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For 18-36 months olds
“Raaa”, roars the tiger, “Quack”, calls the duck, “Sssss”, hisses the… cockroach. Animals sure do have a lot to say! Animals use their voices to communicate and their ears to listen. Explore the many ways wild animals talk to each other, from the familiar “moo” of a cow to the rumble of a rhino. Together, we’ll celebrate that every animal has a voice - and every voice matters!

Note: Plan for one adult to stay with your child during these classes.

For 18-36 months olds
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! 

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

Note: One adult must accompany children attending Toddler series. 

For 3, 4 and 5 years old not in kindergarten
From the low rumbles of elephants to the gentle touch of a gorilla mom, animals have many ways to share messages with one another. Some use sights and sounds, others use smells or even touch to say “stay away,” “come closer,” or “I’m here!” In this series, we’ll explore how animals communicate - through colors and expressions, calls and rumbles, scents and smells, and even grooming and gentle touches. Discover how animals find friends, work together, and survive by using their senses to talk without words.

Note: Plan for one adult to stay with your child during these classes.

For 3, 4 and 5 years old not in kindergarten
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 animal neighbors! 

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.

Can a moth and a sloth be buddies? Can a tree and a bee be friends? Why not? Many animals have unusual friends. These partnerships show how animals and nature work together. Uncover how animals help each other and how these friendships fit into the balance of nature.

Note: Children attend this series independently.

Explore the continent that we call home. From sea to shining sea, North America is filled with unique habitats. We will learn how our native animals have found ways to call this land home, too! 

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

 

Shhhh! Some animals are masters of secret communication. From the biggest beasts to the tiniest insects, these clever creatures share messages in whispers, wiggles, and even colors - no sound required! Come uncover how animals “talk” without saying a word..

Dates: Choose to come every Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday for 4 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. We’ll take an in-depth look at a few of North America’s most exciting inhabitants.  

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

A rudder, a signal, a balancer, a breaking system - tails serve all sorts of interesting functions. 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.

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

Day shift, night shift, in between shifts, animals have adapted their activity levels to share space with each other. 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. 

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

What do an alligator, a panda, and a frog have in common? They’re nature’s guardians! Some animals act as early warning signs when their homes change, others keep ecosystems running smoothly, and a few provide protection for countless creatures around them. Come find out which amazing animals fill these roles.

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

Dates: 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. 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. Discover the important role conservation science plays in helping love blossom in the animal world.

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

Learning to be a naturalist is all about honing your observation skills. 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 in participants engaging Zoo visitors in collection research on a question of their own design.

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

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 precursor to maple syrup, fresh from the tree! This program is sure to be fun for the whole family.

Note: This program takes place at our Bowyer Farm in Mason, located at 2210 Mason Montgomery Road. This is an outdoor program—dress warmly and with comfortable walking shoes to walk approximately 1–2 miles over uneven terrain. 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.

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.
 

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.

 

Zoo lovers of all ages can join us each season for a special night hike around the Zoo.

January & February: Winter Wonderland Bundle up and discover the Zoo after hours this winter! From playful penguins and howling wolves to energetic otters, snow-loving red pandas, and mighty bald eagles, you’ll see how animals thrive in chilly weather. Take an exclusive guided hike through the Zoo after it closes, where frosty air and glowing lights make the perfect backdrop for spotting our cold-weather champions. Along the way, dive into hands-on activities and warm up with unforgettable up-close encounters with our animal ambassadors. Winter nights have never been so wild

March & April: Botanical Exploration Join us on select nights this spring for a botanical exploration! Participants will meet an animal ambassador up close and then enjoy a guided after-hours hike to admire our Zoo’s rich and diverse plant life (but don’t worry, we will see some animals along the way, too).

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.

Animals 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!  

 

There sure are a lot of magical, mythical creatures in movies and media! This week we'll learn about the real-life inspirations for these fantastical beasts, uncover some amazing adaptations of actual wildlife and then combine our newfound knowledge and imaginations to “discover” and present a new species of our own creation.

 

Discover how to “talk” to animals! Campers will be training new behaviors with some of our Zoo animal ambassadors. 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! Campers will build hands-on skills as they journey through the different jobs and tasks that a Zoo Director may take on. Animal care, project planning, conservation messaging, managing a budget, and so much more! Are our campers ready for the challenge of becoming the next Zoo Director?

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.

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
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

All aboard! Summer campers will take a journey from the North to South Pole, visiting every habitat in between! Along the way they’ll experience live classroom animal encounters, Zoo hikes to animals from every continent, and games and activities that take them around the globe! It’s sure to be an adventure they won't forget!

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 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.

Full Day Camp
Campers will become naturalists as they choose their own adventure with 5 daily expeditions. Each expedition will traverse through the world's different biomes. As campers complete each adventure, 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.

Full Day Camp
What do boomer balls, spices, braided butcher paper, and fishsicles all have in common? They are different forms of animal enrichment! Enrichment provides stimulation to our Zoo animals keeping 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 through animal encounters, keeper interactions, games, and other activities. We will even create animal enrichment items and brainstorm some new ideas.

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

Full Day Camp
for children entering 5th,6th,7th,or 8th grade in the fall. Groups will be subdivided based on grade.

Become a backyard biologist exploring fields, forests, and wetlands at our 700-acre Bowyer property! Participants will learn to protect wild spaces through activities such as bird watching, butterfly tagging, and animal tracking. Our camp will encourage your child to get back in touch with their wild side and build confidence as they hone 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, 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!

Full Day Camp
Animal keepers, field researchers, forensic zoologists, animal trainers...the list goes on and on when it comes to jobs that work with wildlife. We will have hands-on animal encounters, meet a variety of speakers, and go on instructor-led hikes to explore habitats around the Zoo. This is a hands-on class, so be prepared to get knee or elbow-deep in exploration of some of the jobs and tools that come with a wildlife-related career! Participants will get the opportunity to write and record an animal-related video.

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

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!