JUNIOR ZOOKEEPER CAMPS & CLASSES

General Info – Program for Youth K-5th Grade

Does your child have a passion for animals? Would he or she love to have a chance to work behind the scenes? Then this is the opportunity they have been waiting for! We’ll be hosting Junior Zookeeper Classes throughout the school year. Participants will get the opportunity to help our staff clean animal enclosures, prepare meals and feed the animals, learn reptile husbandry and simple vet care, handle animals and receive special training on how to deal with reptiles in the wild. Zookeeper duties will vary so each session will not be exactly the same. All classes are 2-hours long. Minimum of 6 participants to run a camp.

COST

• Individual classes are $25/session/child.
• Six-Week Programs are $132 (Saves $18!) if purchased upfront. They can also be purchased as individual classes.
• PURCHASE A MEMBERSHIP AND SAVE 10% ON ZOOKEEPER CLASSES PLUS GET DISCOUNTS ON MANY OTHER SERVICES!

INSTRUCTIONS FOR REGISTRATION:

FOR INDIVIDUAL DATES: Please click the “Register my Junior Zookeeper” button. 

1. Choose the date for the first camp you’d like to register for.
2. Chooose the Individual Junior Zookeepers Ticket ($25)
3. Fill out the questionnaire for each child you are registering.
4. FOR MULTIPLE DATES, click the KEEP SHOPPING button.  Add another date, and repeat till all dates are in cart. The questionnaire will pre-populate your info so you don’t need to add it again.
5. Add your membership code if you have one for member discounts.
6. Add your credit card info and complete the registration.

FOR A 6-WEEK, 7-WEEK, 11 -WEEk or 8-DAY PROGRAM: Please click the “Register my Junior Zookeeper” button.

1. Choose the first date & time for the extended program of your choosing.
2. Choose the appropriate extended program ticket to receive the discount.
3. Fill out the questionnaire for each child you are registering.
4. Add your membership code if you have one for member discounts.
5. Add your credit card info and complete the registration.
6. We will fill in the other program dates on the back end of the software so we can enable your package discount.  

WEEKLY JUNIOR ZOOKEEPER CLASS:

REPTILE ADVENTURE LAB

Six Session Series –  2-hours one a week

Wednesdays: September 9th – October 14th

Class runs from 10am – 12pm

Each Junior Zookeeper session is a new reptile adventure. Campers will take part in a series of exciting sessions exploring the world of reptiles and wildlife care.

Sessions are two hours long and include hands-on zookeeper tasks, animal encounters, crafts, and games. Campers will learn how professional reptile keepers care for animals by helping prepare food, assisting with simple habitat cleaning, observing animal behaviors, and participating in activities where they get to be real junior zookeepers.

Perfect for curious animal lovers who want to get up close with reptiles while learning how animals are cared for behind the scenes.

SCHEDULE:

•  September 9th @ 10am – Snake Secrets: The World of Slithering Predators

  • Why do snakes flick their tongues? How do they move without legs? Are all snakes truly legless? Campers will explore the incredible adaptations that make snakes successful hunters. Kids will observe snake behaviors, learn how keepers care for them, and meet several fascinating snake species.

• September 16th @ 10am – Lizard Legends 

  • From sun-loving desert lizards to powerful, intelligent predators, campers will discover the amazing world of lizards. Kids will learn how lizards climb, bask, hunt, and defend themselves while helping prepare enrichment and assisting with habitat care.

• September 23rd @ 10am – Turtle &  Tortoise Time: The Shell Squad 

  • Campers will discover what makes turtles and tortoises so unique. Learn how shells protect these reptiles and how they survive in different habitats. Kids may help prepare leafy meals and assist with basic care for these fascinating reptiles.

• September 30th @ 10am – Crocodilian Command Center

  • Meet the ultimate reptile predators. Campers will learn about crocodilians, how they hunt, and what makes them different from other reptiles. Kids will explore how zookeepers safely care for these powerful animals and what their habitats are like in the wild.

• October 7th @ 10am – Masters of Camouflage and Surprise

  • Some reptiles are experts at hiding in plain sight. Campers will discover how animals blend into their environments to escape predators or sneak up on prey. Different techniques employed by both predator and prey will be discussed, and campers will participate in enrichment activities that demonstrate how reptiles hide, hunt, and interact with their environments.

• October 14th @ 10am – Reptiles in the Wild: Survival Stories 

  • How do reptiles survive in the wild? Campers will explore predator-prey relationships, hunting strategies, and how reptiles fit into ecosystems. This session highlights how reptiles live outside of zoos and why they are important to the natural world.