Ready for an amazing adventure? Reserve a self-guided tour for your group to explore the Edmonton Valley Zoo. Educational kits can be rented to supplement your self-guided tour of the zoo.
Self-guided tours, particularly when enhanced by Educational Kits, offer an engaging way to learn about the Edmonton Valley Zoo. By using these kits, visitors can explore the zoo at their own pace while participating in interactive activities, games and artifact handling that bring learning to life.
Note: self-guided tours do not include an interpreter/educator.
Self-guided Tours Booking Information
- Any group of individuals with 10 or more people can reserve a self-guided tour for the Edmonton Valley Zoo
- Ticket reservations are processed as a group booking, rather than individual
- Cost is based on the number of people in the group with a 10% discount applied for groups over 10 people
Reserve Your Self-Guided Tour
Please include the following information when you make your booking request for self-guided tours:
- Contact Name
- Mailing Address
- Phone Number
- Email Address
- Date of your visit to the Zoo
- Preferred Time (morning or afternoon)
Educational Kits
Our educational kits are designed to help direct your visit to the Edmonton Valley Zoo!
How far can a lemur jump? What is your wingspan compared to the birds of the zoo? What does the fur of a takin feel like? Rent 1 of the 3 Educational Kits to find out the answers to these questions and to get closer to the animals of the zoo!
Each kit contains a self-guided tour of the zoo, animal information, artifacts, activities, games and more! Every kit has links to the Alberta school curriculum and can be adapted for every grade level with basic, intermediate and advanced information and questions!
Note: You do not have to follow the recommended tour, but the activities and artifacts in the kits have been designed to follow a certain path in the zoo. Once you have the kit it is up to you to decide how you use it!
Reserve Your Educational Kit
The cost of rental for the kit is $15 for the day. All ticket sales go to support the Valley Zoo Development Society's Pay it Forward for the Planet program.
- You can also visit Guest Services when you arrive to purchase a kit (kit availability is not guaranteed)
- To pick up and drop off a kit, please go to Guest Services in the Entry Plaza
Rental Guidelines
- These educational kits are designed to be used when visiting the zoo and will not be rented for use other than on site visits. Small groups, families and individuals can also rent a kit for use.
- Our kits are rented out for the day. Kits signed out must be returned by 4pm on the day they were rented out. This allows our Education staff time to reset them for the next day.
- If you have broken/lost an item or artifact in the kit, please notify Guest Services when you return the kit. They will make note and inform our Education staff to fix/replace the item.
Educational Kit Themes
Three kits are available for each of the curriculum-based themes listed.
Description
The beauty and fragility of life can be learned through the observation of an animal's earliest stage of life to adulthood! With the Life Cycles Educational Kit, participants will discover how variety of animals grow and develop and learn about the changing relationship between animals and their environment. Specifically, they will learn about the early stages of an animal’s life and how they are introduced into the world!
Kit Contents
- Custom zoo map with a suggested tour route
- Tour resource guide
- Bee life cycle artifact
- Frog life cycle artifact
- Snake shed artifact
- Red fox pelt
Tour Stops
- Honey Bees
- Amphibians
- Reptiles
- Carnivores
- Urban Farm (Optional)
Description
Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter! Did you know you can explore our zoo in every season? Use this educational kit to learn more about how animals change throughout the year. Come and find out which animals migrate, hibernate and change their appearance when the seasons change!
Kit Contents
- Custom zoo map with a suggested tour route
- Tour resource guide
- Scavenger hunt
- Reindeer antler artifact
- Sichuan takin hair
- Bee life cycle artifact
Tour Stops
- Polar Extremes
- Reindeer
- Sichuan Takin
- Honey Bees
- Carnivores
Description
Get ready to sharpen your senses! Which animals have amazing eyes that let them see in the dark? Do birds have a good sense of smell? Are your senses different from the animals? You’ll learn the answers to all this and more with the Senses educational kit.
Kit Contents
- Custom zoo map with a suggested tour route
- Tour resource guide
- Snow leopard fur replica
- Snake shed
- Scent activity
- Sense of touch activity
- Colour vision activity
Tour Stops
- Grevy’s Zebra
- Reptiles
- Nocturnal Wing
- Carnivores
- Makira Outpost
Hours
Effective May 9 - September 7, 2026
Please reserve your spot before your visit!
| Days | Times |
|---|---|
| Monday-Sunday, Holidays | 9am-5pm |
The last admission window is 1 hour prior to closing time. The zoo will be cleared at the closing time listed.
Location
13315 Buena Vista Road, Edmonton, Alberta
Closest Transit Centre: South Campus/Fort Edmonton Park Transit Centre
On Demand transit is also available to the zoo.
Contact Us
Edmonton Valley Zoo
Email attractions@edmonton.ca
Phone 311 | Outside Edmonton: 780-442-5311
Address 13315 Buena Vista Road (87 Avenue) PO Box 2359 Edmonton, AB