Zoo Engineers

Kindergarten and 1st Grade

Camp Description

Home is where the hooves are. If every animal has a habitat, how do zookeepers care for animals to make sure they each get what they need? Take a closer look at the enclosures of our favorite animal residents to discover how we’ve designed their homes to meet their specific adaptations and individual needs. How would you do it differently? We’ll still have to ensure the animals get everything they require to be healthy and thrive, so put on your zoo engineer hat if you’re up to the challenge!

Week Overview

**Ask your camper the questions below to learn about their day!

 

Monday

• Question of the Day:
  • AM: What does an animal need to survive?
  • PM: How can adaptations guide us in how to build a habitat? 
• Zoo Exploration: Gerenuk, Cape Buffalo, African Wild Dogs, Humboldt Penguins, Flamingos, Condors, Eagle
  
• Animal Experience: Who did I meet today?
• Engineering Challenge: 
  • Campers design an exhibit for their favorite animal’s adaptations
  • What did you design? Which animal did you make a habitat for?
• Further Exploration: Kangaroos, Emu, Addaxes, Hippo, and Black Rhino

Tuesday

• Question of the Day:
  • AM: What can we add to an enclosure to keep animals happy?
  • PM: What does Tonks need in her home to be happy? 
• Zoo Exploration: African Penguins, Lions, Hyenas. Focus on enrichment!
• Animal Experience: Who did I meet today?
• Engineering Challenge:
  • Campers design enrichment that can be added to their exhibit from yesterday. What did you design?
• Biofact Exploration: What are biofacts? What did we see today?

Wednesday

• Question of the Day:
  • AM: How do different species share the same space in some exhibits?
  • PM: How do Bodhi, Tensing, and Vinh share the same space?  How is that different from the other animals that share space? 
• Zoo Exploration: Animals that share enclosures – gerenuks/cranes, kangaroo/Emus, giraffes and Zebras, P-horses and Camels
  
• Animal Experience: Who did I meet today?
• Engineering Challenge:
  • Campers add to their exhibit by designing a way for their animal to share its space with another animal
  • What did you design? Which additional animal did you choose?
• Further Exploration: Toyota Elephant Passage – focus on rotating exhibit space and sharing enclosures

Thursday

• Question of the Day:
  • How can an animal’s personal challenges (young, old, different physical capabilities) guide us in how to build a habitat? 
• Zoo Exploration: African Wild Dogs, Joona, Giraffes, the Edge, harmony Hill, Predator Ridge
  
• Animal Experience: Who did I meet today?
• Engineering Challenge:
  • Campers adjust their exhibit for an animal with “challenges”
  • What did you create? How did it help your animal with challenges?

Friday

• Question of the Day:
  • Can you redesign your room so that you and a boa constrictor could share it? 
• Zoo Exploration: Tropical Discovery, Northern shore
• Engineering Challenge:
  • Campers use the knowledge gained all week to re-design their room so a boa constrictor could share it with them!
  • How did you adjust your room?
• Biofact Exploration: What are biofacts? What did we see today?

Reminders

• Camp runs in rain or shine. Make sure your camper is dressed for the weather.
• Campers are required to bring:
  • Backpack
  • Sack lunch + 2 snacks
  • Water bottle
• Please note the day your child’s camp group will take a walking field trip to the City Park H20 Odyssey Fountains. While playing in the fountains, campers must keep their camp shirt and pants/shorts on – quick dry shoes and shorts are recommended on this day, but not required. Campers are welcome to bring a change of clothes, but are usually dry by the time we return to the zoo.
• Drop-off and Pick-up occurs at the Special Programs Entrance (Gate 1), according to their designated time window. 
  • Drop-off:
    • 8:45-9:00 AM – 6-8th Grade + 2-3rd Grade 
    • 9:00-9:15 AM – 4-5th Grade + K-1st Grade 
  • Pick-up:
    • 3:45-4:00 PM — 6-8th Grade + 2-3rd Grade 
    • 4:00-4:15 PM – 4-5th Grade + K-1st Grade 
• You will need to bring an ID every day for pick-up.

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!

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