Call the Zoo Office for more information (509) 238-4126
We cannot schedule tours by email.

Booking Your School Tour

  • All group tours MUST be scheduled in advance.
  • We cannot schedule tours by email.
  • You need to call the office to insure space and time for your tour.
  • ​During the warm weather months, space fills up early.
  • ​If your group is running late or need to cancel PLEASE call us and let us know.​
  • The average tour takes between 45 minutes and an hour.
  • ​The Zoo is outdoors and not sheltered. Be sure to dress for the weather.
  • Our parking lot does have room for a bus to turn around.
  • ​We do have a picnic area and you can bring a lunch.
  • Let us know if you want to use the picnic area to ensure it is available.
  • ​We can accommodate groups of up to ~100, but scheduling is critical.
  • We have 2 single generic bathrooms (1 is handicap accessible)
  • If the students want to go into the Gift Shop we limit them to 5 at a time with an Adult.​​
  • The main gates open to the Parking Lot at 10:00 am. We are still working getting ready until then.

All ZOO RULES are strictly enforced at all times!!

Respect for others (especially the animals) is important. Zoo Rules pertain to everywhere on the property.
Depending on what works better for instructions for your children we have the Do's and the Don'ts
                 DO
  • Walk
  • Use a Quiet Outside Voice
  • Keep your feet on the Ground
  • Ask Questions
  • Be like a Tiger, low and slow
  • ​Listen
          DON'T
  • Run (you look like food)
  • Shout or Scream
  • ​Climb on the Rocks or Fences
  • Throw rocks or litter
  • ​Act like a Monkey (Big cats want to eat monkeys)

We want the School Tours to work and be enjoyable for everyone. 

**Admission Fees for Groups of 12 or more. ($ 1.00 off our regular admission price)

$ 4.00 for Children ages 12 and under.
$ 7.00 for Students ages 13 and up. 
$ 7.00 for Adults 55 and up
​$ 9.00 for Adults
**Teachers and Bus Drivers are Free
  • and One Adult per 10 children under their supervision are free.
  • ​Handicap care givers are also free.

Downloads for the Teachers to insure a great tour.

Over the 25+ years that we have been doing School Tours we have discovered some frustrating moments.
We are trying to eliminate some of them by giving you information and forms to download.
(If you would like to have them sent to you, please let the office know and expect some delay for "snail mail".)
All zoo Guests 18 and older must sign a Liability Release prior to entering the zoo. Have your Adults sign this the morning (day) of your field trip and turn it in at the Ticket Booth when you arrive. It must be signed individually and in ink.
Have your money together prior to coming to the Ticket Booth. If you have a Purchase Order let the office know ahead of time. (Some schools have a bad reputation for payment and it may be necessary to make other payment arrangements.)
Go over the Zoo Rules with your group. Make sure the Adult Supervisors are aware of the rules and agree to abide by them. Your Tour Guide will cover them again prior to the start of your Tour. (It does no harm to hear them twice :-) 

We are working on a Lesson Plan and Interactive Tours. 

I'm still setting this up. It's almost done :-)
Cat Tales would like to personalize our School Tours.
​Here are some ideas for interactive teaching before, during and after your Tour.
Download the text and photos of the animals at Cat Tales. Tell their stories, talk about them, draw them, get to know them. If your students have an idea about who and what they will see when they visit, they will have questions and will be more engaged in the tour. 
Get your students involved with learning about their favorite Cat Tales animal before and/or during their zoo tour and we will reward them with a "We Care" Certificate and a Photo of this Special animal to post on their classroom wall. Please, only One (1) per class.
This Animal Challenge is an example of an interactive visit to Cat Tales. We will supply the Questions and pencils. The answers will be posted through out the Zoo to encourage observation and reading skills. The information may also be covered during the tour. Let us know if you are interested in the Challenge.
We are working on compiling a link page to help with your animal lesson plans. We would appreciate your feedback and suggestions. This page is not live at this time.......soon.........