Does Fresno Chaffee Zoo offer free admission with CalFresh EBT cards?

Yes! The Fresno Chaffee Zoo does participate in the Museums for All program for EBT cardholders. My family went last summer and we got in for a reduced price - I think it was $5 per person for up to 4 people when I showed my CalFresh card. Just make sure to bring your actual EBT card and a photo ID. The discount isn't advertised much at the entrance so specifically mention you're using an EBT discount when you get to the ticket counter.

I went there back in december an they told me it wasnt free, just discounted. but then my cousin went in january and said they got in free?? i think maybe the policy changed or something. the whole EBT discount thing is confusing and different at every place. some places its free, others its like 50% off, and some places say they do it but the staff has no idea what ur talking about when u get there lol

I actually work for the county and have some experience with this program! The Museums for All initiative is nationwide and many California attractions participate, but each sets their own discount level. For Fresno Chaffee Zoo, it's currently $5 per person for up to 4 people with a valid EBT card (CalFresh, CalWORKs, etc). You'll need to show your physical EBT card and a photo ID that matches the name on the card. I highly recommend calling ahead before any zoo or museum visit to confirm their current EBT policy. The staff at smaller attractions sometimes aren't fully trained on these programs. If you ever have trouble reaching places by phone, I've started using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through phone trees and wait times - they have a video demo at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. It's been super helpful for getting through to busy places that normally leave you on hold forever.

I'm confused about something. When I use my EBT card for these discounts, does it count as using my benefits? Like, will I have less food money if I use it for zoo admission? I'm always nervous about using my card for anything besides groceries because I don't want to mess up my benefits.

FYI the Fresno Chaffee Zoo discount is nice but there are TONS of other places that give EBT discounts too! My family has gone to the Discovery Center, Fresno Art Museum, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and even Disneyland with EBT discounts!!! The Mouse House one isnt with the Museums for All program tho, they have their own thing. Google "museums for all california ebt" and you'll find a whole list!!!

To summarize the accurate information for everyone: 1. Fresno Chaffee Zoo offers $5 admission per person (up to 4 people) with a valid EBT card through the Museums for All program 2. You need your physical EBT card AND photo ID that matches the name on the card 3. This doesn't use your benefits - they're just checking eligibility, not charging the card 4. Always call ahead to verify current policies as they can change 5. Many other California attractions participate in Museums for All with varying discount levels I hope this helps clear up any confusion! These programs are designed to make cultural attractions accessible to everyone regardless of financial situation.

Just wanted to add that if you're planning to visit multiple attractions, it's worth checking out the California State Parks system too! Many state parks offer discounted day-use fees for EBT cardholders - I think it's around $3 per vehicle instead of the usual $10-15. Places like Millerton Lake and Roeding Park near Fresno participate. It's a different program from Museums for All but another great way to stretch your budget for family outings. You still need to show your EBT card and ID, same as the zoo discount.

This is such valuable information! I had no idea about the state parks discount either. My family loves outdoor activities and we've been paying full price at places like Millerton Lake. $3 instead of $10-15 is a huge savings, especially when you're trying to plan multiple outings with kids. Does anyone know if this state parks EBT discount applies to camping fees too, or just day-use? We've been wanting to try camping but the overnight fees can add up quickly with a family.

This thread has been so helpful! I'm actually planning a whole "EBT discount tour" for my family this summer based on all these suggestions. Between the zoo, museums, state parks, and other attractions, we can have amazing family experiences without breaking the bank. For anyone else reading this - I started keeping a little notebook of all the places that offer EBT discounts because it's easy to forget which ones participate and what their specific policies are. It's been a game-changer for planning affordable outings with my kids. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips!

I love seeing all this helpful information! As someone who's been using CalFresh for a few years now, I can add that the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco also participates in Museums for All - it's $3 per person there. One tip I've learned is to always ask at the membership desk too, not just the regular ticket counter, because sometimes the membership staff is more familiar with these discount programs. Also, if you have kids, many public libraries have "library of things" programs where you can check out things like museum passes, zoo passes, or even camping equipment for free with your library card. It's another great way to stretch your budget for family activities!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm also a CalFresh recipient and didn't know about so many of these discount programs. One thing I wanted to add is that some cities have their own discount programs too - not just the national Museums for All program. For example, I know San Jose has a "Libraries for All" program where you can get free passes to local attractions just by having a library card, and they don't even check income. It might be worth checking if Fresno has any similar city-specific programs. Also, for anyone nervous about using these discounts like I was at first - the staff at most places are really nice about it and it's totally normal for them. These programs exist specifically to help families like ours enjoy cultural activities, so don't feel embarrassed about using them!

This has been such an amazing thread to read through! As a single mom on CalFresh, I'm always looking for ways to give my kids fun experiences without stretching our budget too thin. I had heard bits and pieces about EBT discounts at museums but never knew the full scope of what's available. The Fresno Chaffee Zoo discount sounds perfect for us - $5 per person is so much more manageable than regular admission prices. I'm definitely going to start that notebook idea someone mentioned to keep track of all these different programs and their specific requirements. It's so heartwarming to see this community sharing practical tips and supporting each other. These kinds of programs really do make a difference in helping families access cultural and educational experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. Thank you everyone for being so generous with your knowledge and experiences!

This thread has been absolutely incredible! I've been using CalFresh for about 6 months now and had no idea about any of these discount programs. Reading through everyone's experiences has opened my eyes to so many possibilities for affordable family activities. The fact that the Fresno Chaffee Zoo offers $5 admission with EBT is amazing - we've been wanting to take our 4-year-old but regular zoo prices are just too much for our budget right now. I'm particularly interested in the library programs that people mentioned. Our local library is literally down the street from us but I never thought to ask about museum passes or other resources beyond just borrowing books. It sounds like there's a whole world of free and discounted activities that I've been missing out on! One question I have - for those who have used these programs multiple times, do places keep track of how often you use the EBT discount? Like, is there a limit to how many times per year you can get the discounted admission at the same place? I'm hoping to plan several outings over the summer but don't want to run into any issues if we become "regulars" somewhere. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and tips. This community is such a valuable resource!

This has been such an informative discussion! I'm new to using CalFresh and honestly felt a bit overwhelmed about navigating all the different programs and discounts available. Reading through everyone's experiences has given me so much confidence to actually use these benefits. The Fresno Chaffee Zoo discount sounds perfect for my family - $5 per person is definitely doable compared to regular admission prices. I love the tip about asking at the membership desk if the regular ticket counter isn't familiar with the program. That's such practical advice that I never would have thought of! I'm also really excited to learn about the library programs. We use our library regularly for books and story time, but I had no idea they might have museum passes or other resources available. I'm definitely going to ask about that next time I'm there. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone tried using EBT discounts at any of the smaller local attractions around Fresno? I know we have some historical sites and smaller museums that might participate but aren't as well-known. It would be great to have some hidden gems to add to that discount notebook everyone's been talking about! Thanks to everyone for being so open about sharing your experiences. It really helps normalize using these programs and shows that we're all just trying to provide good opportunities for our families.

This thread has been such a goldmine of information! I'm fairly new to the area and had no idea about all these discount opportunities. The Fresno Chaffee Zoo for $5 per person sounds amazing - we've been putting off zoo visits because the regular prices seemed so steep with three kids. I'm definitely going to start calling places ahead of time like everyone suggests. It's encouraging to hear that most staff are understanding about these programs. I was worried it might be awkward or that I'd get pushback, but it sounds like these discounts are pretty well-established. The library pass idea is brilliant too! I never thought libraries would have anything beyond books and computers. I'm going to swing by our local branch this weekend to see what they have available. Between the zoo discount, museum passes, and state park savings, we could actually have a really fun summer without breaking our budget. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed experiences and tips. It's so helpful to hear real stories from families who have actually used these programs successfully!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm a single mom with two young kids and we've been wanting to visit the zoo but I was worried about the cost. The $5 per person admission with EBT sounds perfect for us! I had heard about Museums for All but wasn't sure which places actually participated or what the process was like. I really appreciate everyone sharing their real experiences - especially the tips about bringing photo ID and asking at the membership desk if needed. It makes me feel much more confident about actually using these programs. Sometimes you hear about benefits but don't know if they're worth the potential hassle, but it sounds like most places handle this smoothly. I'm definitely going to start that notebook idea to track all these discount opportunities! Between the zoo, museums, state parks, and library passes, we could have so many affordable family adventures this year. Thank you all for being so generous with sharing your knowledge and experiences. This community is amazing!

This has been such an amazing resource! I'm relatively new to CalFresh and had no idea about the Museums for All program. Reading through everyone's experiences has given me so much confidence to actually start using these discounts. The $5 admission at Fresno Chaffee Zoo sounds perfect for my family - we've been wanting to go but regular zoo prices are just too much on our current budget. I love all the practical tips everyone shared, especially about calling ahead and bringing both your EBT card and photo ID. The notebook idea is brilliant too - I'm definitely going to start keeping track of all these discount opportunities. It's so encouraging to see how supportive this community is and how normal these programs really are. One question for those who have been using these discounts longer - do you find that weekdays vs weekends make any difference in terms of staff familiarity with the programs? I'm wondering if there might be certain times when it's easier to use these discounts, especially at smaller attractions that might not process them as frequently. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences so openly. It really helps newcomers like me feel comfortable taking advantage of these programs that exist specifically to help our families!

Can i still recieve the ebt/snap discount if i go on a sunday ?

I've been using EBT discounts at various places for about a year now and wanted to address your question about weekday vs weekend timing! In my experience, weekdays tend to be a bit smoother just because the staff is usually less rushed and has more time to process the discount properly. Weekend staff, especially at busier attractions, sometimes seem less familiar with the EBT programs - not because they don't want to help, but just because they might be newer or focused on moving long lines quickly. That said, I've never been turned away on a weekend, it just might take an extra minute or two to find someone who knows the process. The $5 zoo admission works any day they're open though! For smaller museums or attractions, I'd definitely recommend weekdays if you have flexibility - the staff often has more time to chat and might even give you extra tips about other discount programs. But don't let weekend timing stop you from going - these programs are designed to work whenever you can visit!