For 18-36 Month Olds
Jump like a lemur, swing like an elephant’s trunk, and groove to the beat with some neat counting tunes! Join us in this four-week series as we mimic animal music and movement, while finding our voices and working on our counting skills! We will meet some wild dancing friends face to face in the classroom and out in the Zoo. 

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

Note: One adult must accompany each child.

For Pre-K (3, 4, & 5 year olds not yet in Kindergarten)
What makes a mammal a mammal, or a bird a bird? Join us for this four-week series as we investigate and classify animals based on similarities! We will meet animals face to face in the classroom and out in the Zoo. With the same instructor and group each week we will communicate and share with our classmates, working together to classify our Zoo animals!   

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

Note: One adult must accompany each child. 

For Kindergartners
We know that animals can look very different on the outside, but what about the inside? In this class, we will learn about bones, teeth, and digestive habits! Sometimes gross but always great, these things all help an animal to survive and can help investigators, like us, tell how animals that are similar can be grouped together.  

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

Note: Children attend this series independently.

For 1st-2nd Graders
Domestic vs. Wild – what’s the difference?! Join us as we investigate our own domestic and wild Zoo residents to figure out how these two are truly wild ancestors! From your companion cat to the African cheetah, or the dog at your house to the African painted dog, these family members definitely have their similarities and differences. We will meet animals up close and out on our Zoo hike, practicing our observation and inquiry skills!  

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

For 3rd-4th Graders
Flight is a pretty amazing adaptation. Pair that with the fact that it appears in three, independent animal classes, and you have one amazing example of convergent evolution. In this program, we will encounter animals in the classroom and on grounds that help us observe and explore the structures and behaviors that help animals fly, compare the ways that animals accomplish it, and use what we learn plus our own imaginations to create some new, flying species of our own.  

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

For 5th-6th Graders
What do an alligator, a rattlesnake, a Komodo dragon, and a tortoise have in common? They are all reptiles! There are so many different kinds of reptiles with so many different characteristics that it is hard to believe they are related! During this program session, we will learn to look closer at the traits of these scaly friends and notice some of their similarities and their differences as we learn how scientists classify (and argue about classifying) them. Hikes, animal encounters, and investigations will make this experience both educational and fun! SSSSSSee you there!  

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

For 7th-8th Graders
Which animal class includes members that can both fly in the air and underwater? Birds of course! From the biggest ostrich to the tiniest hummingbird, we will explore what it takes to be a member of Class Aves. We will use our skills as scientific investigators to observe, compare, and classify the members of this group of animals. Then, with hikes, skull examinations, and some classroom animals’ visits, we’ll take an in-depth look at three specific scientific orders of birds to understand what makes them so unique. Like the month before, this series will culminate in an opportunity for participants to show what they have learned by sharing it with their family and the public. 

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

Please select the number of 7th-8th grade Zoo Troopers who will be attending the program portion of the day.

When: October 14th, 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. program for 7th-8th grade Zoo troopers
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. presentation and dinner for families

Where: Bowyer Farm 2210 Mason Montgomery Rd, Mason, OH 45040

Who: This program is FREE for current 7th/8th grade Zoo Troop participants!

What: Join us for an afternoon of exploration, wildlife identification, and naturalist skill-building as we hike, fish, discover, and enjoy the abundance of nature on an Ohio autumn day.  Junior Zoologist Zoo Troopers will build skills and build their own fire around which we invite adults to join us to end the program learning more about what JZZT will hold for the future and enjoy a flame-cooked dinner and dessert.
 

Join us out at our Bowyer Farm in Mason to hike, hear, pluck, and taste our way through the history and folklore of the largest native fruit in America - the pawpaw!  Ohio's state fruit is smooth like as mango, with a tropical taste.  From hikes in the pawpaw patch to tasting home-made pawpaw ice cream, bring the family out for a fun morning full of activity and storytelling!  Then, we will help you prepare seeds for winter, so that you can grow your own pawpaw tree next spring!

Perfect for families with children of all ages, or the pawpaw enthusiast. One adult must register per group. Children under 2 years are free. Price is per person.

This program takes place at our Bowyer Farm in Lebanon, located at 2210 Mason Montgomery Road, Mason, OH 45040.

Note: These are outdoor programs- dress for the weather and with comfortable walking shoes to walk approximately .0 miles on uneven terrain. Participants may wish to bring a filled reusable water bottle.

Join us each season for a special night hike around the Zoo.

July-August: Some Like It Hot! Join us as we explore the animals that thrive in the heat!  We will hike to see our warm-weathered-loving Zoo animals, and meet some of our hottest animal ambassadors up-close and personal!

September-October: Creepy Crawly Critters! Fall is for all things spooky, but we want to show you how some animals aren’t as scary as they seem! Participate in fun, educational activities, take a short zoo hike with one of our education instructors, and meet some of our animal ambassadors up-close and personal!

Note: One adult must register per group. For all ages. All participants should be registered, except children under 2 years old who are free.

How well do YOU know your Cincinnati Zoo? The honor of "second oldest Zoo in the nation" comes with a lot of history and some pretty epic tales. Step back in time with Zoo animal care and trainer veteran of 50 years, Gary Denzler, as he leads you on a fun and factual story-based historical tour of the Cincinnati Zoo, sharing tales of the people and animals that have made this zoo what it is today.

This program is geared towards participants 16 years and older.

During this family-friendly overnight, we will discover the adaptations animals have to survive in their unique habitats. Why do wolves hunt in packs? Why are penguins black and white? Why do snakes stick out their tongue? We will answer these and so much more! Throughout the night we’ll explore a few places in the Zoo, participate in fun, educational activities, get a behind-the-scenes sneak peek, and meet some of our animal ambassadors up-close and personal! Then, after the fun, curl up in our private education classrooms overlooking our rainforest.

IMPORTANT: All program participants must be 5 years and older. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a registered adult. 

Each order will have one room. Each room can sleep up to 10 people. You will add additional participants on the second page.

A truly one-of-a-kind experience, the African Sundowner makes a great date night, friend group outing or (adult) family adventure! An interactive social hour will start the night with two drink tickets, light bites, strange zoo games and a visit from a unique animal. Then, we will break out into small tour groups led by Zoo Educators to traverse through Africa, listening to tales of innovation for living harmoniously with wildlife. Such as how a flashlight can shield you against lions, or why a puppy raised with goats can save cheetahs. On our Zoo safari, we will go behind the scenes of Hippo Cove and uncover secrets of our world-famous bloat. We’ll finish up our night at our Twiga Tents, gathered round a roaring campfire roasting smores. Then, this unique adventure ends with a relaxing night in our safari tents on cozy cots and waking up to breakfast overlooking Giraffe Ridge. And it doesn’t end there! One last special animal guest will join us in the morning to say goodbye.

Get your vintage camp tshirt! Summer Camp 2019 (pollinators), Spring Break 2020 (wildebeest), Summer Camp 2021 (kangaroo) all available now. Youth and Adult sizes for the whole family!

All t-shirts are for pickup only, at the Harold C Schott Education Building at 56 Erkenbrecher Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45249 Monday-Friday 9am-5pm, or Saturday 9am-12pm. Call 513-559-7730 when you arrive. All orders will be held for 4 business days, and then returned to inventory if not picked up. 

Gildan Brand 100% Cotton. See size chart.

Gift Certificates only redeemable for Zoo Education Programs.
Gift Certificates expire 5 years from purchase.

$300 is perfect for Summer Camp 2023 - 7th-8th grade or Bowyer Farm camp at the non-member price.

​Gift Certificates only redeemable for Zoo Education Programs.
Expires 5 years from order date

$290 works for Summer Camp 2023 - Full Day for 4yr-6th grade at Non-Member Price

​Gift Certificates only redeemable for Zoo Education Programs.
Expires 5 years from order date

$285 works for Summer Camp 2023 - Full Day for Bowyer Farm or 7th-8th grade at Member Price

​Gift Certificates only redeemable for Zoo Education Programs.
Expires 5 years from order date

$275 works for Summer Camp 2023 - Full Day for 4yr-6th grade at Member Price

​Gift Certificates only redeemable for Zoo Education Programs.
Expires 5 years from order date

$175 works for Summer Camp 2023 - Half Day at Non-Member Price

​Gift Certificates only redeemable for Zoo Education Programs.
Expires 5 years from order date

$160 works for Summer Camp 2023 - Half Day at Member Price

Perfect amount for a Zoo Troop series.

Gift Certificates only redeemable for Zoo Education Programs.

Great for a Family Day Programs or Family Sunset Safari ticket.

Gift Certificates only redeemable for Zoo Education Programs.

For the best elves in your life. 

Gift Certificates only redeemable for Zoo Education Programs. 

Put a little Zoo in their stocking!

Gift Certificates only redeemable for Zoo Education Programs.