Week-Long Zoo Camp FAQs

Our summer five-day Zoo Camps are for campers aged 7 – 14 and who are entering grades 2 through 8 in the fall of the upcoming school year.

Our Junior Keeper-in-Training and Keeper-in-Training programs are for campers age 11 – 17 and are entering grades 6 – 12 in the fall of the upcoming school year. Please see our Jr. Keeper-in-Training page and our Keeper-in-Training page to learn more details.

During the school year we offer a special Sunday Jr. Science Explorers Zoo Club for ages 6-8 or those in 1st and 2nd grade. Please check out our Jr. Science Explorers Zoo Club page for more details.

We strive to create a camp atmosphere that is inclusive and accepting of a range of campers. However, due to limitations on staffing and classroom space, we are unable to accommodate all campers’ needs. The most important factor to determining if Zoo Camp is a good fit for your camper is if they are able to follow basic instructions and stay with the group at all times. This is for the safety of your camper and our zoo staff and our animals. If you have any questions or are wondering if Zoo Camp is a good fit for your camper, please email camp@marylandzoo.org, and we will be happy to discuss your situation further.

Your camper will have a blast and learn lots of new things! While each camp week has a unique theme, all programs include special Zoo Tours, behind-the-scenes experiences and visits from our ambassador animals. In addition, the Zoo has a 135+ acre campus teaming with nature opportunities. Other activities include educational programs in our climate-controlled classrooms, craft activities, and games. Each day we have a morning snack break and a midday lunch break.

General Camp Activities:

• Immersive tours of the Zoo
• Interacting with the animal experts
• Behind-the-scenes experiences and keeper chats
• Special up-close visits with animal ambassadors
• Brushing goats
• Creating wildlife-themed crafts
• Learning ways we can all help protect wildlife and wild places!

Campers should be prepared to spend a significant amount of time outside in various weather conditions for all camp programs.

Campers should always be prepared for the weather. This includes layers on chilly days and sunscreen, sunhat on hot days. They should always have comfortable walking shoes. On hot summer days, we will do many of our outdoor activities before it gets too hot and we will take lots of extra water breaks. On code red extreme heat days, we will take advantage of the air conditioned classrooms as much as possible and adapt our schedule accordingly.

Campers should be prepared for rain on any day it is forecasted. We will continue with our regular schedule on rainy days. If there is thunder and lightning, we will move indoors immediately and adjust our day’s activities as needed. If more severe weather is predicted, we will enact our safety protocols and move all campers to a safe location until the all clear is given by the Zoo’s head of safety and security.

• Refillable water bottle (labeled with camper name)
• Lunch & snacks (labeled with camper name)
• Sunscreen (recommended)
• Bug spray (recommended)
• Hat (recommended)
• Medications (where applicable)
• Rain gear—dress for the weather!
• Drawstring bag or small backpack to put all belongings in

Camp begins at 9 am each day and ends at 3 pm. Staff will begin checking campers in at 8:50 am and will remain at gates until 9:05 am. Dismissal for those not staying in aftercare will begin shortly before 3 pm and run until 3:05 pm. Any camper not picked up by 3:05 pm will join the aftercare program and the family will be charged an aftercare fee of $50.

An after care program is offered until 4:00 pm. The cost of this program is an additional $50 which includes after care for any or all of the five camp days. Campers in aftercare should bring an additional snack.

All participants will be picked up and dropped off at the Zoo’s Pelican gate. During drop off campers and parents can wait in their cars until they are greeted by a staff member that will check campers in and pass on any important information about the day to the adult dropping the camper off. Pick up will happen at the same gate. Parents can remain in their cars and a Zoo staff member will come out shortly before 3 pm to begin checking identification (only authorized adults may sign campers out). Any camper not picked up by 3:05 pm will join the aftercare program and the family will be charged an aftercare fee.

For those in the optional 3-4 pm aftercare program, pick-up will begin at 3:45 pm and run until 4 pm.

Cancellation/Change Policy: A $50 non-refundable processing fee applies for any requested changes made to, or cancellation of, any confirmed registration. Cancellations received at least two weeks (10 business days) prior to the start of a camp date will receive a full refund, minus the $50 processing fee. Refunds will not be issued for cancellations received fewer than 10 business days prior to the camp start date or for any missed days of camp. In the event the Zoo cancels a program, a full refund will be issued.