Still looking for a summer camp option? From toddlers to teens, you can give your children a unique summer camp experiences at the Bronx Zoo! Note: My son attended a winter camp at the Queens Zoo two years ago and absolutely loved it. I wish we lived closer to the Bronx Zoo to take advantage of this!
All camps are Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. except Teen Internship.
Zoo Camp experience includes:
- Age appropriate, hands-on science activities
- Up-close animal encounters
- Wildlife Theater performances (Kinderzoo and older)
- Exhibit visits
- Arts and crafts
- Camp t-shirt
- Tons of animal fun!
KinderZoo
Campers will spend the week exploring the “Animal Tales of Eric Carle”. Through games, dramatic play, sensory exploration, crafts, exhibit visits, and up-close animal encounters, stories such as “The Tiny Seed”, “The Foolish Tortoise”, and “The Very Busy Spider” will come alive and help campers discover that every creature has an important job in nature.
Ages: 4 – 5 year olds
Dates: June 16 – 20, June 23 – 27, July 7 – 11, July 28 – August 1, August 4 – 8, August 25 – 29
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Fee: $400 members; $425 non members
Week of Wildlife
You can book up to two weeks of Week of Wildlife for your camper! Each letter designates the curriculum used for the week of camp.
Session A: Earth, Fire, Wind, Water, Heart. Go Planet! Bronx Zoo campers…they are heroes. They’re going to take pollution down to zero! Come to ZOOper hero camp to learn about the five elements and why they are important to animals, plants and you!
Session B: Campers will become “Zoo Detectives” to collect evidence and solve a new scientific question. Camp includes exhibit visits, live animal encounters, group activities, crafts and hands-on scientific demonstrations and experiments.
Ages: 6 – 7 year olds
Dates: June 16-20 (A), June 23-27 (B), July 14-18 (A), July 21-25 (B), August 11-15 (A), August 18-22 (B)
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Fee: $400 members; $425 non members
You can book up to two weeks of Week of Wildlife for your camper! Each letter designates the curriculum used for the week of camp.
Zoo Explorers
Campers will learn how the Wildlife Conservation Society works to Save Wildlife throughout the world using research, getting people involved and protecting wild places. Campers will visit the amazing exhibits like the Congo Gorilla Forest, Butterfly Garden and Jungle World, as well as ride the Wild Asia Monorail! Games, activities, visits from wild animal guests and a special Wildlife Theater performance all await your camper in this one of a kind exciting week-long adventure that culminates with campers educating the public at a special Conservation Station!
Ages: 8 – 10 year olds
Dates: July 7 – 11, July 14 – 18, August 11 – 15, August 25 – 29
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Fee: $400 members; $425 non members
Junior Scientists
Awake the scientist inside of you this summer! The word “scientist” can mean so many different things, especially at the Bronx Zoo. Campers will explore the world of the scientists at the Bronx Zoo, as well as our Global scientists around the world! This week of cam includes exhibit visits, animal encounters, hands-on science experiments and an insider’s look at the life of some scientists who are changing the future for wildlife and wild places. Discover if you have what it takes to be the next conservation leader!
Ages: 11 – 12 year olds
Dates: July 21-25
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Fee: $400 members; $425 non members
Teen Internship
The Summer Teen Internship program has undergone some very extensive and positive changes that will interest and challenge teens of all ages.
The three week program will help teens answer the following questions:
1. How did the idea of the modern zoo come to fruition?
2. What role do zoos play in today’s society?
3. Where will zoo institutions go from here?
This year, teens will:
- Engage in various forms of technology made available by a recent working partnership between Encyclopedia of Life and the Wildlife Conservation Society
- Take trips to the New York Botanical Garden to help teens identify the dynamics between flora and fauna within the web of life
- Learn about the “evolution of evolution”
- Construct electronic field guides with the help of EOL’s iNaturalist and Ecosystem Explorer software
- Develop futuristic models for zoo exhibits using Google Sketch-up!
- And last but not least, participants will get to experience what it’s like to be a zoo keeper by helping to complete various animal care-related tasks at select exhibit sites around the Bronx Zoo campus.
This summer’s program has a little bit for everyone, and much more!
Ages: 13 – 17 year olds
Dates:
June 30-July 18 (3-week internship, Monday – Friday) NO PROGRAM ON JULY 4TH
August 11-29 (3-week internship, Monday – Friday)
Time: 1st week – 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
2nd and 3rd weeks 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Fee: $1800 members; $2000 non members
Have some questions about the camp options at the Bronx Zoo?
Special Code:
The Bronx Zoo Summer Camp still has available spots in the Kinderzoo and Week of Wildlife Camps. Participants will receive $50 off the regular registration price by using promo code CampDiscount14. Register today by clicking here!
What’s different about Zoo Camp this year?
This year, camp will separate campers into age appropriate groups to provide stronger curriculum, have a smaller camper to counselor ratio, include a special camp t-shirt, provide a special Wildlife Theater performance (Kinderzoo and older).
What will my child do all day at Zoo Camp?
Zoo Camp is full of fun! Your child will be introduced to the world of animals and science. Zoo Camp has age- themed programs including games, up-close animal encounters, hands-on science, along with crafts and songs. Since your camper doesn’t tell you everything, we’ll also distribute a parent letter on the first day that will go over the focus of each day, what exhibits we visit, what animals we met and some questions to test your camper’s knowledge.
Who is this camp for?
Zoo Camp is perfect for youth who have an interest, love or passion for animals and science. We offer a variety of activities that connect campers to nature, but it’s great when our participants come to us with an initial interest in animals since we are Zoo Camp!
How much interaction do campers have with animals?
Each day the campers will experience a close encounter with an animal from our education animal collection. Other special activities might include seeing an exhibit animal up-close for feeding, enrichment or training sessions. They will not be allowed to hold any animals but will have the chance to touch some of our creatures. The Teen Internship programs include a variety of behind the scenes components and opportunities to connect with animal keepers.
What is the counselor to camper ratio?
The counselor to camper ratio varies with age and registration. Our average group size is around seven campers to one counselor. For Kinderzoo, we have a ratio of 6 campers to 1 counselor, while Zoo Explorer has a ratio of 8 campers to 1 counselor. Each group also has volunteers who help supervise campers.
Will you be outside all day?
Many of our activities include outside time. Please make sure your camper is wearing sunscreen. Counselors are not allowed to apply sunscreen, so please make sure you put it on your camper each morning. It is also a good idea to send your camper with a full, reusable water bottle. We make routine stops at the water fountains, but it does get hot during the summer and your child will be running around outside for most of the day.
What if my child has special needs?
If you child has special needs (dietary, allergy, behavioral, physical, etc.) please notify us in advance by calling 718-220-5132 . We want your child to have the best camp experience possible and can only do this if we know the unique needs of your child!
I am a member of the Zoo Crew. I get a family membership in return for posting and visiting the WCS Zoos.
I tried using the coupon code for the Summer Camp and it didn’t work…. ;0(
I’ll check with the zoo and email you this week.