Happy, Healthy Zoo
Kindergarten-1st Grade
Camp Description
Animals at the Zoo have fun in many ways! We take play seriously, and need your camper to help create new forms of engagement for animals and humans alike!
December 30th: Day 1 Overview
**Schedule Subject to Change. Ask your camper the questions below to learn about their day!
Question of the Day
How do we encourage a king cobra to eat his dinner when he does not feel well?
Zoo Exploration
Tropical Discovery. Look for clues about snakes, skin shedding, food they might eat, and check to see if they are feeling well. What did we see? What types of care do snakes need?
Engineering Challenge
Campers design and build something that will help a snack eat even though it isn’t feeling well. What did we build? Was this similar to what Zoo vets do?
Animal Experience
What animal(s) did we meet in our classroom? What kind of food does this animal eat and how do the keepers p
Further Exploration
What areas of the zoo did we explore in the afternoon? How did this help us better understand/apply the Question of the Day?
Taking It Home
What do snakes need that pets at home also need? How would you help a pet at home eat when they are not feeling well?
December 31st: Day 2 Overview
**Schedule Subject to Change. Ask your camper the questions below to learn about their day!
Question of the Day
AM: Can you design something that will keep an elephant’s trunk still while keepers check it? PM: What other animals would benefit from this?
Zoo Exploration
Toyota Elephant Passage. Look for clues in the elephant parlor. What are trunks for? What does Denver Zoo already use to help elephants? What did we see?
Animal Experience
What animal(s) did we meet in our classroom? What medical care might this animal need? How is that the same or different than an elephant?
Engineering Challenge
Campers build something to keep an elephant’s trunk still for check-ups! How will this help both vets and elephants?
Further Exploration
What areas of the zoo did we explore in the afternoon? Who did we see? How did this help us better understand/apply the Question of the Day?
Taking It Home
What can you teach your friends and family about giving an elephant a check-up? How is it different from YOUR check-ups?
January 2nd: Day 3 Overview
**Schedule Subject to Change. Ask your camper the questions below to learn about their day!
Question of the Day
AM: How can the climate in Denver affect penguins and other animals? PM: How are the solutions for penguins similar or different from other animals (and you)?
Zoo Exploration
African and Humboldt Penguins. Compare Rhinos and Elephants. How does the climate/season affect the penguins? What is challenging for the penguins?
Animal Experience
What animal(s) did we meet in our classroom? How can weather affect this animal?
Engineering Challenge
Campers come up with solutions to keep water in best. What solutions did we come up with? What made us think of these solutions? How did we test our ideas?
Further Exploration
While out in the zoo, do other animals have similar challenges to the penguins? Why or why not? What are biofacts, how did we use them, and what did we learn from them?
Taking It Home
How can climates affect pets at home? How can we keep pets at home happy and healthy in different climates/seasons?
January 3rd: Day 4 Overview
**Schedule Subject to Change. Ask your camper the questions below to learn about their day!
Question of the Day
AM: How can we keep flies away from Rain, Puddle, and Drizzle? PM: Can this solution be used for other animals at the Zoo?
Zoo Exploration
Cape buffalo, rhinos, hippo. What attracts flies to these animals? Are the flies good or bad? How do we know?
Game
Bubble Flies!
Animal Experience
What animal(s) did we meet in our classroom? How was each animal we met different? Which one did we like the best?
Engineering Challenge
Campers design a method for keeping flies away from Rain, Puddle, and Drizzle. What solution did we choose and why?
Further Exploration
What areas of the zoo did we explore in the afternoon? How did this help us better understand/apply the Question of the Day?
Taking It Home
What did we learn about animal care? Why is it important to keep flies away from our animals?
Reminders
- Please review IMPORTANT INFORMATION, as well as our Policies and Procedures, to ensure you and your child are ready for camp.
- Campers must bring a lunch, water bottle, and dress for the weather (plus lots of walking!). As most animal exhibits are outside, we WILL go outside every day.
- A photo ID is required every day at pick up. Please notify the staff ahead of time if someone who is not on the authorized pick-up list will be picking up your child.
- To contact us during the day, add authorized pick-ups, or to arrange a late arrival/early pick-up, call the Guest Care Center at 720-337-1400.
Contact Us
If your camper liked Summer Safari, they will LOVE Fall, Winter, and Spring Safari Mini-Camps! When school is out, Safari Camp is in! These camps run from November through March. There’s a Safari for every season!
