfect for day care centres and day camps looking for field trips at the Zoo. 

There are many incredible creatures with amazing abilities, and it is time to see how we compare. Come join us for a short tour of part of our zoo and then test your group’s skills in a series of relays and athletic events. You will have a fun and fantastic time as you become “faster, higher, stronger.”

The ABC's of Zoos

Nursery / Kindergarten | 60 minutes | Assiniboine Park Zoo

Groups will discover the animals of the Assiniboine Park Zoo by working through the alphabet during a fun, interactive classroom session followed by a guided tour for “little feet” through Toucan Ridge.

Learning Outcomes: Kindergarten Science

The ABC's of Trees

Nursery / Kindergarten | 60 minutes | Qualico Family Centre

Learn about the seasonal tree cycle while exploring the forest in Assiniboine Park. We’ll investigate what our trees have in common and what makes them unique. Together, we will develop our observation skills, using all of our senses as we search for clues to find out who uses our trees. We will also explore all the wonderful ways trees add value to our everyday lives.

Learning Outcomes: Kindergarten Science

Ambassador Animal Programs

Grades 1 to 6 | 60 minutes | Assiniboine Park Zoo

Join us for an up close and personal encounter with our Animal Handler/Educator and a selection of three to five of our ambassador animals. Each workshop is broken up into short segments that have participants using all their senses. Choose from the following options:

• Animal Essentials (Gr. 1)
• Animal Lifecycles (Gr. 2)
• Homes and Habitats (Gr. 3 & 4)
• Creature Climates (Gr. 5 & 6)

Animal Life Cycles

Grade 2 | 90 minutes | Assiniboine Park Zoo

Learn about the life cycles of insects, birds, amphibians, spiders, fish, reptiles and mammals. Students will then tour through the Zoo to look at the animals' daily life. This is eggciting science!

Learning Outcomes: Grade 2 Science

Arctic Ecology

Grades 4 to 6 | 90 minutes | Assiniboine Park Zoo

Maximum 30 students

Discover what it means to be an Arctic ecologist. Students will discover the growing field of Arctic ecology through an active exploration of the Journey to Churchill exhibit. 

Learning Outcomes: Grades 4 - 6 Science

Awesome Adaptations

Grades 1 to 8 | 90 minutes | Assiniboine Park Zoo

How do animals survive the heat and rain of the tropics or the cold winters in the Arctic tundra? Students will learn how animals survive in their habitat and study specific characteristics of animals here at the Zoo through age appropriate activities! Choose from Arctic or Tropical Adaptations.

Learning Outcomes: Grade 1 - 8 Science

Bats

Grades 2 to 4 | 90 minutes | Assiniboine Park Zoo

Discover the fascinating and often misunderstood lives of the amazing creatures of the night. We will tour the Kinsmen Discovery Centre to learn about megabats and microbats!

Learning Outcomes: Grades 2 and 4 Science

Creature Classification

Grade 1 | 90 minutes | Assiniboine Park Zoo

Some animals have limbs and lungs. Others have fins and gills. Discover the differences and similarities among various animal groups by examining a selection of 'biofacts' and touring a section of the Zoo.

Learning Outcomes: Grade 1 Science

Gakina Ndinawemaaganag : Kakinow Niwahkomakanak  (All My Relations)

Grade 4, 5 & 6 | 90 minutes | Assiniboine Park Zoo

First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people of Manitoba have distinct cultures connected by an intimate relationship with animals and the land. In this tour-based program, learn how all nature is inter-connected through Indigenous perspectives and explore how we can all be better stewards of the land. 

Learning Outcomes: Grade 4 – 6 Social Studies, Grade 4 – 6 Aboriginal Languages and Culture, Grade 4 and 6 Science

Nature Photography

Grades 3 to 8 | 90 minutes | Qualico Family Centre

Photography is a great way to connect with nature and take a closer look at the environment around you. Discover nature through the lens of a camera and learn basic techniques that will help you take great outdoor photographs. Cameras are provided. This program is available March through October.

Maximum 30 students

Learning Outcomes: Grade 3 - 8 Social Studies and Art

North American Animal Stories

Grades 1 to 6 | 90 minutes | Assiniboine Park Zoo

Aboriginal people use storytelling as means of entertainment but also as a way of passing important information from one generation to another. Through storytelling, our educators will introduce participants to our indigenous animals and their importance to Aboriginal beliefs, values and stories.

Learning Outcomes: Grades 1, 2, 4 and 6 Language Arts and Social Studies

Polar Bears

Grades 1 to 6 | 90 minutes | Assiniboine Park Zoo

Learn the remarkable stories behind the Assiniboine Park Zoo’s polar bears! Tour the Zoo's Journey to Churchill exhibit and discover how bears have adapted to survive in their habitat. Students will also explore the unique and sometimes challenging relationship between people and bears encounter in the town of Churchill and the western Hudson Bay.

Learning Outcomes: Grade 1, 2, 4 & 6 Science, Grade 3 Social Studies

PURRfect Predators: Big Cats

Grades 3 to 7 | 90 minutes | Assiniboine Park Zoo

Learn about the distinct characteristics of tigers and leopards and compare their vocalizations to smaller cats such as cougars and lynx. Find out why two-thirds of the world’s cats are endangered and learn what Assiniboine Park Zoo is doing to conserve them.

Learning Outcomes: Grade 4 and 6 Science  

Poetry in the Park

Grades 5 and 6 | 90 minutes | Qualico Family Centre

Let the gardens and forests of Assiniboine Park inspire you! We will guide students through a creative writing process that ends with a group poetry reading. Program includes an outdoor activity.

Learning Outcomes: Grade 6 Language Arts

Rainforests

Grades 2 to 7 | 90 minutes

Tropical rainforests are considered the lungs of the planet. Through a variety of activities you will discover how rain forests provide valuable resources like medicine, habitat and oxygen. Their location, geography and climate provide an essential support system to an immense variety of animals, plants and people.

Learning Outcomes: Grades 2, 3, 6 and 7 Social Studies, Grade 3 Science
 

A River Runs Through It

Grades 3 to 5 | 90 minutes | Assiniboine Park

The riparian forest is very special and important habitat to our local rivers, plants, animals and people. Students will unearth the ecological secrets of the riparian forest through water quality investigations, forest walks, photography, and sensory activities designed to enhance their appreciation and understanding of forests. This program runs April through early November, weather permitting. Sponsored in part by the RBC Water Wise Garden Program.

Learning Outcomes: Grades 3, 4 and 5 Social Studies; Grade 3 Science

The Dirt on Soil

Grade 3 to 4 | 90 minutes | Qualico Family Centre

Did you know a single teaspoon of dirt contains more than a billion microorganisms, that help sustain plant and animal life? This program delves into the nitty-gritty of dirt, its environmental value, and the conservation of one of the earth’s most precious resources - our soil.

Learning Outcomes: Grade 3 Science; Grade 4 Social Science

Arctic Field Research: Studying & Managing Populations

Grades 7 to 10 | 120 minutes | Assiniboine Park Zoo

Maximum 30 students.

The Zoo's Conservation and Research Department conducts active field work in the Zoo and in the Churchill area. This program highlights how our research is contributing to a better understanding of Arctic species, including possible impacts from a changing climate. Students have the opportunity to engage with actual field data and learn new analysis techniques. Focus areas include: Behavioural Ecology of Seals in Western Hudson Bay and Population Dynamics of Arctic and Sub-Arctic Marine Species.

Learning Outcomes: Grade 7 Science and Social Science, Grade 10 Science

Awesome Adaptations

Grades 1 to 8 | 90 minutes | Assiniboine Park Zoo

How do animals survive the heat and rain of the tropics or the cold winters in the Arctic tundra? Students will discover how animals survive in their habitat and study specific characteristics of animals here at the Zoo through age appropriate activities! Choose from Arctic or Tropical Adaptations.

Learning Outcomes: Grade 1 - 8 Science

Endangered Species & Conservation

Grades 7 to 12 | 90 minutes | Assiniboine Park Zoo

Did you know that Assiniboine Park Zoo is involved in important conservation and research projects involving muskox, polar bears and even dolphins? Come and learn about what zoos are doing to Save Animals From Extinction (SAFE).

Learning Outcomes: Grades 7, 8, Grade 9 and 10 Social Studies; Grade 7 and 12 Science

Nature Photography

Grades 3 to 8 | 90 minutes | Qualico Family Centre

Photography is a great way to connect with nature and take a closer look at the environment around you. Discover nature through the lens of a camera and learn basic techniques that will help you take great outdoor photographs. Cameras are provided. This program is available March through October.

Maximum 30 students

Learning Outcomes: Grade 3 - 8 Social Studies and Art

PURRfect Predators - Big Cats

Grades 3 to 7 | 90 minutes | Assiniboine Park Zoo

Learn about the distinc characteristics of tigers and leopards and compare their vocalizations to smaller cats such as cougars and lynx. Find out why two-thirds of the world's cats are endangered and learn what the Assiniboine Park Zoo is doing to conserve them.

Learning Outcomes: Grades 4 and 6 Science

The Role of Zoos in a Changing Climate

Grades 10 and 12 | 120 minutes | Assiniboine Park Zoo

How do zoos contribute to climate change solutions? Students will explore the value of interpretation through an interactive activity in Journey to Churchill before examining the impact that zoos currently have on visitors’ sustainability behaviour. Students will then review research conducted at Assiniboine Park Zoo that evaluated the impact of post-visitor action resources and develop a social media strategy to increase the number of visitors taking action on climate change. 

Learning Outcomes: Grade 10 Science, Grade 12 Biology

A VIEW TO THE ARCTIC: AN ECOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNEY

Middle and Senior Years

Assiniboine Park Zoo and The Manitoba Museum are offering a unique way to learn more about Arctic and Sub-Arctic life in Manitoba! With this unique partnership, you’ll learn about polar bears, First Nations and Inuit culture. Explore sustainable resources of the Arctic, and the effects that we as humans have on the environment. Start your morning at Assiniboine Park Zoo, where an outdoor adventure awaits, complete with guided tour and hands-on activities which explore specific adaptations in the Zoo’s premier Arctic exhibition Journey to Churchill. Choose your favourite place for lunch and then make your way to The Manitoba Museum for a fun-filled afternoon exploring Inuit culture, water and ice.

Program Options:

1. Arctic Adaptations: Examine the environment surrounding Churchill, Manitoba, and how a changing climate may affect the animals of the north. Explore how the limited resources of skin, snow, stone and bone were integral to the survival of the Inuit.

2. Arctic Sea Ice: Discover the connections between tundra and sea ice. Explore the challenges of managing animal species and sustainable resources of water and ice, while exploring the ecosystem in the Arctic and Antarctic regions of the planet.

Minimum: 12 students | Maximum: 12 students

For more detailed information about this exciting joint program, please download the information sheet below.

A-View-to-the-Arctic

Adults and seniors groups can also take part in our fun education programs. We have art workshops, food-based programs and fitness classes

Click here to learn more.