Membership FAQs

Learn more about what it means to be a member of Seneca Park Zoo—conservation efforts, membership benefits, and more! 

Purchasing a Membership

Your membership starts immediately upon purchase. If you wish to visit the Zoo before your membership cards arrive in the mail you may present your photo ID at the Zoo’s Member Entrance to use your membership.

Your membership is valid for one full year and will expire at the end of the month in which it was purchased. For renewals, a year is added on to the current expiration date.

 

We offer four easy options:

Online: Complete information on our online membership system.
By phone: Call the Member Office at 585.336.7212 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to charge by phone.
In person: At the Zoo’s Member Entrance seven days a week, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. from April 1 to October 31, and 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. from November 1 to March 31.
By Mail: Seneca Park Zoo Society Member Office 2222 St. Paul Street Rochester, NY 14621. Please make checks payable to Seneca Park Zoo Society.

Yes. Any membership can be made a gift.

If you are unsure about the gift recipient’s membership status, please call the Member Office at 585.336.7212.

If there is no second adult in your household, you are welcome to add another named adult who would use the membership instead.

There is no option to add an unnamed guest in place of a named cardholder.

If there is not a second adult that you would like to add to the membership, you are welcome to keep yourself as the only adult.

You must be at least 18 years or older to have a membership in your name.

No. Annual memberships are for individuals and households only. We do offer group rates on general admission for parties of 10 or more. Please email us at [email protected] with details about your group visit.

Seneca Park Zoo Society is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and your membership payment may be tax-deductible. Consult your tax advisor for more details.

Renewing Your Membership

You will start receiving renewal notice one month in advance of your membership’s expiration date. Any of these notices can be used to renew your membership, online, by phone, by mail, or in person at the Front Gate. No matter when you join or renew, you will always receive one full year of membership.

A year is applied to your current expiration date, you will not lose any time.

However, if you are changing levels or named adults on the membership, those changes will take effect immediately.

In our online membership system, click on the purchase button for the level you want, and we will match up your order with your current record in our database.

If you have any changes to your contact information upon renewing, it is helpful if you e-mail [email protected] with this information.

Membership Cards and Benefits

You will receive your digital membership card activation link within 36 hours of purchase.

If you choose printed cards for postal delivery, you should receive your cards within 7-10 days of purchase.

In the meantime, your membership is active immediately upon purchase. You can always present your photo ID to verify your membership status for admission at the Zoo’s Member Entrance.

Digital membership cards are passes saved in your smartphone wallet and scanned at the Member Entrance directly off your phone.

When you renew or update information on your membership, it will update automatically.

Please visit our Digital Membership Card FAQ for more information.

No. Your membership card(s) and associated privileges are not transferable to any other family or individual. You will be asked to show your ID every time you use your membership. Family members or friends can purchase tickets online here.

Please contact us at [email protected] or 585.336.7212.to request a re-send of your card activation email.

In the meantime, you can always present your Photo ID at the Member Entrance for entry.

Member T-shirts are available for sale for $12 each at the Member Entrance.

Two complimentary member T-shirts are included at the Penguin Circle, Otter Circle, and Partner in Conservation membership levels and may be picked up at the Member Entrance.

Your membership card grants you 50% off admission at over 150 institutions accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Check the full list of participating zoos and aquariums here.

These agreements are determined by the other establishment and can change at any time. We recommend that you call ahead to plan your visit with their latest information.

Yes! Simply present your photo ID at the Member Entrance.

Memberships are nontransferable and a valid photo ID is required to verify that you are named on the membership. This also protects our members if their cards are lost or stolen. As a nonprofit organization that relies on membership and attendance for support, we appreciate your attention to this detail of your membership benefits.

Updating Your Membership

You may update your contact information by submitting a form online, emailing [email protected], calling the Member Office at 585.336.7212, or requesting a change at the Member Entrance.

We ask that the named adults at the time of purchase remain the same throughout the membership’s annual term.

You are welcome to change members at the time of renewal.

No. Membership upgrades are not pro-rated. You will pay the difference between the cost of your current and desired membership level.

Guests, Children, and Caregivers

Yes. At least one of the named members must accompany guests for all memberships that have guest privileges.

At most membership levels, yes.

If you would like your children to visit without you and not pay general admission, we suggest purchasing or upgrading to the Family + Caregiver or Otter Circle level. Both allow a caregiver to bring the member children to the Zoo without the named cardholders being present. This covers one caregiver per visit. Your member card must be presented at time of visit and your caregiver must be accompanying the member children. Any additional visitors not covered by the membership would need to pay general admission.

Guests are unnamed and must be present with at least one of the named members during the visit. The member cards will say “Plus Guest” and cannot be lent out for the guest to use without the member being present. Guests are great for members that want the option to bring a different person with them each visit.

You can add one guest per membership on Individual, Couple, Family and Grandparent levels. Penguin Circle and Otter Circle levels include two guests each visit.

A Caregiver is able to bring the member children to the Zoo without the named cardholder being present by presenting the member’s Family + Caregiver or Otter Circle membership card. The Caregiver feature is available at the Family + Caregiver or Otter Circle levels only.

Couple memberships do not include children; however, admission for children two and younger is always free. When your child turns three, you can either pay admission for their visit or upgrade to a membership level that includes children.

No. Group and school visits are not considered a general admission visit and are not covered by membership. They are coordinated through the school/organization with our education staff.

Adults who are covered by a membership and are accompanying the school group as a chaperone are welcome to use their membership to cover their admission, but they are required to check themselves in at the Member Entrance separately from the school group.

All guests including members who require an aide may bring in their aide free of charge. Just let us know when you check-in!

Every day is a great day to visit the Zoo. Experience life on the wild side, enjoy up-close animal interactions and support global conservation efforts—right here at the Zoo. Reserve your tickets now for quick and easy entry, and enjoy more time connecting with wildlife.

Call 585.336.7212 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or stop at the Member Entrance during Zoo hours.

Membership Rates and Benefits subject to change without notice