Community Education

Our Weekday Field Trips programming starts at 10:30am. We ask that you arrive at 10:00AM to get checked in and seated. The Wildlife Presentation starts promptly at 10:30am and we cannot always hold the program for late arrivals.

We have an upper Parking Lot near the Zoo entrance. More parking is available in the adjacent lot, Lot 21.

A temporary Parking Permit is required from the College. The cost is $2. You may purchase it here.

You may also scan the QR codes posted in the parking lot as well as the front gate of the Zoo. Credit or Debit card only. There is a yellow kiosk in Lot 21 that can be used to purchase parking passes.

If bringing a bus, we have a bus circle directly in front of the Zoo for loading and unloading purposes. Buses can also unload and load at the entrance to the upper Zoo Lot. They must wait in other areas of the parking lot and can return to re-load your group.

See Campus Map

UPDATE: As of August 5th, Parking Lot 21 will be under re-paving construction until middle of September. When visiting please park in Lot 20 and use the walking detour shown on the map here. Accessible parking will be available near the Zoo entrance in Lot 22. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Need Directions? 

Unfortunately, we do not have the ability to allow guests to stay on the Zoo after the field trip. As the students are in school, they have other classes immediately after the field trip ends.

There are about 5 picnic tables outside the Zoo gates on the balcony of the EATM building. We ask you do not use the park directly across from the Zoo as it is a private park.

The Field Trip lasts about 1 & 15 minutes. It includes a 30 minute Wildlife Presentation as well as 45-50 minute tour of the Zoo.

All areas are wheel chair and stroller accessible being mostly flat and paved. Some pathways are dirt or gravel. As of 8/24 the pathway through Rajah's Retreat heading to the lower aviary is temporarily closed as we give our Tigers a bit more time to adjust to their new habitat before new friends get a little closer.

Please contact us ahead of your visit date. We do schedule to maximum capacity at times so may be unable to accommodate additional guests at the gate beyond your online request. Make sure you include all guests including parent chaperones and teachers in your reservation request.

We ask that cancellations be made as soon as possible. Please call 805-378-1441 or email jennifer_hart2@vcccd.edu

The Wildlife Presentation may feature animals that are not visible from the main Zoo stroll. We always try and feature a variety of animals; mammals, birds, reptiles and more! Along the Zoo Tour you will get to see Clarence the Galapagos Tortoise. 99 years old and weighing up to 500 pounds, Galapagos Tortoises are some of the largest in the World! Clarence is not to be missed. You can find him munching on a snack or snoozing in the sun! Also you will tour through Primate Gardens and back past Ira's Kingdom. Our male African Lion, Ira, is King of the Campus and now has a new kingdom to reign over.

** As of 8/20 The pathway to the lower Aviary, through Rajah's Retreat is temporarily closed while our Tigers, Neil and Karma adjust to their new habitat. Will be closed for several weeks.

Still have a Question? Reach out to our office and we will get back to you!