Day Camps
The Adventure Starts June 7th!
Send your wild child to the wildest camp in town – ZOO CAMP! Campers ages 3 to 14 will explore the fascinating world of animals and plants with professionally trained staff. Each day’s hands-on activities will capture your child’s imagination through live animal encounters, educational games, behind-the-scenes tours, crafts, songs, Zoo walks and more!
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2006 Palmetto Parent Family Choice Award
Best Summer Camp
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Camp weeks are available from June 7 to August 13. Space is limited. Register for your favorite Zoo Camp today!
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| + Sprout Camp (ages 3–4 with an adult) |
Time: 9:30am–11:30am, Tuesday–Thursday
Cost: $84 members; $114 general public
*Meets at Riverbanks Botanical Garden* |
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| This summer, little sprouts will plant seeds, discover the parts of a plant, and explore a growing vegetable garden. This hands-on camp for 3 and 4 year olds with a parent is a great way to learn about the wonders of nature. Kids will use their curiosity and imagination to guide them through the critters underground, growing flowers, pollinating insects, and harvesting fruit and vegetables. Each day will consist of garden hunts, games, explorations, art projects and stories as little ones discover the joys of gardening. Sprout camp is perfect to nurture those budding naturalists! |
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| + KinderCamp (ages 4–5) |
Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm, Monday–Friday
Cost: $120 members; $190 general public
EARLY Extended Stay and Play is available for the week from 7:45am–8:30am for $25.
LATE Extended Stay and Play is not available for this age group. |
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| Sometimes what’s on the outside is truly what matters most. Penguins don’t need shells to survive, and turtles would look strange with feathers. Preschoolers will discover the wonder and importance of different animal coverings. |
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| + Wild Weeks (ages 6–11) |
Time: 9:00am – 3:00pm, Monday–Friday
Cost: $185 members; $255 general public
EARLY and LATE Extended Stay and Play is available for the week from 7:45am–8:30am and 3:00pm to 5:00pm for $75. |
| Why do all living things need food? What is a food chain? Which animals are predators or prey, herbivores or carnivores, scavengers or decomposers? Join the quest to uncover how all living things connect in the great web of life. |
| From Galapagos to Madagascar to Australia, islands are truly strange yet amazing places. Campers will have opportunities to learn how islands are created as well as identify some of the unique creatures that inhabit them. Beware! You just might catch the fever about these mysterious places. |
| Animals do some weird, creepy and completely yucky stuff. Owls regurgitate their food, vampire bats drink blood, and koala moms feed their joeys poop! Spend the week with us investigating how being gross can be good for survival. |
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| + Adventure Camp (ages 12–14) |
Time: 9:00am – 3:00pm, Monday–Friday
Cost: $260 members; $330 general public
EARLY and LATE Extended Stay and Play is available for the week from 7:45am– 8:30am and 3:00pm to 5:00pm for $75. |
| Have you ever wondered why animals need toys, training and treats? In the zoo world, it is called animal enrichment! Campers will have the unique opportunity to assist the Riverbanks Enrichment Committee as they create, observe, and evaluate various types of animal enrichment around the Zoo. There will also be an opportunity for campers to enjoy some enrichment for themselves as we spend part of the week off-site studying enrichment at other nearby locales. |
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The same programs for each age level are repeated throughout the summer Monday-Friday (Tuesday-Thursday for Sprout Camps) from June 7 to August 13, so campers should only sign up for one week out of the summer. |
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T-Shirts – Each child will receive one complimentary T-shirt the first day of camp. We ask that campers wear their T-shirts each day of camp. Additional T-shirts can be purchased online or on Monday from camp staff for $15. |
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Sign In/Sign Out – Parents or guardians must sign in/out when students are dropped off and picked up (absolutely no exceptions). Students will NOT be released to anyone other than adults authorized to pick up on the consent form. Photo ID is required to pick up. |
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Drop Off – Morning drop off for all campers (excluding Sprout Camp) is held at the Zoo entrance gate from 8:30am to 9:00am. Sprout Camp meets in the Garden; parents are welcome to drop off older campers on the Zoo side at 9:00am and ride the tram to the Garden for this program. |
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Pick Up – Afternoon pick up for camp is held at the Zoo’s entrance gate. KinderCamp pick up is at 12:00pm; Wild Weeks and Adventure Camp is at 3:00pm and Extended Stay is at 5:00pm. |
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Cancellations – Cancellations must be submitted in writing no later than two weeks prior to camp date to receive a refund minus a $30 processing fee. No refunds will be given for cancellations within 2 weeks of camp date. |
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Late Pick up fee – There will be a late pick up charge of $10 for EVERY five minutes you are late picking up your child (after 12:15pm for KinderCamp; after 3:15pm for Wild Weeks & Adventure Camp; after 5:15pm for Extended Stay). |
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Warm Weather – Camp does involve daily outdoor activities, as well as indoor activities, so please be sure to encourage your camper to drink fluids while they are at camp. Counselors will provide multiple reminders as well as opportunities to drink and fill water bottles each day. |
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Consent Form – Please fill out a medical consent and release form for each child attending summer camp and return by mail two weeks prior to the first day of camp. A link to download the medical consent form can be found in your confirmation email upon registration or download*(*requires Adobe Reader). |
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Grouping campers – If you are requesting the same week and group placement as other families, please make a note on your medical consent form and return it two weeks prior to the start of camp.
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Snack |
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Lunch (not needed for KinderCamp or Sprout Camp)
*Lunches and snacks must be non-microwavable and non-refrigerated. |
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Filled water bottle – We recommend sending two if possible, one frozen and one unfrozen. |
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Sunscreen & Bug Spray – Please apply before sign-in; counselors cannot apply. |
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Camp T-shirt and weather appropriate clothes – including a rain jacket or poncho. |
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Appropriate foot-wear – Please no open-toed shoes, flip flops or sandals. |
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Money for food or gift shop |
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Car Seats – The Zoo does not have space to store car seats during camp. |
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Any Electronics (Including hand-held video games, cell phones, Ipods/MP3 players, CD players, etc.) |
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Personal toys, stuffed animals or trading cards |
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Food for campers to share with classmates – Some of our campers have special dietary needs and allergies. All birthday cake, cupcakes or other food requests for camp must be submitted on the first day of camp (Monday), approved by the Camp Director and written permission received from individual parents/guardians prior to bringing items in for the class. |
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