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Sign up for our quarterly Program Announcement email for new programs, topics, and class sections and sale dates.

Cancellation/Refund Policy
Programs cancelled by the registrant at least two weeks in advance of the program date may receive a refund. Refunds or credits are no longer available for programs cancelled by the registrant within two weeks of the program date.

If you are a Zoo Member or have a promotion code, please enter this information at the time of ticket purchase checkout. Scroll down for a complete listing of all Education Programs.
ZOO TROOP
Learning and growing is fun at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden! These 4 week series encourages the development of important skills and values that will allow your child to interact with peers while fostering knowledge and respect for wildlife and wild places. Through age appropriate, skill and wonder-building hands-on activities, close encounters with animals, Zoo hikes, and child-led projects, children learn biological concepts and become curious to explore the world around them and find their own answers. Come to Zoo Troop, where children can let their imagination run wild!

New skills and experiences are learned in each 4-week Zoo Troop series.
Toddlers Oh Baby
Regular Price: $105.00
Member Price: $90.00
For 18-36 months olds
Some animal babies look just like their mommies and daddies, but others look completely different! Join us for a 4-week adventure where we will match up mom and baby, using our voices and bodies to act like animals in the classroom and around the Zoo. Grownups will learn with us, as we watch animals in action, and learn about baby animals with our friends.

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

Note: Plan for one adult to stay with your child during these classes.
Pre-K Born Wild
Regular Price: $105.00
Member Price: $90.00
For 3, 4 and 5 years old not in kindergarten
What is it like to be an animal baby? Some need more tender love and care than others, but they all need food, water and protection to survive! Join us as we learn about the most precious time of an animal’s life, where a baby will learn the most essential lessons of survival! We will meet some beautiful babies face to face out in the Zoo and in the classroom.

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

Note: Plan for one adult to stay with your child during these classes.
Kindergarten Ready Set Play
Regular Price: $110.00
Member Price: $95.00
What is your favorite game to play on the playground? Have you ever played hide-and-seek or hopscotch? You may be surprised to discover that some animals are born knowing what to do while others play games in order to learn important lessons for survival! During this four-week series, we’ll take a closer look at the role of play in how baby animals learn the skills they need to survive as adults.

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

Note: Children attend this series independently.
1st-2nd Grade Are You My Mother
Regular Price: $115.00
Member Price: $100.00
How are the lives of baby reptiles, mammals, birds and insects different? When you’re an animal baby, everything from what you eat to where you live all depends on who raises you! This spring is a great time to check out the diversity of the Zoo’s growing family. Join us as we meet animal friends, hike around the zoo, and play games to see who raises our favorite animal babies.

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

NEW EXTENDED TIMES for April 2025!
3rd-4th Grade My Wild Family Tree
Regular Price: $115.00
Member Price: $100.00
What do tigers and ocelots have in common? How about painted dogs and wolves? Their wild family trees of course! With hikes, games, and classroom animal visitors, this four-week series will help us explore the parenting and family lifestyles of these wild animals and see if they have more in common than shared ancestry.

Dates: Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday for 4 weeks
5th-6th Grade Raising Wild Ones
Regular Price: $115.00
Member Price: $100.00
From carrying their offspring to pushing them from the nest (sometimes literally!), animals employ MANY different parenting styles. During this four-week series, participants will go on Zoo hikes, meet animals in the classroom, and engage in other fun activities that will help them explore the way that wild animal babies are raised and compare them to their own families.

Dates: Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday for 4 weeks  
7th-8th Grade Growing Up Wild
Regular Price: $115.00
Member Price: $100.00
Imagine going from newborn to adult in a year, a few months, or less than a month! Imagine being independent from birth or staying a baby until conditions are right to become an adult! Imagine having 200 brothers and sisters! In this 4-week series, we will learn all about the crazy variety that can be found among baby animals and why growing up in the animal kingdom is a wild and wonderful thing!

Dates: Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday for 4 weeks.
 
DAYTIME PROGRAMS
These all-ages programs explore wildlife through activities and hikes as well as crafts or games in a manner that is sure to be fun for all ages. Please note that at least one adult must be registered with each group. Children under 3 years old are free.
Hurray for Mom!
Regular Price: $25.00
Member Price: $20.00
Many animals (including humans) have close relationships with their mothers.  From the gentle jaws of an alligator to the comfy pouch of an opossum, come learn about our Zoo moms as we prepare to celebrate all mother figures on tomorrow's holiday just for them.

Note: All attendees 3 years + must register. One adult required per group. Children under 3 years free. Price is per person.
 
Session Hurray for Mom: Saturday, May 10, 2025 10:00AM - 12:00PM WAIT LIST
 
EVENING and OVERNIGHT PROGRAMS
Zoo Night Hikes
Regular Price: $25.00
Member Price: $20.00
Zoo lovers of all ages can join us each season for a special night hike around the Zoo.

March, April & May: Zoo Families Discover the diverse and fascinating ways animals care for their young in Zoo Families! In this engaging program, you’ll explore how creatures from around the globe nurture, protect, and teach their babies to survive in the wild. Through hands-on activities, up-close animal encounters, and fun facts, you’ll uncover the incredible strategies of nature’s most devoted parents.

Note: All attendees 3 years and above must register. At least one adult must register per group. Children under 3 years are free. Price is per person.
Overnight Safari Sleep with the Manatees
From $65.00
Spend the Night at the Zoo!

Florida is full of diverse habitats that are bursting with thousands of animal species, from walking-on-water basilisks to slow-and-steady manatees. We’ll dive headfirst into the astonishing biodiversity of these habitats, centering around the lives of our resident manatees who are a part of a rehabilitation program. Throughout the night we’ll explore a few places in the Zoo, participate in fun, educational activities, get a behind-the-scenes sneak peek, including our amazing science and research center CREW, and meet some of our animal ambassadors up-close and personal! When the night ends, you’ll doze off at our Manatee Springs building in the big open-spaced exhibit area.

 

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

This program sleeps in the Manatee Springs building. This is a beautiful open-spaced room that will be shared with other families/groups. So you will be combined with other groups for the program and sleeping.

 

 
SUMMER CAMP
If you already preregistered your camper, sign into your Household Account to use the Quick Reg option. See our Household Account FAQs for information about the Household Account. 

If you do not have a Household Account or cannot log in- don't worry. Just register for camp as usual. 

You must have your membership number to register during Member PreSale.

Note: your Household Account will say "You do not have a membership selected for this account." This is only because the Household Account and Memberships are in two different software systems. When you register for any program, just enter your membership number to get your discount.  
 
  • Please register children according to the grade they will enter in the fall.
  • Campers are limited to one week of a topic.
    • Full day camp topics repeat each week. Half day camp topics alternate each week. Morning and Afternoon half day camps repeat.
  • Full Day Camps are available for 1st-8th grade only. No full day camp option available for 4yr-Kindergarten.
  • Half Day Camps are availble for 4yr-Kindergarten only. No half day camp option avaiable for 1st-8th grade.
  • For registration you will need emergency contact and authorized pick-up information. 

Zoo Camp Snacks sponsored by 39Forward.
4yr-Kindergarten Fur Feathers and Scales
Regular Price: $190.00
Member Price: $175.00
Half Day Camp
for 4-5 year olds and those entering Kindergarten in the fall.

Are all animals covered in skin like ours? No way! Animals have different coverings that help them slither, hide, hover, and so much more! Campers will fly, flutter, slither, and scurry through the week as they experience up-close animal encounters, Zoo hikes, songs, games, and crafts!

Note: Before and After Care are not available for half-day camps.
4yr-Kindergarten Shake Rattle and Roll
Regular Price: $190.00
Member Price: $175.00
Half Day Camp
for 4-5 year olds and those entering Kindergarten in the fall.

Animals move their bodies in lots of different ways—just like your child! Some animals (and children) might hop, run, crawl, swim, climb, and more. Each day, we’ll explore animal locomotion with hikes in the Zoo, crafts, games, and close encounters with some live animal “movers.” No matter how they move, your little one will enjoy this action-filled summer Zoo adventure.

Note: Before and After Care are not available for half-day camps.
1st-2nd Grade Extreme Animals
Regular Price: $315.00
Member Price: $300.00
Full Day Camp
for children entering 1st or 2nd grade in the fall.

Are you extreme enough? Animals are out of this world, equipped with outrageous abilities such as being able to dive a MILE deep into the ocean! Join us as we meet these extreme animals and discover why they must act the way they do. Your camper will explore the animal and plant kingdoms by meeting our ambassadors face to face! They will identify their features and decide who is the fastest, strongest, or largest of them all!
 
1st-2nd Grade Zoo Scene Investigation
Regular Price: $315.00
Member Price: $300.00
Full Day Camp
Get your detective hats ready—you’re on the case! Who left those paw prints behind while trespassing? Does a cheetah need a speeding ticket? A rat snake shakes his tail pretending to be a rattler...is that identity theft? Tackle “Who dun it’s” around the Zoo as you learn how to study animal behavior and animal clues in this fun and immersive camp experience!

This full day camp is for children entering 1st or 2nd grade in the fall.
3rd-4th Grade Animal Rescue
Regular Price: $315.00
Member Price: $300.00
Full Day Camp
for children entering 3rd or 4th grade in the fall.

We have an action-packed week planned for your camper. Campers will choose adventures that require teamwork to understand animal populations and what information should be collected to help rescue these animals. Every day, campers will rescue a different animal, make measurements, take weight, and estimate population sizes using field techniques. It's a real child-led adventure without leaving Cincinnati!
5th-6th Grade Animal Behavior 101
Regular Price: $315.00
Member Price: $300.00
Full Day Camp
for children entering 5th or 6th grade in the fall.

Studying an animal’s behavior in the wild or a in zoo can help us get to know them better as individuals AND give scientists valuable insight into the nature and habits of their species. This knowledge can lead to improvements to their care and conservation. During this week-long camp, we’ll utilize Zoo hikes and special animal visits to focus on learning the basics of animal observation and investigate the questions that come up.
5th-8th Grade EcoExplorers at Bowyer Farm
Regular Price: $325.00
Member Price: $310.00
Full Day Camp
for children entering 5th,6th,7th,or 8th grade in the fall. Groups will be subdivided based on grade.

Campers will embrace their wild side as they spend a week outside exploring fields, forests, and wetlands at the 700-acre Bowyer property! Participants will learn to protect our wild spaces through activities such as bird watching, creeking, animal tracking, and so much more. Our camp will encourage your child to build confidence and skill as a naturalist in our native ecosystem. 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, 2210 Mason Montgomery Road, Mason, OH 45040. 

Note: Before and After Care is not available for camps hosted at Bowyer Farm.  Campers will spend all their time outside and immersed in nature. Please dress accordingly and plan to get dirty or wet!
7th-8th Grade Zoo Careers
Regular Price: $325.00
Member Price: $310.00
Full Day Camp
for children entering 7th or 8th grade in the fall.

Running a zoo involves a lot more than meets the eye. Join us for a week of exploring the many jobs involved in taking care of the Zoo’s animals and creating a great experience for Zoo visitors. You’ll get a chance to get down, dirty and creative with hands-on activities, animal encounters, and Behind-the-Scenes tours. We’ll also round out the experience with some guest speakers who will give you a better understanding of the variety of zoo careers that we have here at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden.
 
T-SHIRTS
Vintage Camp TShirts
Price: $10.00
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. Get your vintage camp tshirt! Youth and Adult sizes for the whole family!
 
GIVE THE ZOO TO KIDS IN NEED
Support Low Income Students Visiting The Zoo
 
Donate today and support low income students visiting the zoo.

The Living Classroom Education Access Fund began in 2012. Since that time the fund has brought 150,000 low-income children and their teachers to the Zoo for a free, fun, standards-aligned daytime, or overnight field trip. You can give EVERY child the opportunity to be inspired by wildlife every day and enjoy the quintessential Cincinnatian experience of visiting this top zoo.

An entire grade of young people can visit the zoo for $1000.00
Provide a zoo experience to a bus full of students for $500.00
Send an entire classroom to the Zoo for $250.00
Any donation amount could help! Please donate today.

Learn more about the Living Classroom Education Fund here- http://cincinnatizoo.org/lceaf/
 
EDUCATION GIFT CERTIFICATES
Zoo Education Programs make a perfect gift. You can even redeem your Education Gift Certificate online! When making a purchase online with an Education Gift Certificate select the Gift Certificate option in the payment screen and enter the barcode number.

NOTE: Purchasing a gift certificate does not guarantee a space in programs. Sign up for our quarterly Education Program Announcement email to receive notices of new programs and when they go on sale.
$300.00 Education Gift Certificate
Price: $300.00
Gift Certificates only redeemable for Zoo Education Programs.
Gift Certificates expire 5 years from purchase.
 
$200.00 Education Gift Certificate
Price: $200.00
​Gift Certificates only redeemable for Zoo Education Programs.
Expires 5 years from order date
$100.00 Education Gift Certificate
Price: $100.00
​Gift Certificates only redeemable for Zoo Education Programs.
Expires 5 years from order date
$50.00 Education Gift Certificate
Price: $50.00
​Gift Certificates only redeemable for Zoo Education Programs.
Expires 5 years from order date
$25.00 Education Gift Certificate
Price: $25.00
For the best elves in your life. 

​Gift Certificates only redeemable for Zoo Education Programs.
Expires 5 years from order date
$15.00 Education Gift Certificate
Price: $15.00
Put a little Zoo in their stocking!

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