Off-Season Zoo Camp
At Zoo Camp, every day is an exciting adventure that offers a unique and engaging opportunity to connect campers with wildlife and science. Zoo Camp activities include animal encounters, games, crafts, and STEAM-based lessons! Our off-season camps provide students the opportunity to engage with nature and continue learning when the Lincoln Public Schools district is not in session.
View or download the Off-Season Zoo Camp policies here.
Schedules
Fall Break Camp • October 15 - 16, 2026
Price
Zoo Members: $110
Non-Member: $130
Dates
October 15 - 16, 2026
Age Groups
Kindergarten - 2nd grade (20 spots)
3rd - 5th grade (20 spots)
Times
Check-out: 4:15 to 4:45 p.m. in the Nebraska Environmental Trust Center
Add-Ons
Lunch for each day of Zoo Camp. If your camper is a picky eater or has dietary restrictions, we do not recommend purchasing zoo lunch as our options are limited. We cannot sell lunch plans for individual days. All lunches will come with an entree, fruit juice, a serving of fruit or vegetables, a cookie, and a bag of potato chips.
Registration
In previous years, campers were allowed to move up or down an age level based on group availability. However, it is now our policy that campers MUST be signed up for the age group containing the grade they are currently in this school year. All campers MUST currently be in or have completed kindergarten before attending Zoo Camp, be a minimum of five years old, and be completely independent in the restroom. If an age group is sold out, no exceptions will be made. If a camper is found to have signed up without meeting these qualifications, they will be dismissed from camp without a refund.
Camp Policy
Please review our Camp Information Brochure for all policies and procedures, including check-in and check-out processes, refund/cancellation policy, behavior expectations, registration FAQs, and a sample schedule of a typical day at camp. If a camper is found to have signed up without meeting the qualifications outlined in these policies, they will be dismissed from camp without a refund.
Camper Information
Please make sure you are entering your e-mail correctly during registration and are using the e-mail with which you desire to receive all correspondence. We will use your entered e-mail to contact you for camp forms, details, and updates. During registration, you will be asked to fill out your camper’s information, including date of birth, shirt size, allergies, dietary needs, friend grouping requests, and any special needs or accommodations they may require. This information will only be shared with Education staff to ensure the safety of your child while attending camp. Please ensure that you are as thorough as possible to enable us to provide the best experience possible for your child.
Health & Safety Procedures
What TO Bring and What NOT to Bring
| DO Bring | DO NOT Bring |
|---|---|
| DO bring a backpack or bag to carry belongings and bring home crafts | DO NOT personal toys, electronics, or trading cards (including Pokémon). All items brought with your camper are not the responsibility of the zoo if they are lost, stolen, or damaged. |
| DO bring a reusable water bottle that is easy to carry | DO NOT anything of value, including money, jewelry, smart watches, and cell phones. |
| DO bring a towel and full change of clothes including underwear, socks, bottoms, and a shirt. There will be days when campers play in water or get dirty! | |
| DO bring a nutritional and filling lunch as well as any additional snacks. The zoo will provide one snack each day (usually a granola bar, Goldfish, or graham crackers). | |
| DO bring any desired sun protection, including a hat, sunglasses, or jacket. Please apply sunscreen before dropping your camper off as there will not be a time during the camp day for them to reapply. |
Frequently Asked Questions
If dropping off after 8:45am, please enter the reception office to the right of the main gates and let the receptionist know you are here for Zoo Camp. Please wait with your camper in reception until a member of the Education staff comes to pick them up.
Please notify the counselor at check-in that morning of your need to pick-up early and what time you will be arriving. When you get to the zoo, please enter the reception office to the right of the main gates and give the receptionist your camper’s name and age. Education staff will be notified and will bring your camper to you. Please note there are no early pick-ups allowed after 3:45pm.
Zoo Camp registration is non-refundable, except at the discretion of the Director of Education in certain circumstances. As an alternative to cancellation, camp registration can be transferred to another camper in the event of a schedule conflict. If you would like to request cancellation or transfer of your registration, please contact the Director of Education at jchestnut@lincolnzoo.org or call 402-475-6741 ext. 137.
All information about Zoo Camp will be communicated to the email address used during the sign-up process. If you would like communications sent to a different email address than the one originally provided during registration, please let the Education department know your preferred contact information. Emergency contact phone numbers provided at registration will be used to reach caregivers if a medical or behavioral situation arises during camp. Please only list emergency contacts who are able to promptly answer their phone during the day. We will call “Emergency Contact 1” first, and “Emergency Contact 2” next if Contact 1 does not pick up.
While the Lincoln Children’s Zoo prides itself on providing firsthand interaction with living things, that does not always mean getting to pet animals. There are several ambassador animals that campers may be able to gently touch, but most animal encounters will NOT allow the campers to pet. This is for the safety and comfort of both our animals and the campers. Campers will spend their time in public buildings and locations within the zoo. They will not be allowed to go behind the scenes to staff or animal care areas.
If your camper is a picky eater or has dietary restrictions, we do not recommend purchasing zoo lunch as our options are limited. All lunches will come with an entree, fruit juice, a serving of fruit or vegetables, a cookie, and a bag of potato chips. Snacks usually consist of granola bars or crackers like Goldfish or grahams.
Zoo Camp is dedicated to providing campers with a fun and educational experience that focuses on learning, exploring, and relationship-building. Each day of camp will include engaging STEAM lessons, an animal encounter with a zookeeper, team-building activities, outdoor free play, and crafts.
We ask that campers bring a backpack or bag in which to carry belongings and bring home crafts. In this backpack should be a reusable water bottle, lunch and snacks as needed, any desired weather protection (including a hat, sunglasses, or jacket), and a towel and full change of clothes (including underwear, socks, bottoms, and a shirt) as there will be days when campers may play in water or get dirty. Please make sure to label all items sent with your camper. Please do NOT send your camper with any toys, electronics, or personal items of sentimental or financial value. The Lincoln Children’s Zoo is not responsible for any lost, damaged, or stolen belongings.
We ask that you do not send campers with cell phones, as Zoo Camp encourages campers to disconnect from electronics, engage in their surroundings, and connect with nature to make the most of their time here. However, we understand there may be instances when important communication is necessary. If you need to reach your camper during the day, please call the Director at 913-980-9620 or the Coordinator at 402-560-2663.
Zoo Camp makes reasonable efforts to accommodate student needs. If your child has medical, learning, physical, developmental, social, or behavioral needs, or if your child requires other accommodation (such as specialized equipment, additional adult support/supervision at school, learning/social/medical/behavioral accommodations, etc.), please contact the Education department before registering for camp to allow discussion about reasonable accommodations, as Zoo Camp cannot guarantee that requested accommodations or modifications can be made in every situation. Requests for accommodation or modifications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis to ensure adequate staffing and group sizes are available to meet the needs of all children attending camp.
