Reid Park Zoo - Behind the Scenes 2/6/2024
Trip Cost $47.00
Get up close with some of your favorite Reid Park Zoo residents. During this 60-minute behind-the-scenes adventure, you will learn how Reid Park Zoo uses proper nutrition and health care to provide quality, whole-life care to its animal residents. Your experience includes visits to the Animal Health Center, Zoo kitchen, and rhino habitat. During a special close encounter with the rhino, you will discover the importance of animal training for completing daily health checkups.
After your behind-the-scenes visit you’re welcome to spend the rest of the day in this wild oasis with over 250 animals from around the world. Get up close to your favorite animals during daily presentations and keeper chats, enjoy an unforgettable experience as you feed a giraffe (for a nominal fee), and so much more!
Meet at the Photography Club at 8:15 AM for carpooling, departing at 8:30 AM. Comfortable shoes and water are suggested. Please wear your GVR Photography Club or Camera Club badge, if available. For those carpooling, $5.00 is an appropriate contribution to the driver.
We will drive to the Zoo, where free parking is provided for Zoo guests. We will assemble at the Peacock Statue just outside the admission gate. Since the behind-the-scene group size is limited to 10 people, we’ll divide the group between two Zoo educators, but don’t worry -- each group will share the same experience. Hand-held cameras and smartphones are welcome, but Go-Pros, selfie sticks and other equipment that could potentially be stuck into animal habitats or over guardrails are not allowed. There are also areas of the Zoo where photography is not permitted: Zoo educators will advise you where photography is not allowed.
Though outside food is not permitted in the Zoo, the Flamingo Grill located in the Zoo’s Welcome Plaza features a variety of reasonably priced menu items. You may also choose to bring your own food and picnic in one of the many areas just outside the Zoo in Reid Park – just be sure to check at the front gate before exiting if you plan on returning to the Zoo later in the day. Bottled water is always permitted in the Zoo.
Additional information about the Reid Park Zoo is available here.
Contact the Field Trip Leader Tom Parker at 618-304-1456 or email at tparker324@aol.com with any questions.
GVR requires that every person participating in Photography Club Field Trips must sign a waiver prior to departure absolving GVR or any liability. GVR has started a new waiver requirement, and the waivers are now good until December 31st. You may sign the waiver at the Photography Club or the morning of the trip, if you have not completed one already.
Last date to cancel for a refund is January 31, 2024.
If your need to cancel, please contact the Field Trip Coordinator, Lynn Rozema, at lrozema51@gmail.com or call 719-351-5193. We may have someone to take your place.
Notice:
All participants need to be responsible for an assessment of their mobility and health issues relating to field trips. Some trips may not be appropriate, but you must make that determination. However, the trip leader may deny participation in a specific field trip to anyone deemed not suitably prepared or able to walk with the group.
The club strives to provide several field trips specifically designed for members with physical limitations.
In order to participate in this event, you must be a member of the GVR Photography Club and GVR.
The GVR Photography Club is located in the Recreation Village of Santa Rita Springs.