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Summer Camps

Summer Camps 2023

REGISTRATION

All of our summer camps are now sold out. We encourage you to check back in mid-September for our winter camps.

Zoo Members get early access for registration!

If you’d like to be added to the waitlist for a camp, please contact us with the information outlined in our FAQ’s.

CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS

Pierce County residents who are enrolled in one of the following programs (EBT/Washington Quest, P-EBT/Pandemic EBT, WIC nutrition program, foster parenting & kinship care) are eligible to receive a 100% scholarship on Zoo Camp fees. Our scholarship application for summer camps is now closed.

Tiny Explorers

Preschool Ages 4 & 5

TINY EXPLORERS 

Who makes a nest and who digs a den? Do they leap, creep, swim or fly? All animals live their lives in the way that suits them best. Go on adventures around the zoo, in the aquarium and surrounding forest, listen to stories, make crafts, and meet some animal friends.

Camp: 2-day camp on Thursdays & Fridays

Time: 9:15 am-3 pm

Price: $150 Members, $165 General, non-members

Available Dates: All dates are sold out

Sold Out Dates: June 22-23, June 29-30, July 6-7, July 13-14, July 20-21, July 27-28, Aug 3-4, Aug 10-11, Aug 17-18, Aug 24-25

Little Explorers

Kindergarten Graduates

LITTLE EXPLORERS 

Bring your curiosity to explore, touch, hear, see, and smell the many wonders of nature! Enjoy some adventures throughout the zoo, aquarium and nearby forest while learning about animals and what they need to survive. Campers will also discover how we care for animals at the zoo.

Camp: 3-day camps Monday – Wednesday

Time: 9:15 am-3 pm

Price: $225 Members, $250 General, non-members

Available Dates: All dates are sold out

Sold Out Dates: June 26-28, July 10-12, July 17-19, July 24-26, July 31-Aug 2, Aug 7-9, Aug 14-16, Aug 21-23

Junior Explorers

1st & 2nd Grade Graduates

JUNIOR EXPLORERS – HAPPENIN’ HABITATS 

Food, water, shelter, and space! A habitat is a place where an animal has everything they need to survive. Take a walk on the wild side as you travel through forests, the Arctic Tundra, Rocky Shores, and under the sea to learn how the needs of each species can be very different and how we take care of these special needs for animals at the zoo.

Camp: 5-day camps Monday-Friday

Time: 9:00 am-3:15 pm

Price: $400 Members, $450 General, non-members

Available Dates: All dates are sold out

Sold Out Dates: June 26-30, July 10-14, July 17-21, July 24-28, July 31-Aug 4, Aug 7-11, Aug 14-18, Aug 21-25

 

JUNIOR EXPLORERS – BUDDING BIOLOGISTS 

What does a biologist do? They study living things! Just as there are many types of living things, there are many kinds of biologists. Some study insects, others love plants, and some go on ocean adventures. Explore some of the tools and techniques that scientists use, and travel around the zoo to meet some zoo biologists to learn how they care for animals.

Camp: 5-day camps Monday-Friday

Time: 9:00 am-3:15 pm

Price: $400 Members, $450 General, non-members

Available Dates: All dates are sold out

Sold Out Dates: June 26-30, July 10-14, July 17-21, July 24-28, July 31-Aug 4, Aug 7-11, Aug 14-18, Aug 21-25

 

JUNIOR OCEAN EXPLORERS

Learn about marine habitats, meet some sea life and explore the beach at low tide.

Camp: 3-day camp Wednesday-Friday

Time: 9:00 am-3:15 pm

Price: $245 Members, $270 General, non-members

Available Dates: All dates are sold out

Sold Out Dates: July 5-7

Wild Explorers

3rd & 4th Grade Graduates

WILD EXPLORERS 

Let your curiosity run wild! Come discover the diversity of wildlife around the zoo, aquarium and in the surrounding forest and natural areas. We’ll study how animals are adapted to their specific terrestrial and marine environments and how scientists gather information about the natural world. Of course, we’ll meet some animals in person and find out what it takes to care for them here at the Zoo.

Camp: 5-day camps Monday-Friday

Time: 8:45 am-3:30 pm

Price: $435 Members, $485 General, non-members

Available Dates: All dates are sold out

Sold Out Dates: June 26-30, July 10-14, July 17-21, July 24-28, July 31-Aug 4, Aug 7-11, Aug 14-18, Aug 21-25

 

WILD OCEAN EXPLORERS

Discover the diversity of wildlife in marine ecosystems, collect and study plankton and explore the beach at low tide.

Camp: 3-day camp Wednesday-Friday

Time: 8:45 am-3:30 pm

Price: $260 Members, $290 General, non-members

Available Dates: All dates are sold out

Sold Out Dates: July 5-7

Science Explorers

5th-7th Grade Graduates

SCIENCE EXPLORERS

Learning about wildlife can be challenging, exciting, fascinating, and fun! In this camp we will discover some of the methods scientists use in the field or in a lab to help them understand what animals need to survive and how we can work together to protect them. We will also visit animals around the zoo and in the aquarium to find out how our staff biologists provide them with the best care.

Camp: 4-day camp Tuesday-Friday

Time: 8:30 am-3:45 pm

Price: $375 Members, $415 General, non-members

Available Dates: All dates are sold out

Sold Out Dates: June 27-30, July 18-21, July 25-28, Aug 1-4, Aug 8-11, Aug 22-25

 

MARINE SCIENCE EXPLORERS 

Learn about the diversity of wildlife in marine ecosystems, collect and examine plankton and explore the beach at low tide.

Camp: 3-day camp Wednesday-Friday

Time: 8:30 am-3:45 pm

Price: $280 Members, $310 General, non-members

Available Dates: All dates are sold out

Sold Out Dates: July 5-7

ECO EXPLORERS

8th-11th Grade Graduates

ECO EXPLORERS

Whether you are curious about what it would take to become a wildlife biologist or a zookeeper there are many roads you can take to pursue a career studying or working with animals. In this camp we will practice some of the methods scientists use in the field in or in a lab to help them understand what animals need to thrive and how we can work together to protect them. We will also visit animals around the zoo and in the aquarium and find out how our staff biologists provide them with the best care.

Camp: 4-day camp Tuesday-Friday

Time: 8:30 am-3:45 pm

Price: $375 Members, $415 General, non-members

Available Dates: All dates are sold out

Sold Out Dates: July 11-14, Aug 15-18

 

MARINE ECOLOGY EXPLORERS

Study the physical and behavioral adaptations of marine life, collect and study plankton, and explore the beach at low tide.

Camp: 3-day camp Wednesday-Friday

Time: 8:30 am-3:45 pm

Price: $280 Members, $310 General, non-members

Available Dates: All dates are sold out

Sold Out Dates: July 5-7

July 5-7 Holiday Week Sessions

1st-11th Grade Graduates

Please Note: All Zoo Explorers Summer camp sessions have time dedicated to learning about the marine environment and will experience unique close encounters with our resident ocean dwellers. However, these 3-day sessions focus entirely on marine life and include exploration at Owen Beach during some of the lowest tides of the year.

 

Junior Ocean Explorers (1st & 2nd Grade Graduates) SOLD OUT

Learn about marine habitats, meet some sea life and explore the beach at low tide.

Dates: 3-day camp Wednesday-Friday, July 5-7

Time: 9:00 am-3:15 pm

Price: $245 Members, $270 General, non-members

 

Wild Ocean Explorers (3rd & 4th Grade Graduates) SOLD OUT

Discover the diversity of wildlife in marine ecosystems, collect and study plankton and explore the beach at low tide.

Dates: 3-day camp Wednesday-Friday, July 5-7

Time: 8:45 am-3:30 pm

Price: $260 Members, $290 General, non-members

 

Marine Science Explorers (5th-7th Grade Graduates) SOLD OUT

Learn about the diversity of wildlife in marine ecosystems, collect and examine plankton and explore the beach at low tide.

Dates: 3-day camp Wednesday-Friday, July 5-7

Time: 8:30 am-3:45 pm

Price: $280 Members, $310 General, non-members

 

Marine Ecology Explorers (8th-11th Grade Graduates) SOLD OUT

Study the physical and behavioral adaptations of marine life, collect and study plankton, and explore the beach at low tide.

Dates: 3-day camp Wednesday-Friday, July 5-7

Time: 8:30 am-3:45 pm

Price: $280 Members, $310 General, non-members