At Mesker Park Zoo, our day camps offer an unforgettable experience for kids of all ages, combining fun, learning, and adventure in a one-of-a-kind setting. From exploring fascinating wildlife and engaging in hands-on activities to uncovering the wonders of conservation and science, our camps are designed to spark curiosity and inspire a love for nature. Whether your child is interested in becoming a junior zookeeper, learning about habitats and ecosystems, or simply wants to make new friends while enjoying outdoor fun, we have the perfect camp for them. Join us for an enriching journey that connects campers with animals, fosters creativity, and builds memories to last a lifetime!
For more information on our day camps, please contact the Education Department at education@meskerparkzoo.com or 812-435-0808.
Camp Zoofari Summer Sessions
Zoofari Day Camps
AGES: 6 – 10 / Grades K – 6 as of camp date
Full week (5 days), 7 session options: June 2-6, June 9-13, June 16-20, June 23-27, July 7-11, July 14-18, July 21-25
RATES
- Full Week: $170
- Member & City/County Employee Rate: $145 (15% off)
HOURS
- Camp: 9am – 4pm
- Drop off: 8:45am – 9am
- Pickup: 3:45pm – 4pm
- Extended care: 7:30am – 8:30am to 4pm – 5:30pm
DEADLINES
- Registration or cancellation – Monday at noon, ONE WEEK PRIOR
- Purchase extras (lunch /ext.care/ shirts) – Monday at noon, ONE WEEK PRIOR
*NEW* Week 1 (June 2-6) – What’s on the Menu at the Zoo?
Carnivores, Herbivores, and Om-nom-nom-ivores! Campers will learn all about animal diets as we look at the different ways animals eat and the types of food they need!
Week 2 (June 9-13) – Zoo Detectives
Help us figure out ‘whodunit’! Camps will study tracks, nests, scat, and more as they solve some mysteries, uncover secrets, and bust myths about animals!
Week 3 (June 16-20) – Build a Zoo (3 Groups)
Discover the daily workings of a zoo as a zookeeper’s apprentice. Campers will create a model “zoo”, each designing their own animal exhibit, complete with diet menus and signs, and make toys for the enrichment of their favorite zoo animals!
Week 4 (June 23-27) – Zoo-Olympics
Are you as strong as a rhino or as swift as an eagle? Campers will compare their own skills to those of the gold medal winners in the animal kingdom and will discover what makes them champions!
Week 5 (June 30-July 4) * No Full Week Camps
Week 6 (July 7-July 11) – Wild about Art
Discover art in a new and wild way! Campers will be inspired by nature and animals to create their own masterpieces using performance art, visual arts, and more!
*NEW* Week 7 (July 14- July 18) – Reptile Rockstars (3 Groups)
Slither away from misconceptions about these lesser-known and less popular animal species! Campers will shed their fears and develop a new appreciation for all things scaly!
*NEW* Week 8 (July 21- July 25) – Animal Adventurers
Get your passport ready for a wild adventure! Campers will learn about different environments around the world that animals call home and discover what it takes to survive in each habitat!
Zoofari Sensory Friendly Camp
AGES: 6 – 10 / Grades K – 6 as of camp date
Solo Safari Sensory Camp: June 30 and July 1
*NEW* Sensory Safari Camp w/ Caregivers: July 2
Campers will get to experience the zoo while learning how our 5 senses relate to the animal world. Our camp activities will be conducted in a way to provide opportunities for our campers to engage with the zoo environment in a variety of methods while keeping sensory needs in mind.
Sensory Friendly Camp Theme: Sensory Safari – Can you hear as well as a bat or see as good as a jaguar? Campers will discover the five senses with us as we explore the zoo and learn how animals’ senses help them survive!
Camp Zoofari Sensory Requirements
Camp Zoofari Sensory Details
Camp Zoofari Minis
AGES: Minis Full Week and Minis Series: Ages 4-5. Must be potty trained. Camper must be fully able to use the restroom without any assistance.
Mini and Me Series: Ages 2-3. Must be accompanied by a Caregiver for each session.
Minis Full Week: June 2 – June 6 (Monday-Friday)
Mini Weekly Sessions – Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, OR Thursdays: June 9 through July 24 (No camp week of July 4)
*NEW* Mini and Me Series: Fridays, June 13 – July 25 (No camp week of July 4)
At Camp Zoofari Minis, Campers will explore the zoo, visit with animals, discover science, express their creativity, play outdoors, and have adventures with friends.
SESSIONS 2025 Theme – Best Friends Fur-Ever: Campers will learn how friendships are formed in nature, from Bees working together in a hive to the symbiotic relationship between Rhinos and Oxpeckers – all while making new friends of their own!
Camp Zoofari Minis Details
Camp Zoofari Mini & Me Details
Camp Zoofari Tweens
AGES: 11-13 as of camp date
At Camp Zoofari Tweens, Teens will explore the zoo with their peers, interact with zoo animals and staff, and learn more about their world.
Zoofari Tweens Summer Week 3: June 16-20
2025 Theme – Zoo Careers: Join us to learn what kind of careers are available for animal lovers and the skills it takes to care for our animals: from training and enrichment, veterinary care, and diet prep to education, marketing, and making zoo grounds beautiful!*
*Note: Campers will not be working directly with keepers or animals during this camp week.
Zoofari Tweens Summer Week 7: July 14-18
2025 Theme – *NEW* Zoo-lebrities: Join us to learn how zoo animals become celebrity ambassadors for their species! Campers will learn about animal portrayal in the media, what it takes to develop marketing for zoo species, and create their own plan to take a zoo animal from resident to star!
Camp Zoofari Tweens Details
