ZOOCAMP!

Can't top that! ZooCamp 2008!

The Oakland Zoo invites campers for an exciting week of nature discovery, animal adventures, and fun! Camp activities include stories, puppet play, games, craft projects, science activities and of course, animals! The Oakland Zoo takes great pride in creating age-appropriate options for campers age 4 through high school. See class descriptions and schedules below.

Registration Information

Members can register online starting Monday, March 17, 2008 at 10:00am.
Non-Members can register online starting Monday, March 24, 2008 at 10:00am.

Click here to register for ZooCamp 2008. If you have questions please contact the ZooCamp Hotline at (510) 632-9525 x280.

Did you register last year, but can't remember your password? Click here to view or update your account information.

New this year!
Campers told us they wanted to spend more time with us and we listened! Starting this year, kids can spend a second week at ZooCamp without repeating the same activities! For campers age 4 through 5th grade, we are offering two classes on alternating weeks at each grade level. Register for Class A, Class B, or both in any order to have an enriching summer at the Oakland Zoo.

Class A: June 16-20, July 7-11, July 21-25, August 4-8
Class B: June 23-27, July 14-18, July 28-August 1, August 11-15

And parents asked for this: Campers signing up for two weeks of ZooCamp will receive a 10% discount on their second week of camp!

Fees and Hours:
Children must be at least 4 years old on the first day of camp to attend our PreK class. All other children should register for classes based on the grade level they will be entering in Fall 2008.

PreK: 9:00 am - noon, $186 for members, $206 for non-members
Kindergarten: 9:00 am - noon OR 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm, $186 for members, $206 for non-members. (Please note, kindergarten campers can only register for the morning OR afternoon class each week.)
Grades 1-5: 9:00am - 4:00 pm, $281 for members, $301 for non-members

**Wondering about our odd dollar amounts? ZooCamp is more committed to conservation than ever! The odd extra $1 of your registration fee will be donated directly to Proyecto Titi a project working to save Cotton-Topped Tamarins in Colombia. Cotton-Topped Tamarins are a type of small monkey and will be featured on our 2008 ZooCamp t-shirts!
Need-based financial aid is available. To receive an application please call the ZooCamp Hotline: 510-632-9525 x280.

Extended Care
We are pleased to offer before and after care options during every session of camp this summer. Extended Care participants will spend their time supervised in our camp classrooms and picnic area with choices of crafts, stories, or games to keep them busy. Registration is per week only, we are not able to offer a per day option or accommodate drop-ins.
Cost:

• $40 for 8:30-9:00am
• $60 for 4:00-5:30pm
• $90 for both before and after camp care

Cancellation and Refund Policy

• If your child cannot attend camp and you give more than 2 weeks notice you will receive a 90% refund.
• If you cancel less than 2 weeks, but more than 1 week before your scheduled camp session you will receive 50% of your registration fee.
• Sorry, no refunds will be issued for cancellations after the Monday before your scheduled session.
• Membership fees are non-refundable.

Program Information

Please note: Final class schedules will not be available until June 2008. Each class will include zoo tours, animal close-ups, crafts, games, science projects, and behind-the-scenes experiences as appropriate. Each Monday you will receive an outline of what your camper will be doing during the week.

PreK: Mini-Mammals

• Class A: Do you have two eyes, two legs, and thumbs on your feet? Animals are like us, except when they're not! Join us to explore the idea of same and different in the animal kingdom.
• Class B: Animals move in weird and wonderful ways! Slither, slide, creep crawl, waddle, and walk around to discover who in the zoo runs, rambles, climbs, swims, and romps!

Kindergarten: Busy Beasts

• Class A: If you were an animal, would the world seem the same? Animals see/ hear/ smell/ touch/ taste the world in extraordinary ways.
• Class B: Do you live in a house? Apartment? Nest? Animals build and protect homes for their families, just like people.

First Grade: Furry Friends

• Class A: What makes a bird a bird? Or an ant an ant? The animal kingdom encompasses a vast variety of unique groups of incredible creatures!
• Class B: Who keeps you safe? Who gives you good food? Who tucks you in at night? Many animals help and care for their families in all kinds of ways.

Second and Third Grades: Animal Adventures:

• Class A: Can you dig with your nose? Can you fit a watermelon in your mouth? Animals are adapted to do all kinds of amazing things to survive in all kinds of places!
• Class B: Where do you find food? Shelter? Safety? Good habitats provide for an animal's every need!

Fourth and Fifth Grades: Eco-Explorers:

• Class A: Do lemurs like to move it move it? Do hyenas really laugh? Do snakes really unhinge their jaws? There are so many amazing things to learn about animals, it's important to keep track of fact and fiction!
• Class B: How did the zebra get its stripes? Why does an elephant have a long nose? Around the globe, across cultures and oceans, animals play a meaningful role in our mythology and our lives.

Middle school students (6th-8th grade) have two options at ZooCamp. Choose your adventure or register to come twice!

• Wild Survivor: Imagine you are on a hike, and suddenly you find yourself lost in the woods-what should you do? Each day, campers will learn about and practice important survival skills like building a fire, finding food, collecting water, or making a shelter. At the end of the week you'll have the knowledge to help you survive and you'll receive your very own emergency survival kit. Offered June 23-27, July 7-11, July 14-18, July 28-August 1, and August 4-8. Cost: $301 for members, $321 for non-members.
• Curious Cachers: Did you know a box turtle weighing less than a pound can navigate through a mile of forest to find their home pond? Animals have extraordinary, almost unbelievable navigation skills. Campers will improve their own navigation skills by using a traditional compass as well as a GPS navigation device, and get an introduction to the treasure-hunting hobby known as "geocaching." Offered July 7-11, July 14-18, July 28-August 1, and August 4-8. Cost: $281 for members, $301 for non-members.

Also new this year, middle school campers can spend the night! Campers in grades 6th-8th attending camp the weeks of July 14-18, July 28-August 1, or August 4-7 can enhance their experience with a Thursday evening overnight! Participants will get to visit the zoo after hours and learn about animal nightlife. Dinner and breakfast provided. Cost: $50.

High school students can be a camper themselves or assist with younger groups. Of course, if you love the zoo you can do both!

• Zoo Crew: Experience the demands of being a zoo keeper in this dynamic, hands-on camp. Each day we explore a different aspect of modern zoo keeping including cleaning an exhibit, designing enrichment for captive animals, learning about veterinary medicine, and training exercises for wild animals. If you think you might enjoy a career with animals, this camp if for you! Offered June 23-29, July 14-18, and August 4-8. Cost: $281 for members, $301 for non-members.
• Teen Assistant (T.A.): Love animals and kids? We need your help! Come to camp as a Teen Assistant and spend two weeks playing with kids and helping to lead activities while earning community service hours. Interested teens need to submit an application and a letter of reference. Participants then attend a training orientation and assist with two weeks of camp. Click here to download an application. Deadline for applications is June 1. Cost: $60 for members, $80 for non-members.

Already registered for ZooCamp? Have questions? Click here for information about where to go, what to bring, and what to wear. Can't wait to see at ZooCamp!

ZOOCAMP HOTLINE: (510) 632-9525 x280