Summer zoo camps in Washington State can run into the great number and diversity of outdoor recreational opportunities that call to all residents especially during the summer months. Still if your child loves not just the outdoors but the animal life in it, this may be the year you want to parcel out at least one week of summer vacation during which your kids can enjoy a summer zoo camp in Washington State. They will enjoy the chance to investigate animals, habitats and the role of humans in helping to maintain both.
Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle, WA . Trust the Seattle Zoo not just to come up with some great ideas for summer zoo camps in Washington State, but also with some great names to describe them. First, for kids from 5-9 the Woodland Park Zoo presents “Summer Zooper Day Camps” . Kids can choose to attend half or full day programs. There are two themes that will be explored on alternating weeks throughout the summer so that kids can come for two weeks in a row, choose two different weeks during the summer or simply choose their preferred theme and come for a single full week of fun. For this age group the two themes are “The Kingdom of Animals” which will lead children to discover how the animal world is categorized or “Animal Olympians” which allows kids to get a solid look at the very special abilities possessed by different zoo residents. Half day sessions cost $150 per week and full day sessions cost $265 .
It is quite possible that you have children ages 10-14 who are still very interested in the zoo and its animal population. For these youngsters there are two exciting weeks of zoo education and fun offered at what Woodland Park Zoo calls its “Zoo U”. As the title implies there is definitely age appropriate learning that goes on here. The week long sessions this year are entitled “On the Fly” which explores the habits of animals at the zoo that can opt to fly and “Animal Management” which gives kids an inside look at how zoos are organized and maintained. Fees for these programs are $295 per week .
Woodland Park Zoo offers a popular program that fills up quickly so to check out your options or to register call at 206-548-2424.
Northwest Trek, Eatonville, WA. The Northwest Trek gives you a chance to mingle a little bit of the summer zoo camp concept with lots of the great northwest outdoor experience and to do it all as a family activity. If that sounds intriguing, exciting and worth the time and energy then you and your family may be perfect candidates for the Northwest Trek Family Camp experience.
Family camp is offered at Northwest Trek locations during four consecutive weekends from mid July to Mid August when one can expect prime weather conditions. It is an overnight experience that allows you and your family to enjoy an overnight experience that gives you a chance to experience the warmth of a night time camp fire, night time animal sightings, a day time tram tour that allows you to see wild animals in their natural state and habitat. At a cost of $25 for children up to 12 years of age and $48 for all others, this overnight wilderness getaway may be the most fun your family has had all together in recent memory. It surely will produce memories that will last for a long time to come. For more information about reservations, what to bring, what is provided and other camp program details call ahead at 360-832-7166.
Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, Tacoma, WA. You don’t have to be New York,Washington D. C. or Detroit to operate a summer zoo camp program. That fact is aptly demonstrated by Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium of Tacoma, Washington. Whether your child is in Pre-K through Grade 6 or is a teen, Point Defiance has a summer zoo camp experience geared to meet his or her needs and interests.
From mid June – Mid August youngest zoo enthusiasts in the 4-5 year old grouping are welcomed to mini camps that last two days and run for three hours at time. There are morning sessions from 9 a.m. -noon and afternoon sessions from 1- 4 p.m. Topics help kids to familiarize themselves with all sections of the Point Defiance Zoo concentrating on different animals types during each session. For older children zoo camp is a full week experience and sessions run for half days 9:00 a.m – 12:30 p.m. or 1 p.m – 4:30 p.m. Through careful selection parents can patch together two half day programs to give their children a full day summer zoo camp experience.
The topics explored by older children are likely sound interesting even to their parents. Wouldn’t you like to know what your kids will find out in sessions called “Dietary Delight” , “Budding Biologist” or “Sanctuary Secrets? Don’t worry you’ll learn plenty from the excited talk of your kids after a session at Point Defiance summer zoo camp
For teens there are some eye opening opportunities. For a fee of $100 per week teens can take part in in either “Keeper for a Week” or “Marine Biologist” for a week and learn what is involved in the daily work experience of those who choose such professions. What a great chance to experience a potential career and enjoy some extra fun ( and work) at Point Defiance. Finally for $350 per week teens can take part in a program called “Teens in Science”. Through this program teens travel off site to investigate 5 different science related occupations. Activities include things like taking a bird census, working with a park ranger and do hands on water experimentation.
To get more in depth information on any of these programs or to register call at 253-591-5333.
