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Reciprocity Programs for Zoos, Science Centers, and Children's Museums
Make the most of your membership with the AZA, ASTC, and ACM reciprocity programs
Your zoo membership might do more for you than just let you see some animals. That gift membership to the local science center could have more benefits than you are giving it credit for. Let’s talk about reciprocity programs and how to best utilize them.
Table of contents
- Zoo Membership - AZA Reciprocity
- Science Center Membership - ASTC Reciprocity
- Children’s Museum Membership - ACM Reciprocity
- Bring Your ID Card
- Find Programs Near You!
- One Membership to Rule Them All
Zoo Membership - AZA Reciprocity
Many zoos are members of the AZA, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The AZA has a list of zoos and aquariums that participate in the reciprocity program.
This means a membership at one of the zoos on the list will get you a discount on the other zoos on the list.
Now the AZA program is more complex than the other programs, but let’s break it down. When you check out the list, see if your zoo is listed as 100% or 50%.
A zoo with a 100% will get you in for free at other zoos on the list with 100%. Otherwise, you’ll get half off at zoos and aquariums listed as 50%.
With a home zoo on the list at 50% you’ll get half off at any place on the list whether it says 50% or 100%.
Confused yet? As always, it may depend on the zoo or aquarium you are visiting. So call ahead to make sure your membership will get you a discount.
Science Center Membership - ASTC Reciprocity
Much like the AZA reciprocity program, the Association of Science and Technology Centers, the ASTC, also has a list of science centers where membership at one can get you benefits at the others.
For most locations on the ASTC “passport program”, a membership will either cover your entire family or up to 4 members. You will want to consult the ASTC’s list for the details of the specific science and technology center.
The only caveat to remember with the ASTC program is that centers within 90 miles of the science center where you have a membership or your home are excluded. They measure this “as the crow flies”, so you can use the measure distance feature of Google Maps.
As with the other programs, if you have questions, consult the list or call ahead.
We visited 5 or 6 different science centers with our ASTC membership and didn’t have any problems getting in. It turned out to be an amazing Christmas gift from my brother!
Children’s Museum Membership - ACM Reciprocity
The Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) has the most straightforward reciprocity of all the other programs listed here.
Membership at one of the participating children’s museums will give you a 50% discount at all participating locations for up to six people. Just check the list of participating children’s museums to find a location.
As with the other programs, your experience may vary and you should call ahead to confirm benefits.
Bring Your ID Card
Some locations may require you to provide ID. We haven’t run into that yet, but there is a first time for everything. So make sure you have some form of ID along with your membership card (or digital card).
Find Programs Near You!
If you’re eager to find reciprocity programs near your or near where you are traveling, check out our massive list of AZA, ASTC, and ACM locations!
You can see each location for a given state and which programs they participate in.
One Membership to Rule Them All
In our research of the different programs, we found that several places participate in multiple different reciprocity programs. And, to make things even better, we found one that covered all 3 programs at a great price. Sign us up!
The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery participates in the AZA, ASTC, and ACM programs. They are located in Dayton, Ohio and have a reasonably priced family membership. Plus, you can easily sign up online!
We plan to use our membership well during our travels and can’t wait for all the adventures!
