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Join one of our Education staff members for a 45-minute tour of your choice. Our interactive tours include fun-filled facts, wildlife conservation information, and the inside scoop on our animals. The tours are designed for 6th - 12th grade and special needs groups. Please look below to find the tour that's best for you!
Tours are offered Tuesdays through Fridays, August - May. Please call for available times. A program fee of $55 is charged for each tour reserved. All programs must be reserved two weeks in advance by calling the Education Department at 803.779.8717x1113 Monday through Friday between 9:00am and 4:00pm.
If you have any questions, please email rreeves@riverbanks.org. |
| AVAILABLE TOUR PROGRAMS (click each tour title for more information) |
| + Conservation Challenge |
Tour the exhibits of some endangered species here at the Zoo and find out why they are endangered. Hear success stories of animals that were once endangered; some might surprise you. Students will also learn about the many conservation projects that Riverbanks participates in to conserve endangered species. |
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| + Animal Behavior 101 |
Learn how our Zoo experts use their knowledge of animal behavior to create interesting and enriching environments for our animals. Find out why ethology is an important field of study. Students will learn observation skills, including the development of a behavioral ethogram at a live animal exhibit! |
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| + Zoo & Garden Careers |
This tour presents students with detailed descriptions and a behind-the-scenes look into the many career opportunities found within Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. It also provides the insight your students need to pursue an array of career choices and volunteer opportunities found in modern day zoos and aquariums. |
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| + Animals Around the World |
Take a trip around the world in under an hour! This tour will take students from the Australian outback to the African savanna and beyond. Our guide will give students a chance to ask questions and learn about the many different animals that inhabit our planet! |
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| + Piecing it Together |
When it comes to supporting healthy ecosystems, variety is the spice of life. Find out the roles biotic and abiotic factors play in an ecosystem. What's an SSP? Students will discover this and more, plus Riverbanks' role in ensuring biodiversity not only here, but around the world! |
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Bug Hunt: (Pre-school-2nd grade)
This tour is hands-on as children learn about insects before going out into the Garden to dig up their own creepy crawly bugs. The group will look for bugs in various habitats discovering the secret world where insects live. The tour ends with an appropriate story. |
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All Living Things: (K-2nd grade)
As plants grow from tiny seedlings to mature plants, they provide many different elements for other living things. Students will learn about the relationship between plants and bees, butterflies, birds and people. They will see how fruit grows and learn the importance of plants in our lives. (45 minutes) |
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Plant Adaptations: (Grades 3-6)
Students will see various plants from different habitats that include the desert, wetlands and rain forest. Their explorations will lead them to investigate the different adaptations that are necessary to survive in each habitat. |
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General Tour: (Grades 6-12)
Students will be introduced to the various themed elements of the Garden. Explanations of plant combinations are given with emphasis on plants of interest. Plants with special conservation needs are highlighted. |
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Guided tours may be scheduled Monday - Saturday. |
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Tours must be scheduled in advance by calling 803.779.8717 x1799. |
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Tours last approximately one hour. |
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Tours cost $55 for a maximum group of 25. For groups of more than 25, you may split your group and pay for the number of tours required. |
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Plant Packs are now available for rent at the Garden Ticket Booth. These packs are full of self-guided activities to do through the Botanical Garden. Each pack contains a Garden Activity Guide, which leads children through the different areas of the Garden and encourages them to think about the things they see. There are also many hands-on activities in the packs that help make the Garden a fun, tactile place for discovery. |
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Plant Packs are available for two age groups: K-2 and 3-6. |
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Plant Packs are recommended for teachers, parents or leaders and a group of 10 children or less. |
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Plant Packs cost $7 to rent. |
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Packs should be picked up and returned to the Garden Ticket Booth. |
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Reserve a pack by calling 803.779.8717 x1799 or emailing asegura@riverbanks.org. |
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You may rent a pack without a reservation, based on availability. Fill out a reservation form at the Garden Ticket Booth. |
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Plant Packs are the perfect way for school groups, home school students, scout troops and families to explore the Garden on their own. |
Experience Riverbanks Zoo through the eyes of the animal care staff. Walk on the “wild side” as you get an inside look at some out-of-sight places. Explore the animal hospital, take a peek inside the animal kitchen, and meet a live animal! Adventure Tours allow participants to marvel at the unique challenges of animal care and the amazing efforts that go into creating and sustaining a world-class zoo. This fun-filled tour ends with a tasty treat.
Join Us for an Adventure Tour today! |
