New Nanny Policy at the Detroit Zoo

A look at the new nanny policy/membership at the Detroit Zoo and how it may affect your zoo outings this year!

Spring has sprung~ and if you’re like most nannies in the metro Detroit area, you’re looking forward to lots of upcoming trips to the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak! In fact, if you and your charges are available, join us for a zoo visit on Monday, April 5. (Check our events page for information).

As you may have heard, the Detroit Zoo recently changed its membership policy regarding nannies. Previously, a nanny or caregiver could get into the zoo on the family’s membership, as long as the nanny/caregiver had a note from the membership holder giving her/him permission and a photo ID. This is no longer the policy.

Families who intend to allow a nanny/caregiver to enter the zoo on the family membership must now purchase a “Nanny/Caregiver Add On” membership for $25, in addition to their family membership. These add on memberships cannot be purchased alone, they MUST be purchased as a rider to another membership package.

I have to admit, I’ve always given a big mental “Thumbs Up” to the Detroit Zoo for their nanny policy. Allowing a nanny to enter on her employer’s membership…kids in tow…with permission and verification of identity seemed pretty fair to me. It allows my charges the same freedom as children who have a stay at home parent: to go to the zoo whenever we want on a paid membership, and it allowed us this with no additional cost penalty to my employers just because they are both employed parents.

The new “Nanny/Caregiver Add On” left me with several questions, not the least of which was “Why?” I recently called the zoo to get the answer and to find out more on how the policy change will affect nannies, caregivers, and families.

The big question: Why the change in policy? As all of us in the metro area are aware, the Detroit Zoo almost closed recently due to funding issues. According to the representative I spoke with, the zoo considered several factors in adding this new cost and the primary reason was fundraising. The “gate take” is their largest source of revenue and when they looked at the high number of people coming into the zoo as nannies/caregivers they saw an opportunity to raise money to help keep the zoo afloat and running. While I, personally, might not like this logic, I can see their point. If they are going to start charging for the nannies, this actually seems like a reasonably fair way to do it when you consider that the other options are far more expensive. And what are those other options?
* Nanny paying admission/parking each zoo visit. Admission is $11, parking is $5. This means $16 per visit. The Add On membership is $25, so it pays for itself in two visits. I don’t know about you, but we hit the zoo pretty often during decent weather months, probably 10-12 times during the season. That’s a pretty big price difference!
* Family purchasing a “Supporter” level membership, which allows them two additional guests per zoo visit. A Family Membership with the add on will cost $94 - $104 per year, depending on the county of residence. A Supporter level membership (without the add on) will cost $140 - $150. Now, it’s been a long time since I’ve had to take a math class, but I’m pretty sure that $104 is still cheaper than $140.
* Not going to the zoo. Well, this might be cheaper but for me and my charges this is an unacceptable option!

I was also told that the zoo found many abuses in the previous policy, including arguments at the gates and people trying to get friends in for free as “nannies” who were not nannies. (ex. Two parents come with child and insist that the other adult with them is their nanny. The policy was intended to allow nannies to come in place of parents, not to allow free visitors in on a membership that does not include that option.) Much of this was due to poor regulation, they admit, but it was a hard policy to regulate.

How the Nanny/Caregiver Add On works and how it affects us

*Families with existing memberships are required to add the nanny/caregiver option as of March 1, 2010. Some nannies may have luck still using the note one time per membership, but don’t count on this luck lasting for long. Be prepared to pay to get in if you choose to test your luck.

*The price will not be prorated to accommodate Family Memberships that still have several months left on them before expiration. The add on must be purchased now at full price. When it comes time for membership renewal, the full price will be assessed again for families wishing to keep the add on.

*Families are required to name the nanny/caregiver when purchasing the add on. A family can name up to three nannies/caregivers per membership (a bonus for families who employ more than one!). Nanny/Caregiver will be required to show photo ID along with the membership card at the gate.

*Nanny/Caregiver name will not appear on membership cards, but the card will indicate that the add on has been purchased. The name will, however, be in the computer system and come up when the membership card is scanned.

*Nannies entering on the Family Membership w/Add On cannot enter alone. They must have the children (or at least one child) with them. In other words, this cannot be used in lieu of an Individual Membership. And take note: the zoo will now be adding the children’s names to the Family Memberships to prevent people from trying to sneak in additional children. If your employing family has a current membership, they will be asked to provide the children’s names upon renewal of the membership.

*Zoo memberships do have reciprocity with other zoos. However, each zoo has its own policy regarding nannies/caregivers and one zoo may not recognize or follow the policy of the Detroit Zoo. Thus, if you are planning on using the Family Membership to take your charges to one of the reciprocating zoos, please be sure to contact that zoo prior to your trip to see how, exactly, they will or will not honor the Nanny/Caregiver Add On.

Whether or not any of us like or agree with the policy changes, I think most of us agree that the Detroit Zoo is well worth the trip. I know my charges can’t wait to feed the giraffes again this year!

What’s your favorite part of the zoo?