Children of DZS employees entering grades K-8 will enjoy a free day of camp with a sampling of activities from our Summer Safari Camps! Please register immediate family members for the appropriate age category.

K: entering kindergarten in the fall
1-2: entering 1st or 2nd grade in the fall
3-4: entering 3rd or 4th grade in the fall
5-6: entering 5th or 6th grade in the fall
7-8: entering 7th or 8th grade in the fall

Choose age level, choose quantity, and click on "ADD TO CART"
DO NOT HIT "SUBMIT" BUTTON BELOW.

Campers 5-7 years of age in our Grasshoppers Camp will explore nature using their senses. They will investigate, observe and engage with the world around them and have fun with new friends in nature. Campers will become more comfortable outdoors as they build their knowledge of the natural world.
Camp begins with the day selected below and runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Friday.
Breakfast will be provided before camp from 8:45 to 9 a.m.; lunch and two snacks will also be served throughout the day.

Please use the button above that reads "Add to Cart", not the Submit button on the side of the page.

**Please note: Your registration is not complete until you press the button marked "Submit my order."
There will be a page that asks for a promo code; please ignore this and select the "Checkout" button.**

Campers in the Monarch Camp will extend their knowledge of Belle Isle by venturing further into the wild. Monarch campers will discover new friends and wild wonders as they explore the animals and attractions of the island. Campers will be challenged to apply their new knowledge and experiences by sharing what they've learned about the island.
Camp begins with the day selected below and runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Friday.
Breakfast will be provided before camp from 8:45 to 9 a.m.; lunch and two snacks will also be served throughout the day.

To register, please use the button above that reads "Add to Cart", not the Submit button on the side of the page.

**Please note: Your registration is not complete until you press the button marked "Submit my order."
There will be a page that asks for a promo code; please ignore this and select the "Checkout" button.**

Students in our 10-to-12-year-old Dragonfly Camp will build on their knowledge of the island as they consider their place in the natural world. As students make new friends and experiment with new forms of expression, they will learn about current conservation challenges of the plants and animals on Belle Isle. Campers will investigate how they can become stewards of the local plants and animals by working collaboratively to share a project about their experiences.
Camp begins with the day selected below and runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Friday.
Breakfast will be provided before camp from 8:45 to 9 a.m.; lunch and two snacks will also be served throughout the day.

To register, please use the button above that reads "Add to Cart", not the Submit button on the side of the page.

**Please note: Your registration is not complete until you press the button marked "Submit my order."
There will be a page that asks for a promo code; please ignore this and select the "Checkout" button.**

THIS CAMP IS SOLD OUT

Our kindergarten campers have the opportunity to see like an insect and hear like a zebra as they explore their five senses during this half-day, weeklong camp. Through hikes, crafts and activities, we will have fun while learning about sight, sound, touch, smell and taste and have a chance to ride the Carousel. Campers create their own animal puppet and show it off during a puppet show at the end of the week!

All kindergarten campers should be five years old before September 1, 2018.

THIS CAMP IS SOLD OUT.

Grab your passport and get ready to go! During this half-day, weeklong camp for children entering kindergarten, campers have the opportunity to learn about animals from all over the world without ever leaving the Zoo! A "Junior Z" paper doll is their trusty travel companion while they walk and ride the train around the Zoo.

All kindergarten campers should be five years old before September 1, 2018.

Campers entering first grade learn the basics of animal care during this weeklong camp as they explore the animal habitats throughout the Zoo. They "adopt" a pet rock and create a suitable habitat in which it can live, while learning about animal needs. Zoo professionals meet with the campers to share their expertise throughout the week and campers take a ride on the train. Rocks and habitats are displayed at our Showcase on Friday.

When multiple classes of this camp are offered during the same week, they are designated A and B.

THIS CAMP IS SOLD OUT.

It's Feeding Time! As campers entering second grade spend the week exploring the Zoo, they learn about the wild diets of the animals and how we best replicate them at the Zoo. They go behind the scenes to help our zookeepers prepare animal meals and also take a glimpse at the workings of the Arctic Cafe to see how we prepare snacks for humans as well. These campers will also have the experience of riding the Carousel.

When multiple classes of this camp are offered during the same week, they are designated A and B.

Campers entering third grade explore the Zoo this week, focusing on the amazing adaptations and needs of our many different types of birds. Penguins and flamingos, owls and pygmy geese all require different care and campers get the chance to meet zookeepers familiar with these feathered friends. An experience in the Wild Adventure 4-D Theater will provide campers with a three-dimensional nature film adventure mixed with scents, wind, water and more. All campers use their knowledge about adaptations and their imaginations to create their own species of bird that is displayed at the Showcase on Friday.

When multiple classes of this camp are offered during the same week, they are designated A and B.

Campers entering fourth grade explore the Zoo this week, zeroing in on the scaly and slimy world of reptiles and amphibians. These amazing animals have some specialized needs and adaptations that we learn about as we get a chance to go behind the scenes with a zookeeper. A ride in the Wild Adventure Simulator will provide excitement as campers experience an animated adventure. Campers hear the stories of some of the rescued animals at the Zoo and work as a team to create a unique digital storybook film of their own.

When multiple classes of this camp are offered during the same week, they are designated A and B.

Campers entering fifth grade focus on mammals this week as they explore the Zoo. They experience the challenges and rewards of caring for the giraffes, tigers, bears and deer that call the Zoo home. Campers will go behind the scenes with a zookeeper and then become "Kid Keepers" as they share information on their favorite animals in a Kid Keeper Talk to the public. An experience in the Wild Adventure 4-D Theater will provide campers with a three-dimensional nature film adventure mixed with scents, winds, water and more.

When multiple classes of this camp are offered during the same week, they are designated A and B.

As campers entering sixth grade explore the Zoo this week, they learn the many considerations that go into building a safe, naturalistic and exciting animal habitat. A ride in the Wild Adventure Simulator will provide excitement as campers experience an animated adventure. They travel behind the scenes with Zoo staff to investigate how we create our habitats, and then have a chance to design and create a model habitat of their own to be displayed at the Showcase on Friday.

When multiple classes of this camp are offered during the same week, they are designated A and B.

THIS CAMP IS SOLD OUT.

As campers entering seventh grade traverse the Zoo this week, they investigate the intriguing world of animal minds. How can we tell what an animal is feeling or thinking? How can we make sure it feels content, safe and not bored? Campers will learn more about animal behavior with a nature film experience in the Wild Adventure 4-D Theater including scents, winds, water and more. They will also go behind the scenes to learn some tips from our animal care staff and use their creativity to enhance the lives of some of the animals at the Zoo!

THIS CAMP IS SOLD OUT

Campers entering eighth grade explore the Zoo this week, focusing on the science of veterinary medicine. They go behind the scenes at the Animal Health Complex to learn how our talented veterinary staff addresses the health needs of the many animals living at the Zoo through x-rays, bloodwork, ethograms, nursery care and more. A ride in the Wild Adventure Simulator will provide excitement as campers experience an animated adventure.

This weeklong workshop gives high school students the unique chance to work with our Center for Zoo and Aquarium Animal Welfare and Ethics team. Participants explore the topic of zoo animal welfare by experiencing the Zoo through the eyes, ears and noses of the animals. All students enrolled in this workshop must provide proof of a negative TB test within the past year in order to participate in special behind-the-scenes experiences throughout the week. Students develop both a team project and an individual art piece that will be presented at the Showcase on Friday afternoon.

Please check back soon for 2019 Family Fun Nights.

When night comes, can you see as well as a tiger or hear as well as an owl? Children entering first and second grade will explore the heightened senses of nocturnal animals while hiking through the Zoo, and they will get the chance to test their sense of taste on delicious s'mores.

Follow Zoo trails in the cooler twilight hours on a search for insects! Campers entering third and fourth grade enjoy an evening at the Zoo to see how animal behavior changes when the sun goes down and test their skills at firefly communication. The visit is complete with s'mores and a special craft.

How are animals that are active at night different than those that are active during the day? Children entering fifth and sixth grade join us on a nocturnal adventure to learn more about these fascinating animals and the adaptations that help them to survive. Campers design their own night animal and enjoy a yummy s'mores snack.

Our Zoo Vet single-day camps explore the exciting world of zoo veterinary medicine.

When multiple classes of this camp are offered on the same day, they are designated A and B.

1-2: Zoo Dentist THIS CAMP IS SOLD OUT
With our campers entering first and second grade discovering some new teeth of their own, it's the perfect time to discover some amazing animal teeth as well. Do all animals have a set of baby teeth and adult teeth? Why do animal teeth vary so much in size and shape? Using magnifying lenses and microscopes, we examine some of the most interesting teeth in the animal world.

3-4: X-ploring X-Rays
Campers entering third and fourth grade explore animal anatomy through x-rays. We use actual case studies and exotic animal radiographs to show how x-rays are used to diagnose possible health problems at the Zoo.

5-6: Mock Surgery
Time to scrub in! Our fifth and sixth grade campers hear stories from the surgical suite at the Zoo and practice surgical techniques in preparation for possible careers in veterinary medicine.

7-8: Grevy's Anatomy THIS CAMP IS SOLD OUT
Campers entering seventh and eighth grade explore internal anatomy as they move through a case study, diagnosing their sick patient and taking on the role of a medical specialist to perform mock laparoscopic surgery.

Campers will investigate the prehistoric world through these dinosaur-themed single-day camps.

When multiple classes of this camp are offered on the same day, they are designated A and B.

Dino 1-2: Design-A-Dino THIS CAMP IS SOLD OUT
Big teeth and plates of armor! During this single-day camp, children entering first and second grade will explore dinosaur adaptations. Through touring Dinosauria and enjoying dinosaur-themed activities, campers will learn about some special features that helped dinosaurs survive and then use their knowledge to design their own dinosaurs.

Dino 3-4: Paleontologists THIS CAMP IS SOLD OUT
Experience paleontology! Campers entering third and fourth grade will learn how fossilization occurs, analyze actual fossils, and work as a team to investigate a dig site, unearth dinosaur bones and solve an ancient mystery.

Dino 5-6: Dino Feathers and Flight
Our campers entering fifth and sixth grade will investigate the many similarities birds have with their theropod dinosaur ancestors by exploring skeletons and the use of feathers. Campers will then be challenged to design a theropod dinosaur for flight.

Dino 7-8: Extinction Investigators THIS CAMP IS SOLD OUT
Our seventh and eighth grade campers will start their day observing the dinosaurs in Dinosauria. Then an asteroid hits! Campers jump into the role of a scientist and investigate dinosaur extinction theories by exploring artificial asteroid strikes and fossils in stratification layers.

These single-day camps explore science at the Zoo through robotics. All camps will include a workshop presented by The Robot Garage.

When multiple classes of this camp are offered on the same day, they are designated A and B.

1-2: Big and Small, Short and Tall THIS CAMP IS SOLD OUT
Animals come in all different shapes and sizes. Children entering first and second grade explore some of this variety in the animal kingdom. We build, program and adapt a Lego animal to see firsthand how size can affect survival.

3-4: Animal Moves
Campers entering third and fourth grade investigate the different ways animals move. Does movement depend on the number of legs? Do all animals with four legs walk and run the same way? We make observations of animals throughout the Zoo and program a robot to replicate these animal moves.

5-6: Survival of the Fittest
Predators may have some amazing adaptations to catch their prey, but prey animals also have some clever tricks up their sleeve. Campers entering fifth and sixth grade explore the evolution of these incredible adaptations and build and adapt their own robotic animal to perfect its offensive and defensive strategies.

7-8: The Rhythm of the Light
Monarch butterflies use light-dark cycles to cue their migration, and many penguin species depend on circadian rhythm for successful breeding. During this camp, children entering seventh and eighth grade explore some of the different light requirements of Zoo animals and program an Arduino to create a custom light display.

Campers explore some of the pieces in the Detroit Zoological Society's art collection and use art as a lens to learn more about their favorite Zoo animals.

When multiple classes of this camp are offered on the same day, they are designated A and B.

1-2: Gator 'Strators
Our campers entering first and second grade create their own drawing journal and traverse the Zoo to draw various animals. This camp includes an introductory drawing lesson.

3-4: Paint the Zoo
Campers entering third and fourth grade wield a paintbrush to capture the wonder of the animal world with both acrylics on canvas and watercolors. This camp includes an introductory painting lesson.

5-6: Theater in the Wild
When it comes to fairy tales, some animal species have a bad reputation. As campers entering fifth and sixth grade investigate these negative portrayals and discover the truth behind the myths, they create and perform their own retelling of a story.

7-8: Wildlife Photography
Bringing their own camera or using one of ours, campers entering seventh and eighth grade receive an introduction into the world of wildlife photography. They learn some tips and tricks to get the best shots of some of the most handsome animal residents at the Zoo.

For soon-to-be kindergartners who would like a full-day experience, please register for both the morning and afternoon camps on the same day. Our trained staff will supervise all campers during the lunch period.

All kindergarten campers should be five years old before September 1, 2018.

When multiple classes of this camp are offered on the same day, they are designated A and B.

Zoo Vet K: Animal Babies THIS CAMP IS SOLD OUT
Children entering kindergarten traverse the Zoo searching out some of our youngest residents. We explore some of the ways animal parents take care of their young and practice some of those methods on some plush zoo babies.

Dino K: Dino Size
See how you measure up against the dinosaurs! Children entering kindergarten will explore the size of dinosaur tracks, eggs and teeth using their own bodies as measuring tools in this single-day, half-day camp.

Zoo Science K: Penguin Play
Children entering kindergarten visit the Polk Penguin Conservation Center to observe the way penguins move, then build and program a Lego penguin with some crazy moves of its own. The robotics workshop is presented by The Robot Garage.

Zoo Art K: Zoo Sculpture
Our kindergarten campers visit many bronze sculptures around the Zoo, including Inuit stone sculptures in the Arctic Ring of Life. Campers then sculpt their own work of art to take home.

Mammals K, Birds K, Reptiles and Amphibians K, Insects K
In these four camps, children entering kindergarten explore different groups of animals through hikes, crafts and activities and discover what makes these animals special.