Provide the perfect adventure for your young animal fanatic! Camps feature animal experiences, zoo expeditions, and hands-on, camper-driven exploration. Escape the ordinary - go WILD with Safari Camp at Denver Zoo.
Registration begins Tuesday, March 9 at 8:00 A.M. for Denver Zoo Members. Non-Member registration will begin Wednesday, March 10 at 8:00 A.M.
Due to exceptional demand for summer camps, all visitors to the Denver Zoo website will be placed in a virtual queue and will be released into our website based on their place in line.
Camp registration is only available on the Denver Zoo website. Phone registration is not available.
Costs
Members
- 5-day Camps - $275
- 4-day Camps (June 1-4, July 6-9) - $220
- 8th Grade 'Animal Care 101' Camp - $365
Non-Members
- 5-day Camps - $300
- 4-day Camps (June 1-4, July 6-9) - $240
- 8th Grade 'Animal Care 101' Camp - $400
Service and Accommodation Fees
- Cancellation Fee: Registrations canceled or rescheduled for reasons unrelated to changing state or municipality health guidelines for COVID-19, at least 15 business days before the date of camp, incur fees of $50 each). **Within 14 business days, all sales are final.
- Late Arrival/Early Pick Up: $5 per child per camp
* All cancellations and transfers must be made via e-mail to Denver Zoo’s Guest Care Center at guestcare@denverzoo.org
Dates & Times
Running Weekly: June 1 - August 6
Camps run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Due to operating restrictions at this time, we are not able to offer Early or Late Care.
Important Information
• Important Information PDF (coming soon)
Medication Administration Permission Form
If your child requires emergency, prescription, or over-the-counter medication during camp, a parent/guardian and the child’s physician must complete and submit a Medication Administration Permission Form two weeks prior to your child’s first day of camp. Any medication for a chronic illness such as asthma, allergies, or diabetes must be accompanied by a Care Plan written and signed by the child’s physician. Upon review of your camper’s forms, it may be necessary to meet with the parent/guardian to develop a Health Plan.
Accommodations for Special Needs
Campers of all abilities are welcome to register for camp. In order to meet our goal of setting all campers up for success, we ask that you please contact us if your child has any special needs of which we should be aware. We are more than happy to discuss all options available. If your child needs to attend camp with his/her full-time care provider, special arrangements can be made, but must be scheduled several weeks in advance for security purposes. After undergoing a background check, the adult caregiver may attend at no charge.
ACCESS TO AWE SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Scholarships are available through Denver Zoo’s Access to Awe Scholarship Fund. Please apply for financial assistance when registering online.
Scholarships will only be awarded for one week of camp per child.
CONTACT US
Questions or concerns? Contact our Guest Care Center at 720-337-1400 or e-mail guestcare@denverzoo.org.
Program Information
Weekly Programs For Kindergarten Through 8th Grade
Kindergarten and 1st Grade
**campers must turn 5 years old by October 15th, 2021
My Wild Home
Explore the diverse places that animals and people call "home.” Travel to plains, mountains, rainforest, desert, and ocean all without leaving Denver Zoo! Discover where children from other cultures live, learn, and play, and how we are connected to the animals who share these far-away places.
My Animal Planet
There’s no need to trek across the planet when the coolest animals call Denver Zoo home! You’re the scientist. Take an imaginary trip around the world to explore how animals survive, thrive, and what makes them unique.
Nature Play the Zoo Way
Your camper will have an unbe-LEAF-able week connecting with animals and the natural world in Denver Zoo’s nature play camp! Young explorers will engage their sense of wonder and discovery as they literally dig into nature on the Zofnass Barclay Family Nature Play Trail; climb under bushes, find bugs, balance on stumps, and get their hands dirty. This camp is sure to ROCK – come play with us!
2nd and 3rd Grade
Animal Olympics
Who’ll come out on top in this year’s Animal Olympics? Will it be an elephant by a nose? In these games, we’ll examine habitats and adaptations to discover why some animals thrive when others can’t compete. No doubts about it - this camp is a winner!
Animal Expeditions
Pack your bags for a zoo-wide expedition! Follow the map to diverse ecosystems, cultures, and animals from around the world. What wonders might you discover?
Nature Play the Zoo Way
Your camper will have an unbe-LEAF-able week connecting with animals and the natural world in Denver Zoo’s nature play camp! Young explorers will engage their sense of wonder and discovery as they literally dig into nature on the Zofnass Barclay Family Nature Play Trail; climb under bushes, find bugs, balance on stumps, and get their hands dirty. This camp is sure to ROCK – come play with us!
4th and 5th Grade
World Wildlife Investigators
The game’s afoot…or a-hoof! Hot on the Denver Zoo trail, campers will conduct their own investigations to get to the bottom of these real animal mysteries. Gather evidence by observing creatures from around the globe and uncovering the connections they have with each other. Can you crack the case?
6th through 8th Grade
So You Want to Work at a Zoo
Does your camper dream of one day working in a zoo? There are a plethora of opportunities, but where to begin? From animal care and horticulture to field conservation and education, the roles at Denver Zoo are as diverse as the more than 3,500 animals we care for. Explore some of the many careers that work towards saving wildlife every day.
Animal Care 101: 8th Grade Only (July 12-16)
In this special week of camp, students entering 8th grade will interact directly with Denver Zoo’s animal care staff. Our team of Animal Ambassador zookeepers will teach campers the ins and outs of how they care for and train (small) animals. Campers will discover how keepers set goals for their animals, and how to create fun enrichment that helps our animals show off their impressive, natural behaviors. If your soon-to-be 8th-grader is hoping to work at a zoo some day, this camp will demonstrate what it’s all about!
Registration Information
Step 1 of Registration: Purchase a spot for your camper in the week and camp title of your choosing. No camper details will be filled out at this time.
- Members must log-in with their email on record that is associated with their membership to receive the discount. Click here to login, request password, or complete a membership look up. **Insider tip: log in to your account prior to registration opening to make sure you see your name, membership category, and expiration date in the upper right corner.
- Have a major credit card on hand and ready to go. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and AMEX.
- Complete your purchase. This step reserves your camper's spot.
- Step 2 must be complete prior to camp date.
Step 2 of Registration: After purchasing a camp, click HERE to fill out general questions about your camper(s), including a brief medical history, sign waivers, etc. Campers cannot attend camp until this step is complete!
Have the following information available for this step in the registration process:
- Contact details including home and work addresses, and phone numbers for the parent/guardian that is filling out this information (and any additional parent/guardian)
- Name, and date of birth of camper
- Medical history for camper
- Name, address, and phone number of camper’s physician, dentist, and preferred hospital
- Name, address, and phone number of two emergency contacts
- Name, address, and phone number of any additional people (must be over 18) who are authorized to pick up camper
Things To Know
Campers must turn 5 years old by October 15th, 2021
- Parents/Guardians must register their own children, using their own account, to participate in Safari Camp.
- Campers must be registered for the grade level they will enter in Fall 2021. 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:
- Face Mask (campers are expected to wear their mask at all times except during eating, drinking, and mask break times)
- Backpack
- Water bottle
- Sack lunch + 2 snacks
- Craft supplies: Scissors, glue, and crayons, markers, or colored pencils (will not be shared)
