Youth Camps & Classes

Zoo Boise offers fascinating wildlife adventures during spring, summer breaks and holiday breaks through programs that are both educational and FUN!  Each program features a variety of activities that include animal close-up encounters, hands-on activities, in-depth investigations, games, art projects, perhaps creating a diet or enrichment treat for a zoo animal, and zoo tours. 

Registration Information

Summer 2013

Class sizes: Each class requires a minimum of 8 students, and has a maximum of 25 students, unless otherwise noted.

All Class Dates & Ages: Download a PDF chart here.

Important Camp Information: Before your child attends a camp for which he/she is registered, please review Important Camp Information and First Day of Camp Checklist.

Junior Zookeeping - SOLD OUT!

Entering grades 2nd - 4th
Monday - Friday; 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

What is it like to work at a zoo?  With this program, you will learn how to make diets, identify scat, train animals, make toys for animals, and meet some of the people who work at the zoo.

Cost: (This camp is currently sold out.)
Friends of Zoo Boise (FoZB) Annual Pass Holder: $155
Boise City Residents: $165
Others: $175

Dates
 Activity # FoZB
 Activity # Resident/Other
 6/10-6/14  
 430496-01  430406-01
 7/15-7/19  430497-02  430407-02
 8/5-8/9  430498-03  430408-03

Zookeeping and Other Wild Careers

Entering grades 5th - 7th
Monday - Friday; 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Interested in a career working with animals?  With this program, you will learn all there is to know about zookeeping and also explore other careers involving animals & wildlife conservation. Try your hand as a wildlife biologist, a zoo veterinarian, or wildlife educator!

Cost:
Friends of Zoo Boise Annual Pass Holder: $155
Boise City Residents: $165
Others: $175

Dates
 Activity # FoZB
 Activity # Resident/Other
 6/17-6/21   
 430909-01  430409-01
 7/22-7/26  430910-02  430410-02
 8/12-8/16  430999-03  430499-03

Julia Davis Park Explorers: Art, Animals & History

Zoo Boise, Boise Art Museum, & Idaho Historical Museum
Entering grades 2nd - 7th
June 17 - 21; 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Be an active explorer of artwork, history, and animal wildlife! This camp highlights the some of the cultural institutions in Julia Davis Park and gives students a chance to learn more about each organization through hands-on activities and interactive experiences.  Each day will be spent discovering the unique features of a new location, including the Boise Art Museum, Zoo Boise, and the Idaho Historical Museum. Participants will begin and end each day at the Boise Art Museum.  Members of the participating institutions may receive the discounted member rate for this camp. Please indicate institution membership on registration form.

Register at www.boiseartmuseum.org.  Pre-registration required by Friday, June 7, 2013.

Cost:
Friends of Zoo Boise Annual Pass Holders, BAM or ISHM Members: $150
Others: $180

Oceans & Islands - SOLD OUT!

Entering grades 2nd - 4th
June 24 -28; 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Dive into the ocean and go island hopping without leaving the zoo!  Discover unique animals that live beneath the waves or isolated isles such as Komodo dragons, penguins, jellyfish and lemurs.

Cost/Activity Number (this camp is currently sold out):
Friends of Zoo Boise Annual Pass Holder $155 / 430925-01
Boise City Residents $165 / 430425-01
Others $175 / 3430425-01

Conservation Camp

Entering grades 5th - 7th
June 24-28; 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Join the cause for wildlife conservation!  We’ll focus on why animals and their habitats become endangered and the many ways in which humans can protect flagship and keystone species.  Learn about zoo conservation programs, create environmentally friendly art projects, participate in a habitat cleanup, conduct a pollution experiment and more.   

Cost/Activity Number:
Friends of Zoo Boise Annual Pass Holder $155 / 430430-01
Boise City Residents $165 / 430930-01
Others $175/ 430930-01

Spineless Wonders

Entering grades 2nd - 7th
July 1-3; 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

What do butterflies, bees, spiders and jellyfish have in common?  No backbones!  Discover how the lives of these boneless animals make a living and also make our lives so much better!

Cost/Activity Number:
Friends of Zoo Boise Annual Pass Holder $93 / 430935-01
Boise City Residents $99 / 430435-01
Others $105/ 430435-01

Wild in the City

 Boise Parks & Recreation, Foothills Learning Center, Boise WaterShed, Boise Community Forestry & Zoo Boise
Entering grades 3rd - 6th
July 8-12; 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Idaho is 150 years old, come celebrate by spending the week at Zoo Boise and the Idaho State Historical Museum.  At the zoo, observe all kinds of weird animals including walkingsticks, legless lizards, and poop-eating animals.  We’ll play the island game to determine why weird animals live on isolated isles, create treats for animals that have weird mouths, have a dung rolling contest and meet some weird animals up close.  In the afternoon you will turn into history detectives and unearth weird and wild events that helped shape our state.  Invent your own state seal, discover odd trivia, compete in potato sack races, boat races and other quirky activities as we celebrate Idaho.  Maximum class size of 12.

Cost/Activity Number:
Friends of Zoo Boise Annual Pass Holder $155 / 430940-01
Boise City Residents $165 / 430440-01
Others $175/ 430440-01

Life in the Jungle

Entering grades 2nd - 4th
July 22 - 26; 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Half the known animals and plants on earth live in the tropical rainforests!  Join monkeys, tigers and many other animals that depend on this amazing habitat. 

Cost/Activity Number:
Friends of Zoo Boise Annual Pass Holder $155 / 430945-01
Boise City Residents $165 / 430445-01
Others $175/ 430445-01

Powerful Predators

Entering grades 2nd - 7th
July 29 - Aug 2; 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Learn what it means to be at the top of the food chain. Explore the animal world to find who the best hunters are and how others avoid becoming their dinner!

Cost/Activity Number:
Friends of Zoo Boise Annual Pass Holder $155 / 430950-01
Boise City Residents $165 / 430450-01
Others $175/ 430450-01

Art & Animals of Africa

Zoo Boise & Boise Art Museum
Entering grades 2nd - 7th
Aug 2 - 9; 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Take an imaginary expedition to Africa with the Boise Art Museum and Zoo Boise! BAM’s exhibition of objects and artwork from African cultures will inspire wildlife exploration and art making in this week-long camp. Students will learn about the meanings of animal symbols in masks, baskets, and textiles and study unique animals and their habitats. Mornings will be spent at Zoo Boise and afternoons will be spent at the Boise Art Museum. Members of the participating institutions may receive the discounted member rate for this camp. Please indicate institution membership on registration form.

Register at www.boiseartmuseum.org.  Pre-registration required by Friday, July 26, 2013.

Cost/Activity Number:
FoZB Annual Pass Holder and BAM Members: $150
Others $180

Critter College for Preschoolers

Entering Kindergarten or 1st grade
Wednesdays; 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Through fun-filled games, and up-close animal encounters, and other activities, these programs introduce children to the world of animals.  Kids only!  Maximum class size of 15.

Cost (per child, per session):
Friends of Zoo Boise Annual Pass Holder $25
Boise City Residents $30
Others $35

Africa - 6/12
Travel to Africa, home to the original “lion king”, zebras, and meerkats.
Activity Number:  FoZB 430985-01, Boise City Residents & Non-residents 430885-01

C is for Cat - 6/19
Discover the wonderful world of these furry, purry felines.
Activity Number: FoZB 430986-01, Boise City Residents & Non-residents 430886-01

Ravishing Reptiles - 6/26
Explore the world of all things scaly: snakes, lizards, and turtles.
Activity Number: FoZB 430984-01, Boise City Residents & Non-residents 430884-01

Bloomin’ Jellyfish - 7/10
Dive into the ocean to visit with animals that use their mouths to move and to eat. Is that weird?
Activity Number: FoZB 430982-01, Boise City Residents & Non-residents 430882-01

Hawks & Eagles - 7/17
These “hunters of the sky” have amazing tools for survival. Includes an up-close encounter with a hawk.
Activity Number: FoZB 430981-01, Boise City Residents & Non–residents 430881-01

B is for Butterfly - 7/24  - SOLD OUT!
Experience the life of butterflies and other insects. Includes visits to the walk-through butterfly exhibit.
Activity Number: FoZB 430983-01, Boise City Residents & Non-residents 430883-01

Night Animals and Day Animals - 8/7
Whoooooo is active at night? Which animals are busy during the day? Find the answer in this class!
Activity Number: FoZB 430988-01, Boise City Residents & Non-residents 430888-01

Registration Information

  • Registration begins April 15, 2013 for Boise Residents (including Friends of Zoo Boise pass holders that are also Boise residents) and April 22, 2013 for Boise non-residents. 
  • Visit Online Services at www.cityofboise.org/parks,
  • Stop at Fort Boise Community Center (700 Robbins Road)
  • Call Fort Boise Community Center at (208) 608-7680.  Registration is not offered through Zoo Boise.
  • For Friends of Zoo Boise Annual Pass holders, a current annual pass is required upon program enrollment.  To purchase a Friends of Zoo Boise Annual Pass contact Zoo Boise at (208) 384-4125 x 200 or click here (http://www.zooboise.org/sponsorshipopportunities/memberships.aspx) for more information.