Current Zoo Programs
Zoo Boise programs strive to inspire the conservation of wildlife worldwide by providing unique, fun, and engaging nature-focused experiences! Activities include up-close animal encounters, zoo tours, nature walks, ecology games and simulations, science-based investigations, zookeeper presentations, and more.
SUMMER EDUCATION PROGRAMS REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
Annual passholders to Zoo Boise get a reduced rate on programs. Send an EMAIL to get the promo code.
Register By Phone
Call (208) 608-7680
Register Online
Click to register online
Questions?
Email our education staff
Zoo Boise Programs Can Include:
- Animal meet and greet
- Zoo guided tours
- Classroom lessons, demonstrations, and experiments
- Exploration of animal biofacts
- Arts & crafts projects
- Educational videos
- Zookeeper talks
- Ecology-focused games
SUMMER CAMPS (ages 4-6)
TIMES:
9AM – 12PM
COST:
$180
dr. zoolittle
Your future veterinarians start the week by creating their own vet kits, complete with stethoscopes, badges and ID cards. Set up a mini animal hospital where campers can diagnose “injured” stuffed animals, prescribe treatments and learn about the importance of animal care.
Fur-Feathers-Scales
Discover what makes furry, feathered, and scaly creatures unique. Campers will waddle like penguins, roar like lions, and slither like snakes while learning about how animals live, eat, and play. With games, colorful crafts, stories, and animal ambassadors, this camp is perfect for curious kiddos who love the whole animal kingdom!
JUNIOR ZOOKEEPING
What is it like to work at a zoo? Learn to design and create exhibits, make diets, identify scat, train animals, meet zoo staff and find out how zoos and their guests are helping to protect animals in the wild.
COLORFUL CRITTERS
Vibrant adventures await as each day brings a splash of color inspired by our amazing animal friends. Campers will explore the zoo, engage in lively games, and create colorful masterpieces, all while discovering the beauty of the animal kingdom. This half-day camp is designed just for our pint-sized Picasso adventurers!
Creepy Crawlies
We have snakes that slither, sneaky stick insects, and our not so sloooow tortoises. Come learn about herpetology and entomology and how we care for our cold-blooded friends. Meet our animal ambassadors to further appreciate these necessary critters.
zoo detectives
Discover hidden wonders of the animal kingdom. Campers will don their detective caps, sort through clues, track traces of animals and their movements through footprints, scat and other animal signs.
animal abcs
With crafts galore, zoo exploration, stories, imaginative play and animal meet & greets, we’ll foster early literacy skills by turning each day into an alphabet quest. Venture into the animal kingdom to start the school year off with a roar!
Register By Phone
Call (208) 608-7680
Register Online
Click to register online
Questions?
Email our education staff
SUMMER CAMPS (ages 7-9)
TIMES:
9AM – 4PM
COST:
$300
zookeeping 101
What is it like to work at a zoo? Learn to design and create exhibits, make diets, identify scat, train animals, see animals get enrichment, meet zoo staff and find out how zoos and their guests are helping to protect animals in the wild.
**Open to ages 6-9 years old.**
HERPETOLOGY EXPLORERS
Is it smooth & moist or scaly & dry? We will spend the week immersed in herpetology: the study of reptiles and amphibians. Dive into the realm of snakes, turtles, frogs and more as we unravel the secrets of these incredible creatures. Between crafts, games, and in-depth learning (dissections optional), you will meet our reptilian ambassadors.
Wild creations
Explore the colors and textures of the animal kingdom, then use your imagination and creativity for crafting animal-inspired masterpieces, exploring various art techniques, and adding some drama to your life. Every day will be a canvas for your “Wild Creations” to come to life!
animal avengers
Join the Animal Avengers at Zoo Boise to uncover the superpowers of the animal kingdom. From keen eyesight to acute hearing and extraordinary smells, campers will learn about the diverse ways animals survive and thrive in the wild. With exciting games, hands-on crafts, up-close animal encounters, and a mission to protect wildlife, this camp is packed with adventure and fun!
dr. zoolittle
Learn the language of veterinarians and test your chops at skills like reading x-rays, cleaning teeth, and taking vital measurements. Visit with our hospital staff and do “rounds” around our zoo to learn more about the care provided for hundreds of animals!
**Open to ages 6-9 years old.**
zoologica
Explore the amazing diversity of the zoo’s residents, from the smallest insects to the mightiest big cats. Learn what it takes to live in the wild. From “tracking animals” on a scavenger hunt to becoming wildlife detectives, campers will embark on exciting challenges, crafts, and animal encounters. Ready to unlock the mysteries of the animal kingdom and become an expert adventurer? Let’s get wild!
BEASTLY BUILDERS
Discover the incredible homes and structures from feathered architects, industrious insects and engineering feats of mammals. Get ready to design, build and explore the architectural wonders of the animal kingdom.
WILDLIFE FORENSICS 101
Campers will delve into the complex world of animal mysteries, learning how to solve cases and examine clues, as a field biologist and in the “lab”. From animal tracks to feathers, this interactive camp combines science and adventure, offering a hands-on exploration of wildlife forensics.
Register By Phone
Call (208) 608-7680
Register Online
Click to register online
Questions?
Email our education staff
SUMMER CAMPS (ages 10-12)
TIMES:
9AM – 4PM
COST:
$300
ZOO CAREERS
Interested in a career working with animals? Learn all there is to know about zookeeping and explore other careers involving animals and wildlife conservation. Try your hand as a wildlife biologist, zoo veterinarian, wildlife educator, exhibit designer & creator and more!
Art Safari
Explore the colors and textures of the animal kingdom, then use your imagination and creativity for crafting animal-inspired masterpieces, exploring various art techniques, and adding some drama to your life. Every day will be a canvas for your “Wild Creations” to come to life!
HERPETOLOGY EXPERTS
Embark on an advanced journey into the intricate world of reptiles and amphibians at Zoo Boise! We kick off the week celebrating World Croc Day; this week-long expedition is custom-tailored for aspiring herpetologists who crave a deeper dive into the secrets of snakes, turtles, frogs and more. Prepare for hands-on experiences (DISSECTIONS!), in-depth learning and the chance to become a “certified” Herp Expert.
Conservation Crew
Join the Conservation Crew at Zoo Boise and become a wildlife hero! Research the challenges facing endangered species, explore native habitat, and learn how zoos contribute to global conservation. Through hands-on activities, up-close animal encounters, and teamwork, campers will incorporate everything they’ve learned throughout the week and come up with creative solutions to develop a “Wildlife Protection Plan”.
FORENSIC EXPERTS
How would you track tigers in the forests of Siberia? Enter the world of wildlife forensics through hands-on exploration using tools like field biologists. Can you figure out a mystery in the lab? Learn and use techniques to examine evidence in support of conservation.
MYTHICAL BEASTS
From legendary beings to creatures of myth and fantasy, campers will journey around the world through captivating stories, imaginative crafts and encounters with the zoo’s most extraordinary residents. A week of adventure to bring the magic of the animal kingdom to life!
ZOOLOGY
Unravel the web of life and explore the science of animals at Zoo Boise! Our future zoologists will study taxonomy (build a zoological family tree to uncover how species are related), animal behavior with enrichment projects, and creature features (adaptations) through zoo encounters, and hands-on activities (DISSECTION!) This camp offers an exciting blend of biology, ecology, and conservation science for curious minds ready to dig deeper into the animal kingdom!
Register By Phone
Call (208) 608-7680
Register Online
Click to register online
Questions?
Email our education staff
SUMMER CAMPS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS
TIMES:
9AM – 4PM
COST:
Varies
park explorers
Explore Julia Davis Park! Visit a different cultural institution each day. Partners include Boise Art Museum, Zoo Boise, Idaho State Museum and the Discovery Center of Idaho. A detailed schedule will be provided. Participants begin and end each day at the Idaho State Museum.
Registration required through Discovery Center of Idaho at dcidaho.org. Registration deadline is June 13.
wildlife words
Calling all young wordsmiths and wildlife enthusiasts! Learn a new language through the eyes/ears/noses of animals to create a collection of reptilian, amphibian, and mammalian-inspired poems and short stories. Embark on a unique collaboration between The Cabin and Zoo Boise with our “Wildlife Words” camp. This week-long literary adventure is designed for aspiring writers who are passionate about nature where words and wildlife come together.
Register online at The Cabin or call 208-331-8000. Morning drop-off & check-in at The Cabin with afternoon pick up at Zoo Boise.
ADULT, FAMILY, and ADAPTIVE PROGRAMS
woo at the zoo (21+)
Cost: $45 Per Person
A Wild Valentine’s Celebration for Adults
Birds do it. Bees do it. Red pandas sometimes do it. Find out how animals at Zoo Boise woo each other. Our Valentine’s program will reveal the very intimate secrets of exotic animal mating and dating – from the humorous and tawdry to passionate. Open to both singles and sweethearts. Join us for fun activities and a guided after-hours tour.
Beer, cider, and wine will be available for purchase. Must be 21+ to attend.
Wild at Twilight (21+)
Cost: $35 Per Person
You will see the zoo in a new light after dark! Enjoy a guided after-hours tour where you may see different animals and different behaviors after hours… who gets wild at twilight?
Beer, cider, and wine will be available for purchase. Must be 21+ to attend.
Earth Day: Family Night
(ALL AGES)
Cost: $8 Per Person
Every day is Earth Day at Zoo Boise but join us to celebrate Mother Earth in a fun-filled Earth Day/Evening designed for the whole family! We are excited to open the zoo for families & friends, homeschool co-ops, and scout groups to explore after hours. Explore interactive activity stations, create eco-friendly crafts, and delve into exciting educational experiences. Don’t miss out on this ultimate Earth Day adventure!
Registration/payment required for each family member.
ADAPTIVE EVENING AT THE ZOO (ALL AGES)
Cost: $8 Per Person
Join us for an afterhours zoo experience designed for individuals with disabilities and their families and friends! Stations are focused on varying degrees of sensory input and will include self-guided animal artifact exploration, guided zoo exploration time (note: some animals have an early bedtime), up close animal encounters, and art activities. Everyone is welcome to enroll!
Registration/payment required for each family member.
Discover a world of adventure and learning in a new education program for our kinders and first graders. This 3-hour drop-off mini-camp is perfect for starting the week with wild educational activities! Please bring a small snack for a 15-minute break during class.
Snooze at the Zoo Overnights
Join us for an overnight adventure at Zoo Boise! Zoo Boise offers a variety of Snooze at the Zoo overnight programs for your Family, Scout Troop, or School Group.
Education programs are sponsored by:
When you register for a class or program with the Zoo Boise/City of Boise, this Personal Release Statement is implied: I understand that the registered activities and services may have an element of hazard or inherent danger and I take full responsibility for my actions and physical condition. I agree to indemnify and hold harmless the City of Boise and its employees from any liability loss, cost, or expense (including attorney’s fees, medical, and ambulance costs) that I may incur while participating in the Recreation activities. I give my consent to use any photographs or videotape taken of me in future promotional or marketing materials.