Traveling Animal Tales

Great Plains Zoo and Butterfly House & Aquarium's Traveling Animal Tales program provides an opportunity for your youngest learners to experience animals without the need to travel!

Open Today: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

We Bring the Animals to You

Great Plains Zoo and Butterfly House & Aquarium's Traveling Animal Tales program provides an opportunity for your youngest learners to experience animals without the need to travel. Bring the Zoo or Aquarium to you for an animal story time! A short story will be followed by a few engaging animal artifacts and one animal ambassador or activity.

Our Traveling Animal Tales programs are built to deliver an enriching and engaging experience for children up to age 6. Traveling Animal Tales programs are 20 - 25 minutes in length and have a capacity of 30 participants. This program is available for daycares, preschools, and early-childhood learning organizations.

Program Topics

Birds

Animal

Animal programs feature a fun animal story and a variety of animal artifacts, including mammals, reptiles, and birds, and one live ambassador animal!
Butterfly 2

Invertebrate

Invertebrate programs feature a crawly critter story and a variety of animal artifacts, such as butterflies, spiders, and beetles, and one live invertebrate ambassador!
Water

Water

Splish and splash! Water programs feature a water-themed story and artifacts from animals that live in or near water. The story and artifacts are followed by an interactive water sensory bin where learners can play with water, build an aquatic habitat, or help remove trash from the ocean!

Program Pricing & Policies

Pricing

  • First Program (up to 30 participants): $40
  • Each additional program: $25*
    • Additional programs must be the same date and location as the original request.
    • If there is a wait time longer than 15 minutes between programs, a charge of $10 per 15 minutes will apply.
  • Mileage (One-way fee)
    • In Sioux Falls city limits: FREE
    • Outside Sioux Falls city limits: $2 per mile (one-way)**

*Additional program discount only applies for back-to-back programs.

**Please note: If your organization is 50+ miles from the Zoo, you are required to book at least two Traveling Animal Tales programs for your visit.

Sales tax will be added to South Dakota locations. If your organization is exempt from sales tax in the state of South Dakota, please complete the Sales Tax Exemption Form and return it to the Great Plains Zoo.

Policies

Severe Weather Closing: Due to the possibility of severe weather, cancellations are sometimes unavoidable. If your organization has a closing, please notify Zoo staff as soon as possible at 605.367.8313. We will reschedule if possible.

Classroom Animals: For the health and safety of your animals and ours, we are unable to present Traveling Animal Tales in classrooms or other spaces where animals other than fish are housed. If this will present a challenge for your organization, please contact us and we will discuss possible options based on the animals housed in your space.

For the health and safety of our animals, we are unable to present Traveling Animal Tales in private homes. If you have a registered in-home daycare, please contact us for options.

Registration

Start by filling out the registration form below, including the type of program you are requesting, and your preferred dates and times. Once the form is completed and submitted, a representative from the Zoo will review your request and reach out if there are any questions.

Traveling Animal Tales visits must be requested at least two weeks in advance and are not guaranteed until you receive a confirmation email.

Please list up to three preferred dates for your Traveling Animal Tales visit.
Select Programs
Traveling Animal Tales programs are 20 - 25 minutes in length. You can request up to 4 consecutive programs. Please note: if there is a wait time longer than 15 minutes between programs, a charge of $10 per 15 minutes will apply.

Program Fees (additional program discount only applies for back-to-back programs) *If there is a wait time longer than 15 minutes between programs, a charge of $10 per 15 minutes will apply.

Traveling Animal Tales (designed for up to 30 people):
First Program: $40; each additional (up to 4 total): $25 (same date/location)

Mileage: One-Way Fee
In Sioux Falls City Limits: Free
Outside Sioux Falls City Limits: $2 per mile (one-way)

*Sales tax will be added to South Dakota locations. If your organization is exempt from sales tax, in the state of South Dakota, please complete the "Sales Tax Exemption Form" and return to the Great Plains Zoo.

Severe Weather Closing: Due to the possibility of severe weather, cancellations are sometimes unavoidable. If your organization has a closing, please notify Zoo staff as soon as possible at (605) 367-8313 ext. 233. We will reschedule if possible.

Classroom Animals: For the health and safety of your animals and ours, we are unable to present in classrooms or other spaces where animals other than fish are housed. If this will present a challenge for your organization, please contact us and we will discuss possible options based on the animals housed in your space.

For the health and safety of our animals, we are unable to present Traveling Animal Tales in private homes. If you have a registered in-home daycare, please contact us for options.