1. Stop at the first bathroom you see and make them all use it after the bus ride. Seriously. I don't care if they went at school. Because one of these corners you come around is bound to have a waterfall. It might be penguins. Might be bears. For us it was Sea Otters. Either way you will have at least one soggy child for the next 4 hours. (It starts to smell about 18 minutes in.)
2. Chances are, kids can climb on things where you are going. You can let them as long as more than half their body mass is on the right side of the obstacle. Kneeling on the rim of the Tide Pool exhibit and leaning in to pet the starfish does not meet this requirement.
3. It is a good idea to bring a small bag with an extra sweatshirt in it. This is especially important if the day is chilly. Also...see #2.
4. Any sentence that begins with "I want..." can, and should, be ignored.
5. Manage expectations. I cannot stress this enough. Tell them on the bus that you will not be buying them treats at the zoo. And then...don't buy them treats at the zoo. When you see weak-willed chaperones who have a group of kids covered in snow cone juice, feel free to tsk-tsk and shake your head in their direction.
6. Never forget you are a pack. If you do not assume the role of Alpha one of them will. Are you familiar with the work of William Golding?
7. Sometimes the most amazing part of the day happens by accident. Today...it wasn't the nesting Trumpeter Swans on exhibit. It was the wild Canada Goose who was warming her freshly hatched babies under her wings. No one needed a colorful sign with things to flip or buttons to push. The boys sat still and just watched the mama. They asked other kids to stop hissing at her because hisses are warnings and threats. They discussed how the color of the babies helped them blend in to the world around them. And then, if you are lucky, one of the boys will look at you and say, "Wow. Look how we are all getting along nicely now."
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