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Calendar: Wild Animal Camp 2009

At the Wild Animal Park

Check back soon for 2010 schedule.

Have you ever wanted to see what it’s like to be a zookeeper, veterinarian, or exotic animal trainer? Ever wished you could take amazing photos of wildlife and get published in a magazine? Want to meet amazing animals up close and explore the Wild Animal Park with your own private tour guide? Here’s your chance—join us for Summer Camp 2009! With both day and resident camp options, campers ages 4–17 will have a summer unlike any other.

Call now to register: 619-718-3000 or 800-407-9534. Or book online! See the BUY NOW link with each class description below.

See Day Camp and Resident Camp options below...

Day Camp options

Storytime Safari

Full-day camp for children entering grades 1–2 in the fall of 2009 (ages 6–7)

Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. each day
$265 for members, $295 for nonmembers

Embark on a journey through books in Storytime Safari. Each day includes animal stories, crafts, and activities focused on a particular creature feature. From phenomenal faces to terrific tails, by the end of the week each camper will have a head-to-toe outfit to wear in our own storybook production, performed Friday for family and friends. Campers will tour the Park, meet animals up close, play games, sing songs, and create their own storybook to take home.

Fact or Fiction

Full-day camp for children entering grades 3–5 in the fall of 2009 (ages 8–10)
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. each day
$265 for members, $295 for nonmembers

• Elephants cannot jump — FACT
• Bats are blind — FICTION
• You can tell the temperature by the number of chirps a cricket makes
• We need YOU to find out!

Explore animal myths and misconceptions and prove them FACT or FICTION in this full-day camp for third, fourth, and fifth graders. The week will include Wild Animal Park tours, animal encounters, games, crafts, snacks, and behind-the-scenes visits. Campers will work together to determine each animal myth confirmed or busted. Examine elephant enigmas and uncover ungulate untruths. One FACT for sure—campers will have an incredible time!

Green Scene

Full-day camp for children entering grades 6–8 in the fall of 2009 (ages 11–13)
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. each day
$265 for members, $295 for nonmembers

Go to camp and GO GREEN! Campers will explore ways to reuse, reduce, recycle, and conserve our most precious resources. From endangered species conservation to solar energy and saving water, these students will be conservation experts by the end of the week. They’ll get a chance to share that knowledge at Friday’s Conservation Fair at the Park. Campers will educate the public with animal interpretation, recycled art and games, and simple ways that everyone can go green. Camp days will include Park tours, behind-the-scenes visits, hands-on activities, games, research, animal encounters, art projects, and snacks.

Hot Off the Press

Full-day camp for children entering grades 9–12 in the fall of 2009 (ages 14–17)
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. each day
$265 for members, $295 for nonmembers

Who writes those articles in the San Diego Zoo’s magazine, ZOONOOZ? Who takes those incredible photos of Zoo and Park animals? Well, this year it’s our summer campers! High school campers will get a chance to be a part of San Diego Zoo Publications. With wildlife photography workshops and layout and design lessons, photojournalism has never been this WILD! After camp, you’ll be able to see your work on this Web site and, for a few lucky campers, in ZOONOOZ magazine!

Animal Care Boot Camp

Five-day, four-night resident camp for children entering grades 6–8 in the fall of 2009
Monday, 8 a.m.–Friday, 5 p.m., including four overnight stays
$869 for members, $899 for nonmembers

Last year’s three-day Animal Care Boot Camp program was so popular; we’ve expanded it into a full-week resident camp! Each day campers will get down and dirty learning all about animal care and conservation. The week will include behind-the-scenes visits, animal encounters, hands-on activities, professional talks, a Photo Caravan safari, crafts, games, campfire activities, and all meals. Exotic animal training, animal nutrition, veterinary care, exhibit design, zookeeping…this camp does it all!

I'm just back from your three-day camp at the Wild Animal Park. It was my nine year old, not me, who was attending. I would like to thank you for the wonderful experience your camp gave him.  It was my son's first sleepover away from home.  I was concerned what his reaction might be. He had a wonderful time. When I picked him up on the third day, I watched as he went around to the counselors and the other kids and thanked them and said, "I'll see you next year." On the way home, he talked about some of the many things that he learned and what a great time he had. Thanks, you do a good job and for kids that's a good thing. Thanks again.--JW