These programs are designed especially to meet the needs of four and five year olds as they continue to discover the excitement and wonder of animals. Visits from animal friends, hikes in the Zoo, and crafts make this learning experience a time to remember.

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN
Discover how animals can keep from being caught. Discover their secrets while we take a journey deep into the animal kingdom. We will search the globe for these amazing animals, without ever leaving the Cincinnati Zoo. Each day, we will play interactive games, explore the Zoo and encounter animals up close and personal. During the week, you may “catch” your camper feeding the giraffes and lorikeets, riding the train and carousel, or enjoying a movie at the Zoo’s 4-D Special FX Theater.

Dates:
Session A: June 2-6
Session B: June 9-13
Session C: June 16-20
Session D: June 30-July 4
Session E: July 7-11
Session F: July 14-18
Session G: July 21-25
Session H: August 4-8
Session I: August 11-15

All sessions meet
9 am-4 pm

These programs are designed especially to meet the needs of six and seven year olds as they continue to discover the excitement and wonder of animals. Visits from animal friends, hikes in the Zoo, and crafts make this learning experience a time to remember.

SPECTACULAR ANIMAL SUPERHEROES
Did you know there is a bird that can fly at speeds of 200 mph? Animals can be out of this world when it comes to their super adaptations. Some can even leap 12 feet high with a single bound! Come to summer camp and discover these animals and their incredible super-powers. Each day, we will look at a superhero, and then see if our Zoo animals can measure up to their spectacular abilities. The camp will include Zoo hikes, games and up close live animal encounters. Campers will see the super long tongue of a giraffe and the super flying abilities of a lorikeet during giraffe and lorikeet feedings, have a spectacular view of the Zoo on a train and carousel ride, and experience amazing 3-D vision during a movie at the Zoo’s 4-D Special FX Theater.

Dates:
Session A: June 9-13
Session B: June 16-20
Session C: June 30-July 4
Session D: July 7-11
Session E: July 14-18
Session F: July 21-25
Session G: August 4-8
Session H: August 11-15

All sessions meet
9 am-4 pm

Exploring, experiencing, and discovering are activities for these programs for eight to eleven year olds. Designed to foster your child’s excitement in animals, the program combines live animal encounters with age-appropriate activities and learning opportunities.

ANIMAL BEHAVIOR 101
A Wild Research Program*

Getting to know an animal in the wild or a Zoo can give scientists insight into their nature and habits. During this week-long camp, we’ll focus on learning the basics of animal observation and then use inquiry to investigate questions that come up. You may be surprised by the answers you discover. Participants will even get to witness feeding behavior first-hand when they give the lorikeets and giraffe a snack. We’ll also reward their stellar behavior with a 4-D Special FX Theater experience.

* An NSF funded initiative to deepen public engagement in science and conservation.

Dates:
Session A: June 9-13
Session B: June 16-20
Session C: June 30-July 4
Session D: July 7-11
Session E: July 14-18
Session F: July 21-25
Session G: August 4-8
Session H: August 11-15

All sessions meet
9 am-4 pm

Hands-on exploration and discovery are crucial elements of these programs for 12-14 year olds. Designed to provide more in-depth investigation into topics on nature and wildlife, these programs combine live animal encounters with Zoo hikes and other topic-appropriate activities.

NATURE Quest
A Wild Research Program*

In this inquiry-based camp, participants will get up close and personal with some Zoo wildlife and have the opportunity to investigate questions about nature and animals. Then, together, we’ll use all the Zoo’s resources to discover answers to our questions and then share what we find with our friends and family. Lorikeet and giraffe feedings and a trip to the Zoo’s 4-D Special FX Theater will round out this learning adventure.

* An NSF funded initiative to deepen public engagement in science and conservation.

Dates:
Session A: July 7-11
Session B: July 14-18
Session C: July 21-25
Session D: August 4-8
Session E: August 11-15

All sessions meet
9 am-4 pm

These programs are designed especially to meet the needs of four and five year olds as they continue to discover the excitement and wonder of animals. Visits from animal friends, hikes in the Zoo, and crafts make this learning experience a time to remember.

SENSATIONAL SENSES
Can you talk like an elephant or taste with your feet like a butterfly? Explore what sensory adaptations animals have and how these adaptations help them survive. We’ll spend the week looking at our five senses and seeing how they compare to other animals’ through interactive games, crafts, and hikes in the Zoo. We’ll also test our senses of sight, sound and smell on a train ride and while feeding the lorikeets at Lorikeet Landing.

Dates:
Session A: June 2-6
Session B: June 23-27
Session C: July 28-August 1

All sessions meet
9am - Noon

These programs are designed especially to meet the needs of six and seven year olds as they continue to discover the excitement and wonder of animals. Visits from animal friends, hikes in the Zoo, and crafts make this learning experience a time to remember.

GROWING UP
What do polliwogs, cubs, and owlets have in common? They’re all babies! Spend a week learning how animals change and grow from the time they’re born until they reach adulthood. Each day is packed with activities to help discover how insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals grow. Create animal art, tour the Zoo, meet live animals up close, and play some fun animal games in this exciting week at the Zoo. During the week, campers will have the opportunity to ride the train and feed the lorikeets at Lorikeet Landing.

Dates:
Session A: June 23-27
Session B: July 28-August 1

All sessions meet
9am - Noon

Exploring, experiencing, and discovering are activities for these programs for eight to eleven year olds. Designed to foster your child’s excitement in animals, the program combines live animal encounters with age-appropriate activities and learning opportunities.

ZSI - ZOO SCENE INVESTIGATORS
Footprints... teeth marks... broken branches... and scat? What can these clues tell us about the biology of wildlife and the events that occurred at the scene? Discover ways to study the evidence that animals leave behind as well as learn about ways that Zoo scientists are using science to help conserve wildlife. Hikes in the Zoo, visits with animal ambassadors, and interactive games and crafts will set the scene for this investigative Zoo
camp! At the end of the week, your “sleuths” will be rewarded with a carousel ride and a chance to feed the lorikeets at Lorikeet Landing.

Dates:
Session A: June 23-27
Session B: July 28-August 1

All sessions meet
9am - Noon

Hands-on exploration and discovery are crucial elements of these programs for 12-14 year olds. Designed to provide more in-depth investigation into topics on nature and wildlife, these programs combine live animal encounters with Zoo hikes and other topic-appropriate activities.

EXPLORING BIODIVERSITY AT THE ZOO
This program will explore the ins and outs of biodiversity from a zoologist’s point of view! We’ll start with an overnight camp-out in the Manatee Springs exhibit, including behind-the-scenes tours, guided activities, and discussions. We’ll continue each morning for the rest of the week with tours and activities that explore biodiversity, meetings with special Zoo staff, and up-close encounters with some Zoo animals, including an opportunity to feed the lorikeets at Lorikeet Landing.

Dates:
Session A: June 16-20
Session B: June 23-27
Session C: June 30-July 4
Session D: July 28-August 1

All sessions meet 7 pm Monday through Noon on Tuesday, then Wednesday-Friday, 9 am-Noon