Conservation Education and Science
VISITING THE CHILDREN'S AQUARIUM AT FAIR PARK

Come explore our newly renovated Children's Aquarium at Fair Park! Your underwater adventure will take you through aquatic environments with species from all over the world, including those in our own backyard - the Trinity River. Don't forget to stop by Stingray Bay where students can view a number of rays and sharks. The Children's Aquarium at Fair Park is the next best thing to an adventure at sea!

Aquarium Reservation Form (PDF)

  • Explore the underwater world of the newly renovated Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park with an educator! Get an up-close and personal experience in our tide pool. Then test your science skills as you learn just what it takes to be a marine biologist! Make the most of your visit by scheduling one of our On-site Education Programs!
  • Stop by the Touch Tank and get an up-close look at cool aquatic creatures.

The Fair Park campus is also home to several other exciting museums including the African American Museum, Dallas Museum of Natural History, Texas Discovery Gardens, The Science Place and The Women's Museum. Make an exciting and educational day of it and visit several institutions in one location!

PAYMENT

Field trips including a classroom program, instructor-led program, or guided tour must be paid in full, for the total number of students requested, at least one (1) week prior to the scheduled date. Self-guided field trips and Monorail Safari tours may be paid in full prior to the scheduled date or on the day of the visit. Please note that pre-payment may expedite your entry into the zoo or aquarium. Please prepare one form of payment for the entire group. Major credit cards, school checks, or cash (large bills preferred) are accepted. Chaperones or parents arriving separately will be charged the full admission price. Refunds cannot be processed at the gate. Memberships or season passes cannot be applied to school group rates.

Dallas ISD schools with ArtsPartners Funding: An ArtsPartners voucher number and approval code is considered a guarantee of payment but your school may still owe a balance if the total reservation cost is not covered by ArtsPartners.

CHAPERONE POLICIES

Chaperones are important. They help make field trips safe, fun and educational for everyone. We require one adult (21 years or older) chaperone for every 10 students. Chaperones and their assigned students must stay together the entire day. Teachers and chaperones will be held responsible for student conduct. Any behavior that endangers the safety of our animals, staff or other visitors will result in your group being expelled from our facility. Undisciplined or un-chaperoned students may cause the entire group to be expelled from the Aquarium.

Assign chaperones to their group before you leave school. Be sure students know their chaperones. Please make sure each chaperone understands the following:

  • Chaperones must remain with their assigned students at all times. Any behavior that endangers the safety of our animals, staff or other visitors will result in your group being expelled from our facility.
  • Inform your chaperones of times and locations for arrival, any scheduled programs, lunch, and departure times.
  • First aid is available at our front desk.
  • Lost children are taken to front desk.
  • Lost and Found is located at the front desk.
  • Share your mobile phone number with your chaperones in case you are separated from your group.
  • Dress for the weather and for lots of walking.
  • Please discourage chaperones from bringing additional children with them on the visit.

AQUARIUM RULES

Please review these rules with your students and chaperones before arriving at the Aquarium. Failure to follow the rules may result in the expulsion of your entire group from the Aquarium.

  • Have students wear nametags that include their name, school, and teacher’s name (no safety pins)
  • DO stay with their assigned chaperones at all times.
  • DO understand that animals, like us, need rest and privacy. If an animal is not visible, check back later.
  • DO pick up your trash. Please dispose of garbage in trash or recycling bins.
  • DO stay on pathways.
  • DO walk, not run.
  • DO use quiet voices.
  • DO be patient and look all around the exhibit. Animals are adapted to blend in with their surroundings. They may be resting nearby.
  • DON’T feed animals. They are on a carefully balanced diet.
  • DON’T climb on rocks, walls, or fences.
  • DON’T deface zoo or aquarium property.
  • DON’T pick plants or flowers.
  • DON’T tap on exhibit glass, scream, spit and/or throw objects of any kind into exhibits. This behavior is disrespectful and will not be tolerated.

ON-SITE PROGRAM RULES

Pre-scheduled education programs must be paid in full at least one week prior to the scheduled program date. Refunds will not be given for cancellations made within two weeks of the scheduled date.

  • Please plan on arriving at least 10 minutes prior to the program’s start time.
  • Programs begin promptly at the scheduled time. We will do our best to accommodate late arrivals, but we reserve the right to cancel or adjust programs as needed.
  • Class size is strictly limited to 30 students, except for the Mollusc Lab which has a maximum capacity of 18 students.
  • A teacher must be present at all times during the program.

EMERGENGIES, LOST & FOUND, and FIRST AID

  • First aid and lost and found are available in at our admission counter.
  • Lost children are taken to admission counter

RESCHEDULING AND CANCELLATIONS

Your reservation may be rescheduled once without penalty. Reschedule dates should be at least two (2) weeks in advance. Additional reschedules will be charged $25 per instance. Cancellations must be received at least one (1) week prior to the date of your visit. Refunds will not be issued for any amount under $20, for cancellations made within one (1) week of the scheduled date, or for no-show groups. Your school (and/or Big Thought/ArtsPartners if using AP funding) will be invoiced for the total reservation cost if you fail to show for your field trip/program or cancel within one (1) week of the scheduled date.

INCLEMENT WEATHER

The Dallas Zoo and Children's Aquarium at Fair Park are open rain or shine. Field trips and programs will be cancelled if DISD is closed due to inclement weather. Please contact Education Reservations as soon as possible if cancelling or rescheduling due to severe or inclement weather. Rescheduling fees due to DISD closure will be waived.

QUESTIONS

Questions? Call our Scheduling line at 469-554-7300. Also, please feel free to email us at education@dallaszoo.com if you have any additional questions.

We look forward to seeing you at the Children's Aquarium at Fair Park!