Zoo Camp Policies

Summer Camp Zoo Policies

Download the Summer Camp Zoo policies here.

Reservations

Reservations must be paid in full prior to the program’s start date.  You may make a reservation by visiting the off-season camp webpage or the summer camp webpage. 

 In previous years, campers were allowed to move up or down an age level based on group availability. This year, campers MUST be signed up for the age group containing the grade they were in during the 2024-2025 school year. All campers must have completed or be entering kindergarten in the fall, as well as be a minimum of five years old. If an age group is sold out for a particular week, 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. 

If you would like your camper to be placed in the same group as a friend, this request must be noted on the waiver form, which must be filled out at least one week in advance of camp starting. However, while the Lincoln Children’s Zoo welcomes these requests, we cannot guarantee they will be fulfilled, even if noted on the waiver. Due to quick turnaround times for creating camp rosters, Education staff will not be able to accommodate last-minute grouping requests. 

Refund/ Cancellation Policy

Zoo Camp registration is non-refundable, except at the discretion of the Director of Education in certain circumstances. To request to cancel your registration, please contact the Director at jchestnut@lincolnzoo.org or call 402-475-6741 ext. 137. 

As an alternative to cancellation, camp registration can be transferred to another week of camp or another camper in the event of a schedule conflict. If transferred from a 4-day camp to a 5-day camp, you will be required to pay the difference. If transferred from a 5-day camp to a 4-day camp, no refund for the difference will be given. 

Refunds will not be given for illness or missed days of camp. In the event that the Lincoln Children’s Zoo sees fit to cancel a day of camp, refunds will be provided for the cost of that day. Zoo Camp will be held in all weather, though changes to the schedule will be made as needed to accommodate rain, extreme heat, and poor air quality. Please be sure to send your camper in weather-appropriate clothing and closed-toed shoes, as well as packing any necessary rain or sun protection. 

Communication

All information about Zoo Camp will be communicated to the email address used during the sign-up process. If you would like communications – including camp drop-off and pick-up procedures, what to bring to camp, and notice of cancellations or changes – 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 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. 

Check-In Procedures

Check-in will be from 8:15-8:45am at the Zoo front gates. You may not drop off your camper prior to 8:15. Please make arrangements to have your camper dropped off no later than 8:45. If you arrive after this time, please go to the reception office – door 4, to the right of the front gates – to check in. 

Upon arrival, look for the sign with your camper’s age group and check in with that counselor. All campers must have an adult present with them until they are checked in. If you have multiple campers in different age groups, please wait with each one until they are checked in before moving to the next age group. Please note that caregivers will not be able to enter the zoo with their camper and must remain outside the gates when dropping off. 

On the first day of camp, please make sure the check-in counselor is aware of any allergies, medications, or other needs your camper may have. Medications sent with campers must be registered with the Director or Coordinator, and a waiver form must be signed at check-in. 

Morning check-in is the time to let the counselor know if you need to pick up your camper earlier than 3:45pm. Please see the Check-Out Procedures section for more information on early check-out. 

Late Check-In: If you are dropping off your camper any time after 8:45am, please go to the reception office to the right of the Zoo front gates. Let the receptionist know you are here for Zoo Camp, and wait with your camper until a member of the Education team arrives to check them in. 

Check-Out Procedures

Check-out will be from 4:15-4:30pm in the Zoo Greenspace outside the front gates. Please make arrangements to have your camper picked up by 4:30 at the latest. 

Upon arrival at the Greenspace, look for the sign with your camper’s age group and check them out with their counselor. Campers will only be released to caregivers on their approved pick-up list (designated at registration) who have a valid photo ID. To pick up your camper, you MUST show a photo ID every day. Please let the Education department know prior to pick-up if you need to add an adult to your camper’s approved pick-up list. 

If you are going to be late to check-out, please call the Director at 913-980-9620, or the Coordinator at 402-285- 2010. If a camper is picked up after 4:45, an additional $10 fee will be charged. 

Early Check-Out: If you need to pick your camper up before 3:45pm, please inform their counselor at check-in what time the camper will be picked up. When picking up early, enter through the reception office and tell the receptionist your camper’s name and age group. A member of the Education team will bring your camper to you. Please note, there are no early pick-ups allowed after 3:45pm. 

Behavior Expectations 

Campers are expected to follow all Zoo Camp expectations throughout their time at camp. Expectations are taught on the first day of camp, and every subsequent day begins with a reminder of the rules. Our Zoo Camp Core Values are as follows: 

Be Respectful: Respecting zoo animals, property, counselors, and fellow campers 

Be Together: Remaining with the group and listening to all counselor instructions 

Be Excited: Being willing to participate in camp activities with enthusiasm and kindness, without disrupting the learning of other campers 

If a camper’s behavior does not meet expectations, staff will remind them of the rules and attempt to redirect their behavior. If no change is made, the camper will speak with their counselor individually and decide on action steps to improve their behavior. If the camper is still unable or unwilling to adjust behavior, they will be referred to the Education department’s administrative staff. 

Emergency contacts will be notified if a camper’s behavior does not improve after staff intervention. Depending on the severity of the behavior, staff may require the camper to be picked up early. Allowing the camper to return for subsequent days of camp will be at the discretion of the Director of Education. Refunds will not be issued for behavior-related dismissals. 

If the student is continually disruptive or inappropriate, demonstrates physical aggression, or presents a flight risk, the student may be dismissed from the program for the remainder of the summer. Physical violence or harmful language toward another camper or staff member will result in immediate dismissal from Zoo Camp with no refund.  

A Day at Camp 

Zoo Camp is dedicated to providing campers with a fun and educational experience that focuses on learning, exploring, outdoor play, and relationship-building. Each day of camp will be based on a different science-related theme and include engaging STEAM lessons, an animal encounter with a Zookeeper, team-building activities, outdoor free play, and crafts. 

Camp activities are organized into three weekly sets of themes that repeatedly rotate throughout the summer. Please double-check that you are not signing your camper up for the same themed week more than once! 

Week 1 (May 27-30): Super Scientist – What is it like to be a biologist, veterinarian, or zookeeper? Campers will learn about environmental, ecological, and life sciences while exploring real-life applications in the zoo industry. *This is a 4-day week due to the Memorial Day holiday. 

Week 2 (June 2-6): Habitats & Homes – Why does a beaver create a dam? How do bees make a hive? Campers will explore an array of animal homes around the world, including here at the Zoo! 

Week 3 (June 9-13): Amazing Adaptations – Animals have so many “superpowers” that help them thrive in a variety of conditions and environments! Campers will learn about different species’ special traits and what makes them so important to the ecosystem. 

Week 4 (June 16-20): Super Scientist 

Week 5 (June 23-27): Habitats & Homes 

Week 6 (June 30-July 3): Amazing Adaptations – *This is a 4-day week due to the Independence Day holiday. 

Week 7 (July 7-July 11): Super Scientist 

Week 8 (July 14-18): Habitats & Homes 

Week 9 (July 21-25): Amazing Adaptations 

Week 10 (July 28-August 1): Super Scientist 

Camp is housed in a secure building that is not open to the public, and campers will leave most of their belongings in this building during the day. When out in the zoo, campers are led by two counselors who conduct routine headcounts to ensure all campers are present. 

Apart from the camp building, 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. 

Sample Schedule 

8:15-8:45 – Check-in 

8:45-9:00 – Morning Announcements & Camp Expectations 

9:00-9:15 – “Morning Rug Time” & team-building activities 

9:15-9:45 – Outdoor free play at one of our three playgrounds in the zoo 

9:45-11:15 – STEAM-based activities and classroom lessons 

11:15-12:30 – Lunch (Kindergarten through 3rd grade eat from 11:15-11:45, while 4th through 7th grade eat from 12:00 to 12:30.) 

After Lunch – Story Time & Themed Craft (Kindergarten & 1st grade groups will also have a 20-minute quiet time in the classroom to rest and reset for the afternoon’s activities.) 

The rest of the day is filled with exploring the zoo, playing games, and participating in animal encounters with our zookeeper staff. There is a 30-minute break for a zoo-provided snack around the 2:00 hour. (If your camper has food allergies, we recommend sending a snack from home.) 

3:45-4:15 – Classroom clean-up and daily debrief 

4:15-4:30 – Check-out 

What TO bring and what NOT to bring

We recognize that cell phones are an important way to communicate with your child outside of camp, but campers will not be allowed to use any electronics during the camp program. Zoo Camp encourages campers to disconnect from electronics and engage in their surroundings to make the most of their time at the zoo. If you need to contact your camper in case of an emergency, please call the Director at 913-980-9620 or the Coordinator at 402-285-2010. 

Please label a name on every item sent with your camper. We have both a zoo-wide and camp lost and found, but please note that the Lincoln Children’s Zoo is not responsible for any lost items. Please alert the Education team if one of your camper’s items is missing and we will do our best to find it. 

Lost and found items will be displayed on a table at check-in on the last day of each week of camp. Please check for any of your camper’s belongings. All camp lost and found items will be donated one week after the end of Zoo Camp. 

Lunch Menu 

Lunch is available for purchase upon registration for $45 per week, per camper. On shortened 4-day weeks (Memorial Day and 4th of July), lunch is $36 per week, per camper. Purchasing zoo lunch for less than the whole week of camp is not possible. If your camper is a picky eater or has dietary restrictions, we do not recommend purchasing zoo lunch as our options are somewhat limited. 

If you decide to purchase zoo lunch after registration, please call or visit our reception office, just to the right of the front gates. 

All lunches will come with fruit juice, fresh fruit or a fruit cup, a cookie or granola bar, and a bag of potato chips. 

Mondays: Chicken tenders 

Tuesdays: Mini corndogs 

Wednesdays: Mozzarella sticks 

Thursdays: Chimichanga 

Fridays: Turkey & cheese sandwich 

Health and Safety 

If your child is not feeling well, please keep them at home. Campers may be sent home early if they begin exhibiting symptoms of the flu, Covid-19, or any viral infection or communicable disease. These symptoms include but are not limited to vomiting, diarrhea, elevated body temperature, coughing, or sore throat. Campers will be allowed to return to camp once they are free of symptoms for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication. 

Counselors will administer basic first aid for minor cuts, bruises, and insect bites or stings. Trained zoo staff will be alerted for any first aid needs beyond these minor instances and will contact emergency services if necessary. Emergency contacts will be notified of any medical treatment beyond minor first aid.

Medications 

All medicines must be given to the Director of Education or Education Coordinator at check-in and cannot be sent in a camper’s bag. On the first day of camp, Education staff will make a plan on how to best store and administer any necessary medications. You will also be required to fill out a medication consent waiver. 

Prescription medications must be in the child’s legal name and in the original bottle. Liquid medications must have a measuring device. We cannot administer expired medication or loose medications in an unmarked package. 

If your camper has a medication that requires administration on a ‘as needed’ basis (inhaler, allergy medicine, pain medication, etc.) please ensure the Education team is aware of the scenarios in which medicine would be needed. 

When possible, please administer all necessary doses of medicine outside of camp hours.

Aides and Level of Development 

Zoo Camp is a program designed for children who are eager to learn more about science and can remain respectful and engaged in a group setting without one-on-one (individual) assistance from camp staff. In addition to age requirements, campers must be toilet trained, able to use automatic-flush public restrooms without assistance, able to spend up to two hours at a time outside, able to walk or otherwise traverse one to two miles a day on the Zoo property, and able to spend up to two hours at a time in a classroom setting. If your child does not meet the above requirements, please reach out to the Education team to discuss the possibility of potential accommodation and assistance. If a child is sent to Zoo Camp and is later found not to meet the minimum requirements or appropriate level of development, they will be asked not to return for the remainder of camp, with the possibility of no refund. 

The Zoo is an equal opportunity organization that welcomes children with disabilities. Zoo Camp makes reasonable efforts to provide reasonable modifications to meet 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. 

One-on-one aides provided and paid for by families are welcome as part of Zoo Camp. Aides must be a third-party professional over the age of 18 who are able to pass a background check. Family members and friends may qualify as an acceptable aide if they otherwise meet these requirements and have appropriate training. For Zoo Camp purposes, “appropriate training” for a family member consists of a minimum of 15 collegiate credit hours in Special Education courses, or 6 months minimum work history as a paraeducator in the school system. Education will be verified through transcripts and work history verified with employers. Though there will be no additional fee for an aide to attend camp for the purpose of one-on-one assistance, the child’s aide or family will be required to pay for a background check to be conducted for the aide through the Lincoln Children’s Zoo. The Zoo may deny the presence of an aide based on a background check or for any other reason in its sole discretion in accordance with applicable law. 

A one-on-one aide is required if the camper is assigned a paraprofessional during the school day, requires the full attention of an adult to remain safe, respectful, and engaged, needs assistance toileting or with other medical needs, needs assistance eating, or cannot adequately or safely remain with the group without adult redirection or support.

Frequently Asked Questions 

I see camp groups are organized by grade level. What age group does my camper fall into for the summer? 
Please enroll your camper for the grade level they are currently in during the 2024-2025 school year. All campers must have completed kindergarten or be entering kindergarten in the fall AND be a minimum of five years old before enrolling in Summer Safari. 

How do I make sure my camper will be in the same group as their friend? 
Please make sure to indicate any requested groupings on the waiver form that will be emailed to you upon registration. While the Lincoln Children’s Zoo welcomes these requests, we cannot guarantee they will be fulfilled, even if noted on the waiver. Due to quick turnaround times for creating camp rosters, Education staff will not be able to accommodate last-minute grouping requests. 

Where do I go if my camper arrives late in the morning? 
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. 

How do I pick up my camper early? 
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 grade level. Education staff will be notified and will bring your camper to you. Please note there are no early pick-ups allowed after 3:45pm. 

What is your cancellation/refund policy? 
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 week of camp or another camper in the event of a schedule conflict. If you want to request to cancel your registration or want to transfer your registration to a different week, please contact the Director of Education at jchestnut@lincolnzoo.org or call 402-475-6741 ext. 137. 

How will the Zoo communicate with me during camp? 
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 on the waiver 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. 

What level of animal interaction will my camper have during the day? 
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. Apart from the secure camp building, 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. 

My child has food allergies/sensitivities. What do you provide for lunch and snack? 
If your camper is a picky eater or has dietary restrictions, we do not recommend purchasing zoo lunch as our options are somewhat limited. All lunches will come with fruit juice, fresh fruit or a fruit cup, a cookie or granola bar, and a bag of potato chips. Entrees rotate through a menu of chicken tenders, mini corndogs, mozzarella sticks, chimichangas, and a turkey & cheese sandwich. Snacks rotate through a choice of Goldfish, graham crackers, or a chocolate chip granola bar. 

What kinds of activities will my camper participate in during the day? 
Zoo Camp is dedicated to providing campers with a fun and educational experience that focuses on learning, exploring, outdoor play, and relationship-building. Each day of camp will be based on a different science-related theme and include engaging STEAM lessons, an animal encounter with a Zookeeper, team-building activities, outdoor free play, and crafts. Camp activities are organized into three weekly sets of themes that repeatedly rotate throughout the summer. Please double-check that you are not signing your camper up for the same themed week more than once! 

What should my child bring to camp?
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 sun 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 play in water. 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. 

How do I contact my camper if I need to reach them during the day? 
We ask that you do not send campers with cell phones, but 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 402-285-2010. 

My child has special needs/requires specific accommodations. Can they still participate in Zoo Camp? 
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.

Questions? Please contact the Director at jchestnut@lincolnzoo.org or call 402-475-6741 ext. 137.