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.
Register By Phone
Call (208) 608-7680
Register Online
Click to register online
Questions?
Email our education staff
SUMMER EDUCATION PROGRAMS:
Registration opens Monday, April 1 for City of Boise residents and Wednesday, April 3 for everyone.
Annual passholders to Zoo Boise get a reduced rate on programs. Send an EMAIL to get the promo code.
Zoo Boise Camps 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
CAMPS AGES 4-6
Cost:
$150
Times:
9am – 12pm
JUNIOR ZOOKEEPING
What is it like to work at a zoo? Learn to design and create exhibits, make diets, identify scat, train animals, make enrichment for animals, meet zoo staff, and find out how zoos and their guests are helping to protect animals in the wild.
Flighted Friends
Interested in a career working with animals? Learn all there is to know about zookeeping and explore other careers involving animals & wildlife conservation. Try your hand as a wildlife biologist, zoo veterinarian, wildlife educator, exhibit designer & creator, and more!
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.
CREEPY CRAWLIES
We have snakes that slither, sneaky stick insects, and our not so sloooow tortoises. Come learn about herpetology and entomology with us at Zoo Boise and how we care for our cold-blooded friends. Meet our animal ambassadors to further appreciate these necessary critters.
Monkey Business
Monkey around with the baboons and vervet monkeys in our Gorongosa National Park Exhibit. Study the behaviors of the patas monkeys, gibbons, lemurs, and tamarins. Learn about the enrichment we provide for these brilliant mammals…we will provide enrichment for you too through crafts, games, and zookeeper chats.
Wild Creations
Get ready for a week of colorful adventures designed just for your little ones. From paintings to sculpture to dance and music – we’ll explore all forms of art and make some of our own with a messy Zoo Boise twist!
Animal Superheroes
Your tiny adventurers will enter the world of animal superheroes with wild traits. From super senses to incredible survival skills, campers will craft, play, and meet animal guests showcasing the most extraordinary adaptations in the animal kingdom.
Sensory Safari
Embark on a sensory safari to discover how animals use their senses to navigate the world. From keen eyesight to acute hearing and extraordinary smells, campers will learn about the diverse ways animals perceive their surroundings.
ZOO DETECTIVES
Solve mysteries of the zoo and 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
From ANTEATER to ZEBRA, each day is a new alphabet adventure! With crafts galore, zoo exploration, stories, imaginative play, and animal meet & greets, we strive to foster early literacy skills by turning each day into an alphabet quest.
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!
Register By Phone
Call (208) 608-7680
Register Online
Click to register online
Questions?
Email our education staff
CAMPS AGES 7-9
Cost:
$280
Times:
9am – 4pm
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.
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 our hundreds of animals!
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.
ANIMAL ARCHITECTS
Calling all young 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.
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!
Bird Nerds
Let’s take off on an exploration of the zoo’s wild winged creatures. We will learn the native species in Idaho that you can find in your backyard. From fluffy, feathered dinosaurs to the rainbow of modern diversity in the avian world, sign up your bird nerds, paleontology experts, and future ornithologists!
HERPETOLOGY 101
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, you will meet our many reptilian ambassadors.
Register By Phone
Call (208) 608-7680
Register Online
Click to register online
Questions?
Email our education staff
CAMPS AGES 10-12
Cost:
$280
Times:
9am – 4pm
Zoo Careers
Interested in a career working with animals? Learn all there is to know about zookeeping and explore other careers involving animals & wildlife conservation. Try your hand as a wildlife biologist, zoo veterinarian, wildlife educator, exhibit designer & creator, and more!
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.
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!
Mythical Beasts
From legendary beings to creatures of myth and fantasy, campers will journey around the world – past & present – 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!
ORNITHOLOGY EXPERTS
Architects, dancers, swimmers, and from the fastest to the flightless – the avian world is filled with remarkable adaptations. From fluffy, feathered dinosaurs to the rainbow of modern diversity in the bird realm, sign up your bird nerds, paleontology experts, and future ornithologists! Not only will we learn about the zoo’s wild birds but identify the wild birds of Idaho, too.
SYMBIOTIC SAFARI
Unravel the web of life across intricate ecosystems, this camp is tailored for future ecologists and showcases the fascinating world of symbiosis. Uncover the strategies and survival stories of both predators and prey or the cooperation between dynamic duos of the animal kingdom.
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, in-depth learning, and the chance to become a “certified” Herp Expert.
Register By Phone
Call (208) 608-7680
Register Online
Click to register online
Questions?
Email our education staff
Zoo Youth Camps with Community Partners
WILDLIFE WORDS
Cost: $350 Per Person
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.
Begin your mornings with a teacher-writer at The Cabin to hone your creative writing skills. After a sack lunch in the park, you will head to Zoo Boise for animal observations and explorations to add to your creations!
Register online at thecabinidaho.org/camps or call 208-331-8000. Morning drop-off & check-in at The Cabin with afternoon pick up at Zoo Boise.
*FoZB or partner members can receive a discount, contact your member institution for a discount code.
PARK EXPLORERS
Cost: $450 Per Person
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 will begin and end each day at the Idaho State Museum.
Registration required through Discovery Center of Idaho at www.dcidaho.org and registration deadline is June 28, 2024.
*FoZB or partner members can receive a discount, contact your member institution for a discount code.
Discount: $30.00 if member of any institution.
WILD IN THE CITY
Cost: $141 City of Boise Resident
$218 Non-Resident
While it is a city, Boise is part of an amazing variety of ecosystems including deserts, forests, and rivers. Explore the wilds of the city and experience outdoor recreational opportunities Boise has to offer. We will hike in the Boise Foothills while learning about sagebrush deserts; visit The WaterShed to examine water bugs and test water quality; climb trees to investigate tree functions and identification; safari through the zoo to explore ecosystems and animals from around the world; explore local agriculture from seed to harvest at the Boise Urban Garden School. Transportation provided to each partner site; Drop-off and pick up at Fort Boise Community Center.
PRESCHOOL ZOO
Ages:
Child (ages 3-5) + Adults
Must register individually.
cost:
$35 per series
Get to know some of our Zoo Boise animals better in this series of programs designed for adults & preschoolers. Each week features a different animal. Activities are designed to be multi-sensory and may include mini zoo tours, movement activities, listening to stories, crafts, touching artifacts, and meeting live animals. Join us for this informal introduction to the wonderful world of animals! All children must be accompanied by an enrolled, paying adult and who is ready to take part in the activities! Maximum of 2 children per enrolled adult. For everyone’s safety and enjoyment, unregistered children (including siblings) may not attend. All children must be at least 3 years old.
SERIES 3: April
April 2-23 – Tuesdays, 10 – 11AM
April 6-27 – Saturdays – 9:30 – 10:30AM
April 6-27 – Saturdays – 11AM – 12PM
Register By Phone
Call (208) 608-7680
Register Online
Click to register online
Questions?
Email our education staff
HOMESCHOOL ZOO
Costs:
Ages 5-8 – $18
Ages 9-13 – $26.50
Per person and day
Times:
Wednesdays
Ages 5-8 – 9AM – 11AM
Ages 9-13 – 9AM – 12PM
The Homeschool Zoo program series provides a unique learning experience for students schooled at home.
The course consists of classroom discussion, laboratory activities, animal encounters and specialized zoo tours. Classes align with Idaho State Science Standards and focus on topics and principles based on grade level. Themes will emphasize looking at animal groups and taxonomy, adaptations, habitats, and ecology. Each individual household must register their child for the class. Kids only! Please bring a small snack for a 15-minute break during class.
K – 1st grade
January 10 – Animal Engineers
February 7 – Littles Behaviors
April 3 – Life Cycles
2nd – 3rd grade
January 17 – Land & Water
February 14 – Biomes of the World
April 10 – Biodiversity
4th – 5th grade
January 24 – Earth’s Spheres
February 21 – Energy to Food
April 17 – Survival!
6th – 8th grade
January 31 – Ecosystem Services
February 28 – Trophic Cascades
April 24 – Predator/Prey
Register By Phone
Call (208) 608-7680
Register Online
Click to register online today
Questions?
Please email our education staff
FAMILY & ADAPTIVE PROGRAMS
EARTH DAY FAMILY NIGHT OUT
Cost: $8 Per Person
Every day is Earth Day at Zoo Boise but join us to celebrate Mother Earth in April! We are excited to open the zoo for families to explore after hours too. The zoo is totally different in the twilight: some animals go right to bed while others are just getting ready to “party”. We will have stations with animal artifacts, Earth Day activities, you can meet our animal ambassadors, and join us for a guided tour. Registration/payment required for each family member.
HOMESCHOOL FAMILY NIGHT OUT
Cost: $8 Per Person
Come have fun with all your kiddos, co-ops, homeschool friends and enjoy an after-hours zoo exploration! We will have stations with animal artifacts, art activities, you can meet our animal ambassadors, and join us for a guided tour (though, some animals have an early bedtime). Registration/payment required for each family member.
ADAPTIVE EVENING AT THE ZOO – ALL AGES
Cost: $8 Per Person
Join us for an after-hours 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 (please note, some animals have an early bedtime), up close animal encounters, and art activities.
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.