Safari Camps

Twisted Tales

Sink your teeth (and my, what big teeth they are, too!) into this whimsical Spring Safari Camp! We’ve heard the stories and now we can explore critters from classic tales! Each day we will follow a new group of characters through their storybook adventures. Let’s get to know the featured Zoo animals and uncover the connections behind the beloved legends and lore!  

• Monday: Three Little Pigs 
• Tuesday: Goldilocks & the 3 Bears 
• Wednesday: Little Red Riding Hood 
• Thursday: Tortoise and the Hare 
• Friday: Lion and the Mouse 

GRADES 3-5

Fantastical Beasts

Unicorns, yetis and dragons, oh my! What makes our favorite mythical beasts so awe-inspiring? Discover animal myths and legends and make connections to real-life zoo animals in this fantastical camp! See a real “dragon” for yourself! Compare mythical firebirds and griffins to Denver Zoo’s lions and raptors. Each camp day we will uncover a new creature and explore where real and imaginary meet!

• Monday: Cyclops & Centaur
• Tuesday: Dragons 
• Wednesday: Bigfoot & Yeti 
• Thursday: Phoenix & Griffins 
• Friday: Unicorn & Pegasus 

• Parents/Guardians must register their own children, using their own account, to participate in Safari Camp.  Booking for other children, requiring bookings to be transferred between families/accounts, will result in a $50 transfer fee.
• Campers must be registered for the grade level they are currently in. All camp curricula are designed based on Colorado Academic Standards and NGSS with specific activities appropriate for each developmental stage.
• Campers will need to bring:
  • Sack lunch + 2 snacks
  • Backpack
  • Water bottle
  • Weather appropriate clothing and footwear

IMPORTANT: Do not check out as a guest. Please sign in or create an account to purchase camps and complete waivers and other important steps in the Camp Portal.

• Cancellation Policy: All sales are final, unless the Zoo must cancel the program.

• Accommodation Fees: With advance notice, children may be dropped off or picked up during lunchtime (12:00–1:00 p.m.) at no charge, as campers are always in a pre-defined area during the lunch hour. At other times of the day, campers may be anywhere within the 80-acre Zoo property (or on a field trip), making late arrivals and early departures complicated, resulting in an $5 accommodation fee.

Campers must turn 5 years old by October 1, 2025

Cancellation Policy: All sales are final, unless the Zoo must cancel the program.

Transfer Policy: Requests to transfer your camp spot to another family will only be considered 10 or more days in advance of the camp’s start date and will incur a transfer fee of $50. Transfers within 10 days and partial week transfers are not possible and will not be considered. To initiate a transfer request with more than 10 days advance notice, please contact guestcare@denverzoo.org
Parents/Guardians must register their own child to participate in Safari Camp and use their own Denver Zoo membership account to receive the Safari Camp early access. Registering for a camper other than your own child will result in a minimum administrative fee of $50 each to transfer registration(s) to the appropriate parent/caregiver account.

Campers must be registered for the grade level they will enter in Fall 2025. All camp curricula are designed based on Colorado Academic Standards and NGSS with specific activities appropriate for each developmental stage. Registering a camper for the wrong age/grade group will result in a dropped registration without refund or, in the rare situation where a transfer to the correct age group is available, a minimum administrative fee of $50 per transferred camp. Note, transfers are not guaranteed and rarely available.

Campers are not allowed to attend more than one camp with the same title. This prevents children from attending camp where they repeat the same curriculum and activities. Registering campers for camps with the same title will result in dropped registrations without refund or, in the rare situation where a transfer to an alternative, qualifying camp is available, a minimum administrative fee of $50 per transferred camp. Note, transfers are not guaranteed and rarely available.

Campers need to bring the following each day:
Lunch + 2 snacks: Nut-free is encouraged. Heating and refrigeration are not available.
Backpack
Water bottle
Weather appropriate clothing and footwear:
Camp issued t-shirt must be worn everyday. Campers will receive their camp shirt on Day 1. Flip flops are not recommended.

Full-Day camps are offered for children currently enrolled in Kindergarten – Grade 4. Campers who have not started Kindergarten as of Fall 2024 are not eligible to attend. Campers must be registered for the grade level they are currently in. All camp curricula are designed based on Colorado Academic Standards and NGSS with specific activities appropriate for each developmental stage.

Parents/Guardians must register their own children, using their own account, to participate in Safari Camp.  Booking for other children, requiring bookings to be transferred between families/accounts, will result in a $50 transfer fee.

Campers are not allowed to attend more than one camp with the same title. This prevents children from attending camp where they repeat the same curriculum and activities.

Campers will need to bring:

• Sack lunch + 2 snacks
• Backpack
• Water bottle
• Weather appropriate clothing and footwear

IMPORTANT: Do not check out as a guest. Please sign in or create an account to purchase camps and complete waivers and other important steps in the Camp Portal.

• Cancellation Fee: All sales are final, unless the Zoo must cancel the program.  Exceptions can be requested in the case of family medical emergencies, severe illness or for required quarantine due to COVID-19. If a transfer is requested for other reasons, and space in the desired camps is available, the change will result in a minimum administrative fee of $50. Note, transfers are not guaranteed and rarely available.
• Accommodation Fees: With advance notice, children may be dropped off or picked up during lunchtime (12:00–1:00 P.M.) at no charge, as campers are always in a pre-defined area during the lunch hour. At other times of the day, campers may be anywhere within the 80-acre Zoo property (or on a field trip), making late arrivals and early departures complicated, resulting in a $5 accommodation fee.

* All requests must be made via e-mail to safaricamps@denverzoo.org.

Portions of all fall and winter camps may take place outdoors. Please ensure your camper is prepared for outdoor exploration!

Habitat Hijinks: December 23rd
Do you think Colorado critters could settle on the island of Madagascar and swap homes with the lemurs who live there? Would island animals enjoy our mountains and plains? Explore the wild world of adaptations and how they help animals survive in the places they live and discover how they “paws” and adjust to new digs.

Too Cold to Hold: December 30th
Brrr! Remember your mittens (or fur and blubber) –you are going to need them! Chill out and discover the built-in tools some animals have for toughing it out in the coldest of conditions.

Too Hot to Handle: December 31st
Is it getting hot in here? Don’t sweat it – the animals you’ll meet in this camp can take the heat! Find out what it takes for warm weather animals to keep their cool.

Under the Sea: January 2nd
Dive in headfirst to meet animals from beneath the ocean waves! Discover how animal care specialists take care of aquatic critters and learn what you can do to help them. Will you brave the tide of this ocean-themed camp? We can’t wait to “sea!”

Roaming the Rainforest: January 3rd
Step into a wild Zoo adventure and see if you have what it takes to thrive in a rainforest. Get ready to “leaf” your worries behind as you explore tropical creatures and their amazing adaptations. Put your skills to the test to help solve a survival challenge and see if you can “branch out” and master the mysteries of the rainforest!

Full-Day camps are offered for children currently enrolled in Kindergarten – Grade 4. Campers who have not started Kindergarten as of Fall 2024 are not eligible to attend. Campers must be registered for the grade level they are currently in. All camp curricula are designed based on Colorado Academic Standards and NGSS with specific activities appropriate for each developmental stage.

Parents/Guardians must register their own children, using their own account, to participate in Safari Camp.  Booking for other children, requiring bookings to be transferred between families/accounts, will result in a $50 transfer fee.

Campers are not allowed to attend more than one camp with the same title. This prevents children from attending camp where they repeat the same curriculum and activities.

Campers will need to bring:

• Sack lunch + 2 snacks
• Backpack
• Water bottle
• Weather appropriate clothing and footwear

IMPORTANT: Do not check out as a guest. Please sign in or create an account to purchase camps and complete waivers and other important steps in the Camp Portal.

• Cancellation Fee: All sales are final, unless the Zoo must cancel the program.  Exceptions can be requested in the case of family medical emergencies, severe illness or for required quarantine due to COVID-19. If a transfer is requested for other reasons, and space in the desired camps is available, the change will result in a minimum administrative fee of $50. Note, transfers are not guaranteed and rarely available.
• Accommodation Fees: With advance notice, children may be dropped off or picked up during lunchtime (12:00–1:00 P.M.) at no charge, as campers are always in a pre-defined area during the lunch hour. At other times of the day, campers may be anywhere within the 80-acre Zoo property (or on a field trip), making late arrivals and early departures complicated, resulting in an $5 accommodation fee.

* All requests must be made via e-mail to safaricamps@denverzoo.org.