For 18-36 Month Olds
"Grr," says the tiger, "Quack," says the duck, "Hiss," says the... cockroach? Animals sure do have a lot to say! Come to the Zoo and learn to "talk" to the animals in their language! We'll tweet, growl and moo our way through this four week series as we learn to listen to and mimic the sounds around us.

Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday for 4 weeks.
 

Our world has animals, big and small, that call it home. From a tiny tadpole to a giant giraffe, animals come in all shapes and sizes! Come to this four week series where you and your child will explore the Zoo to discover the itty bitty insects, the gentle giants, and everything in between! Each week, we will discover these animals through live animal encounters, Zoo hikes, and dramatic play.

Steps
1. Discover the words we use to describe animal sizes.
2. Identify animals, small to large, around the Zoo.
3. Explore the sizes of animals we can find in our backyard.
4. Make new friends and share our world together.

Purpose
When I have finished this Zoo Troop adventure, I will have discovred animals of all sizes and how to share our world with them.

Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday for 4 weeks.
Please Note: Please plan for one adult to stay with your child during these classes.

Join us for this 4-week series as we investigate how animals communicate and live with one another! We will meet animals face to face in the classroom and out in the Zoo. Each week, we will communicate and share with our classmates, working together to find out just how animals communicate like you and me!

Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday for 4 weeks.

Note: Classroom space is limited so we ask that no more than two family members (adult or child) attend per participant. 
 

From rabbits hopping around during the day to skunks scurrying around at night, have you ever wondered what creatures live just outside your door? Throughout this Zoo Troop journey, we will learn how to explore our own backyards to find out our animal neighbors! Each week we will meet animals face to face in the classroom and out in the Zoo as we learn how to share our spaces with them!

Steps
1. Discover what it means to be a "native" animal.
2. Learn how native animals use local habitats.
3. Discover what native wildlife calls the Zoo home.
4. Make friends and learn to share our space with each other and wildlife.

Purpose
When I have finished this Zoo Troop adventure, I will have learned how to find native animals and how to share our world with them.

Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday for 4 weeks.
Please Note: Please plan for one adult to stay with your child during these classes.

Can a moth and a sloth be buddies? Can a tree and a bee be friends? Why not? Many animals have unusual friends. This four week series will focus on discovering how animals help each other out and how these friendships fit into the balance of nature.

Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday for 4 weeks.
 

Explore the continent that we call home. From sea to shining sea, North America is filled with unique places for us to live. Animals have found ways to call this land home too! During this 4-week series, we'll take a road trip from coast to coast through playful activities, Zoo hikes, and live animal encounters.

Steps
1. Explore the different habitats found across North America.
2. Discover the diversity of animals that call North America home.
3. Instill wonder and respect for native wildlife and shared spaces.
4. Make new friends and have fun together!

Purpose
When I've finished this Zoo Troop adventure, I will have discovered how important North American habitats are to both native animals and us.

Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday for 4 weeks.
Please Note: Parents are encouraged to allow their children to experience these classes independently.

Shhhh! Some of the biggest animals make the quietest sounds. These careful creatures still work together to survive without making a peep! Join us as we investigate the plethora of other ways silent communicators send secret messages to each other.

Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday for four weeks.
 

What do bees, bears, bobcats, and beavers all have in common besides the letter "B?" They all live pretty close to you and me! Some of the world's coolest critters can be found in your own backyard. During this 4-week series, we'll take an in-depth look at a few of North America's most exciting inhabitants through observation-based activities, Zoo hikes, and live animal encounters.

Steps
1. Gain knowledge about native species.
2. Compare and share what makes native wildlife similar to us and to each other.
3. Learn to explore creative thoughts through observations, projects, and activities.
4. Build upon communication and teamwork skills by working together.

Purpose
When I've finished this Zoo Troop series, I will have developed my observation skills and used them to explore the lives of some of our favorite North American wildlife.

Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday or Saturday for 4 weeks.
Please Note: Parents are encouraged to allow their children to experience these classes independently.

A rudder, a signal, a balancer, a breaking system - tails serve all sorts of interesting functions. In this four week series, we will look at the science and the structure of tails and who uses them for what, the clues a tail can tell about an animal's lifestyle, and the tools that we use to help make up for not having a tail ourselves.

Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday for four weeks.
 

Day shift, night shift, in between shift, animals have adapted their activity levels to share space with each other. In this 4-week series, we will explore nocturnal, diurnal, and crepuscular lifestyles, the adaptations that go with each, and how native wildlife utilize these activity strategies to reduce competition for resources in shared habitats. Each week will bring new and exciting encounters with both classroom animal visitors and Zoo hike animals, fun games, and hands-on activities to tie it all together.

Steps
1. Learn to use scientific words to describe the times when animals are active.
2. Learn the adaptations required to be successful when active at different times of day.
3. Make new friends and hone our nature observation skills together.
4. Discover how our actions can affect our local wildlife.

Purpose
When I finish this Zoo Troop adventure, I will have developed my observational skills and used them to discover and compare the adaptations of animals that interact with their world at different times of day.

Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday for 4 weeks.

What do an alligator, a panda, and a frog have in common? They all play uniquely important roles in their habitats and the lives of the species with which they share it. During this series, we will learn about what terms such as "indicator species," "keystone species" and "umbrella species" mean as well as which special animals in our world (and Zoo) fill these roles.

Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday for four weeks.

Tracks, scat, skulls, nests, scratch marks, calls, scent marks, and more. Animals are not always easy to see, and sometimes, neither is the evidence they leave behind. With weekly investigations focusing on the different ways animals leave clues, we'll work on honing our own observational skills and learn to use those clues to identify the animals they belong to, even when we cannot spy them.

Steps
1. Learn to use scientific words and tools to describe the evidence of animal presence.
2. Explore the methods of forensic zoologists first hand with investigations around the Zoo.
3. Uncover the secrets of wildlife living in your own backyard.
4. Make new friends and hone our observational wildlife skills together.
5. Discover how our actions can affect our local wildlife.

Purpose
When I have finished this Zoo Troop adventure, I will have developed my observational skills and used them to discover and compare evidence animals leave behind and use this information to identify them.

Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday for 4 weeks.

Love is in the air this month. From stinky pheromones to musical duets and gifts of food to elaborate dance routines, animals have interesting ways of finding and winning over a mate. During this series, we'll learn about the role that sounds, sights, and smells play in animals finding each other and some of the funny and strange things that animals do to win over a prospective partner. We will also learn a little about the role that conservation science sometimes needs to play in the whole process, both in the wild and right here at our Zoo.

Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday for four weeks.

Learning to be a naturalist is all about honing your observation skills. During this 4-week series, we will focus on using inquiry and participatory learning to observe, ask questions, and uncover some cool information about our native wildlife. After we have practiced and honed our inquiry skills, this class will culminate with participants engaging with Zoo visitors in collecting research on a question of their own design.

Steps
1. Learn about how a naturalist makes observations.
2. Hone our skills at creating comparative questions about the animals we are observing.
3. Learn more about how native wildlife behave and and interact with their habitat.
4. Learn about the importance of citizen science.
5. Make new friends and discover how to work together.
6. Find creative ways to help native wildlife that share our spaces.

Purpose
When I finish this Zoo Troop adventure, I will have developed my inquiry and observational skills, built confidence in my skills as a scientist, and discovered how I can use them to learn more about the wildlife that shares our continent.

Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday for 4 weeks.

This four-week series will explore animal behavior and how it helps animals survive in the wild.  Starting with an introduction to Animal Behavior or Ethology, we will learn why animals behave the way they do.  Then we will dive into all the diverse strategies animals use to acquire the food they need through specialized feeding styles and strategies.  Building on that, we will explore the ways animals communicate who they are, where they live, and what they are up to.  In the final week, we will wrap up by answering the question "Why do animals form groups?"  From ants to antelopes, we will observe animal groups and societies to see how they enhance an animal's survival and reproductive success.

Steps:
1. Learn about animal behavior and discover the specialized physical and behavorial adaptations that make them possible.
2. Investigate the way that scientists study animal behavior.
3. Make connections between the material we are learning and the real Zoo animals that use these behaviors.
4. Make new friends and discover our voices as we engage in classroom discussions.

Purpose:
When I finish this Zoo Troop adventure, I will have developed critical thinking and observation skills and confidence in my own voice and ideas, as I discover why animals behave the way they do both in the wild and at our Zoo.

Come every Saturday for 4 weeks
(NO class Easter weekend)
 

For 4 year olds - 8th Grade
Is play an important part of your day? It is to animals here at the Zoo! In this one-day camp, we will explore how both human and non-human animals use play to stay healthy and learn how to get along with others. With interactive activities and observations of animals both in the Zoo and in the classroom, we will learn how play is useful in keeping our animals happy and healthy. We will even create some special enrichment toys for some special Zoo residents to enjoy.

Some animals are more than meet the eye. From beautiful butterflies and peacocks to beastly bearded dragons and bats, we'll see why looks can be deceiving and learn why there are just as many reasons (if not more) to love the beasts as well as the beauties. By the end of the week, we will learn that there is beauty in every beast.

Animals can behave in different ways when faced with danger! They can blend in, bolt out of sight or turn and bite! Discover the tricky ways animals keep safe in this week long camp that features up-close animal encounters and opportunities for excitement around every corner!

From Fantastic Beasts and Pokemon Go to Angry Birds and Pete's Dragon, there sure are a log of magical, mythical creatures in movies and media! Come to this camp and we'll learn about some of the real-life inspirations for these fantastical beasts, uncover some amazing adaptations of actual wildlife, and then use what we learn plus our imaginations to "discover" and present a new species of our own creation.

Discover how to "talk" to animals! Campers will be training more NEW behaviors with a variety of Zoo animals including goats, chickens, and other animals. Learn about animal behavior and motivation while applying training techniques taught by Zoo professionals. By the end of camp, animals will be eating out of your hands - literally!

Join us for a week long adventure and discover what it takes to become a future Zoo director! Our Zoo director, Thane Maynard, is known as a wildlife expert, a naturalist, author, and a regular on TV shows promoting wildlife conservation. Campers will experience the many different jobs Thane has done on on the way to becoming our Zoo director. Campers will learn about animal handling, go behind the scenes with Zoo animals, and create a "90 Second Naturalist" video of their own on their way to becoming the next Zoo director. So, watch out Thane!

After Care is offered every day after camp from 4 - 5:30 pm.

Full Day Camp
Do you think you can catch these critters? Discover what it means to be a predator or prey animal and how they use their adaptations to try to outwit, outrun, and hide from each other! Come and explore their wild worlds and help uncover their sneaky, stealthy secrets through interactive games, hikes through the zoo, and close encounters with Animal Ambassadors.

This full-day camp is for 4 year olds and children entering kindergarten in the fall.

Half Day Camp
Can you talk like an elephant or taste with your feet like a butterfly? Explore what sensory adaptations animals have and how these adaptations help them survive. We'll spend the week looking at our five senses and seeing how they compare to other animals' through close encounters with animal friends, interactive games, crafts, and hikes in the Zoo.

This half-day camp is for 4 year olds and children entering kindergarten in the fall

Half Day Camp
Do other animals live in families like humans? Are all babies raised by their moms? During this camp, we'll experience up-close animal encounters, make crafts, and, of course, hike around the Zoo to learn about why it can take a mom, dad, pack, or no one at all to raise a baby animal.

This half-day camp is for 4 year olds and children entering kindergarten in the fall.

Full Day Camp
A bird that can fly at speeds of 200mph? A cat that can leap 12 feet into the air? Animals can be out of this world when it comes to their super adaptations. Come to summer camp and discover these animals and their incredible super-powers. Each day, we will look at a superhero with amazing superpowers, and then see if our Zoo animals can measure up to their spectacular abilities. The camp will include Zoo hikes, games, and up-close live animal encounters.

This full day camp is for children entering 1st or 2nd grade in the fall.

Half Day Camp
What do polliwogs, cubs, and owlets have in common? They're all babies! Spend a week learning how animals change and grow from the time they're born until they reach adulthood. Each day is packed with activities to help discover how insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals grow.

This half day camp is for children entering 1st or 2nd grade in the fall.

Half Day Camp
Have you ever wondered what a lion was roaring about or a bird chirping about? This camp will explore animals and how they "talk" to each other. Join us for a fun-filled week, where campers will discover what animals are communicating, through smell, facial expressions and sound.

This half day camp is for children entering 1st or 2nd grade in the fall.

Full Day Camp
Campers will get a chance to become Naturalists as they choose their destiny through different expeditions. These expeditions will traverse through the world's different biomes. As they complete each expedition they will become equipped with the knowledge and the tools it takes to become a real naturalist.

This full-day camp is for children entering 3rd or 4th grade in the fall.

Half Day Camp - AM sessions only
Footprints... teeth marks... broken branches... and scat??? What can these clues tell us about the biology of wildlife and the events that occurred at the scene? Discover ways to study the evidence that animals leave behind as well as learn about ways that Zoo professionals are using science to help conserve wildlife.

This half day camp is for children entering 3rd or 4th grade in the fall.
 

Half Day Camp - PM sessions only
During this week-long adventure, campers will discover animal leaders of all kinds, from keystone species to alpha males and females! After getting acquainted with animals leaders, campers will meet some leaders in conservation here at the Cincinnati Zoo! By the end of the week, campers will have the opportunity to become leaders in conservation themselves!

This half day camp is for children entering 3rd or 4th grade in the fall.

Full Day Camp
What do boomer balls, spices, braided butcher paper, and fish-sicles all have in common? They are different forms of animal enrichment! Enrichment provides stimulation to our Zoo animals keeping their minds and bodies healthy. Animal enrichment provides stimulation to our Zoo animals and serves as an important tool that keeps their minds and bodies healthy. In this camp, we will learn about the different forms of animal enrichment, who and what they are good for, and the role of the Zoo's enrichment committee in all of this through animal encounters, keeper interactions, games, and other activities. We will even get a chance to participate in the creation of some animal enrichment items and brainstorm some new enrichment ideas to present to the enrichment committee.

This full-day camp is for children entering 5th or 6th grade in the fall.

Half Day Camp - AM sessions only
This program will explore the ins and outs of wildlife conservation. Through animal encounters, hikes, and other activities, we'll learn about real-life conservation efforts taking place at the Zoo, some of the tools researchers use to keep track of wild populations of species, and what we can do to help the wildlife in our own backyard.

This half day camp is for children entering the 5th or 6th grade in the fall.

Half Day Camp - PM sessions only
What's that tree? That bird? That insect? Who made that nest? That call? That...scat? What wildlife, big and small, can be found in my own backyard and how can I be their habitat hero? This camp will explore the tools, behaviors, and knowledge it takes to be a naturalist. Through hikes, animals encounters, and hands-on investigations at the Zoo, participants will learn the skills they need to explore the wilds of their own backyard, schoolyard, and beyond while becoming stellar stewards for the wildlife that lives there.

This half day camp is for children entering the 5th or 6th grade in the fall.

May 25 - 29 camp will be an AM session (9:30am-12:00pm)

Full Day Camp
Animal keepers, field researchers, animal trainers...the list goes on and on when it comes to jobs that work with wildlife. We'll meet some people who work with wildlife, some of the critters they work with, and tour behind-the-scenes areas that help them do their job. This is a hands-on class, so be prepared to get knee or elbow-deep in exploration of some of the jobs and tools of the trade that come with a wildlife-related career! Participants will even get the opportunity to write and record animal-related podcasts that might be selected to be on the Zoo's website!

This full-day camp is for children entering 7th or 8th grade in the fall.

Full Day Camp
Become a backyard biologist while exploring our fields, forests, and wetlands out at our 600 acre Bowyer Farm! During this five day camp, participants will spend time learning what it takes to protect our wild spaces through hands-on activities such as bird watching, butterfly tagging, and animal tracking. Our adventure camp will encourage your child to get back in touch with their wild side, while building confidence as they hone in on their naturalist skills. On Friday, your camper will lead you on a nature hike to show off their new skills.

This camp takes place at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden's Bowyer Farm located in Lebanon, Ohio. You will receive the address and directions once registered.

This full-day camp is for children entering 7th or 8th grade in the fall.

Before Care is offered from 8-9:00 am everday before camp. For full-day camps only.
 

After Care is offered from 4-5:30 pm everyday after camp. For full-day camps only.

Come join us at the Zoo’s Bowyer Farm for a fun afternoon full of history, hands-on activities, and storytelling all about maple tapping! This program offers a sweet peek into the history of this age-old tradition and offers an opportunity to participate in the maple tapping process. At the end, participants will be able to taste the pre-cursor to maple syrup, fresh from the tree, as well as some of the finished product! This program is sure to be fun for the whole family.

NOTE: This program takes place at our Boywer Farm in Lebanon, located at 2210 Mason Montgomery Road.

Many animals (including humans) have close relationships with their mothers.  From the gentle jaws of an alligator to the comfy pouch of a wallaby, come learn about our Zoo moms as we prepare to celebrate all moms on tomorrow's holiday just for them.

The Zoo babies are here and they sure are cute!  Come and learn some information about them such as their names, birthdays, and what their family lives are like. With some animal visitors in the classroom and an after-hours Zoo hike, we'll learn if there are any more babies on the way and why each birth at the Zoo is cause for celebration!

Did you know that the Cincinnati Zoo is one of only two institutions outside of Florida that rescue and rehabilitate manatees? Come experience a once-in-a-lifetime sleepover with these gentle giants! During the overnight you will enjoy two sneak peeks behind the scenes, hike the Zoo at night, experience animal encounters and fall asleep with our resident manatees swimming at your feet.

Children must be 5 years and older. At least one parent per family group is required to attend. Please note: program fee is per person.

Transport yourself to Africa druing this brand new tented camp overnight experience at the Zoo! Built on the edge of the newly expanded Giraffe exhibit, Twiga Tented Camp offers an intimate, high-end, authentic adventure at the Zoo including special encounters with African animals, unique behind the scenes tours, comfortable cots in safari tents, a continental breakfast, and so much more.

This overnight is for families with children age 5 and up. At least one parent per family group is required to attend. Please note: program fee is per person.

Guests begin the evening with drinks and dinner and then take a Zoo tour, including special encounters with some of our African Zoo animals.  The adventure continues with special, behind-the-scenes peeks, learning what it takes to keep our animals happy and healthy.  The night will wind down around the bonfire before settling in for the night in a comfortable cot bunk bed in an African safari tent. Wake up the next morning to a continental breakfast, complete with waffle bar. Wrap up this unique experience with an up-close encounter with our Giraffes. 

NOTE: Participants must be 21 years of age or older.

This class is for children specially pre-selected by the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (LEND) Program at Children's Hospital and the Cincinnati Zoo.
Join us for this 5-week series as we investigate how animals communicate and live with one another! We will meet animals face to face in the classroom and out in the Zoo. Each week, we will communicate and share with our classmates, working together to find out just how animals communicate like you and me!

Steps
1. Identify ways in which animals can communicate.
2. Meet animals up close and observe what they look like and how they feel.
3. Make new friends and learn to share classroom space and materials.

Purpose
When I've finished this Zoo Troop adventure, I will be able to understand that animals can communicate by vocalizations, touch, sound, and listening to one another.

This program meets every Wednesday for five weeks.

Gift Certificates only redeemable for Zoo Education Programs.

Gift Certificates only redeemable for Zoo Education Programs.

Gift Certificates only redeemable for Zoo Education Programs.

Gift Certificates only redeemable for Zoo Education Programs.