Conservation Camp
Summer Conservation Camp
Conservation Camp offers exciting exploration opportunities for animal and nature lovers from 4-year-olds to those entering fourth grade in fall 2013. Each Conservation Camp group will explore the zoo and do activities to discover animal diversity, environmental conservation and ways Lincoln Park Zoo cares for animals at the zoo and conserves them in the wild.
Morning sessions for 4-5-year-olds and all sessions for third–fourth graders are currently full. Interested in waiting list options? You can find them in the registration form!
Looking for summer opportunities for youth entering fifth–eighth grade? Check out Zoo Crew!
Registration | Pricing | Scholarships | Dates | FAQs | About | Volunteer | Multimedia | Themes
Conservation Camp Registration
If you're a Lincoln Park Zoo member, have your current Lincoln Park Zoo member ID number handy to receive your 15 percent discount.
Conservation Camp Pricing
Active Lincoln Park Zoo members at any level receive a 15 percent discount on registration. Become a member today!
Full-Day Programs (First–fourth graders)
9 a.m.–3 p.m.
$310/week ($265/week for Lincoln Park Zoo members)
Half-Day Programs (4- and 5-year-olds)
Morning Session: 9–11:30 a.m.
Afternoon Session: 12:30–3 p.m.
$155/week ($130/week for Lincoln Park Zoo members)
Registration includes:
- Healthy snack daily
- Conservation Camp T-shirt
- Conservation Camp backpack
New in 2013
After camp care will be available from 3–5 p.m. for an additional fee of $100 per child per week. This service is not available for half-day campers attending the morning session.
Conservation Camp Scholarships
Lincoln Park Zoo offers a limited number of Conservation Camp scholarships, ranging from partial scholarships to full scholarships covering the cost of one week of participation. Please complete and submit an application to be considered for a scholarship.
To guarantee your child a spot in camp, you may choose to register right as registration opens. If your child is later granted a scholarship, we will refund the relevant portion of the registration fee.
Scholarship applications are due April 26.
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Download the English-Language Summer Camp Scholarship Application |
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Baja la solicitud de beca en español |
Scholarships are limited; applying for a scholarship does not guarantee a spot in a summer program.
Camp Dates
You can choose one or two different weeklong sessions of camp. The sessions are independent and non-cumulative, so you can choose to enroll in one or both sessions. You can choose consecutive or non-consecutive sessions. Perhaps you’d like to take a few weeks off between sessions (great for summer vacation plans)? The choice is yours
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Session A Dates |
Session B Dates |
There’s no camp July 1-5 in observance of the Independence Day holiday
Age Groups and Themes
4–5-Year-Olds
Session A: Storybook Safari
Session B: Whose Skin Is This?
First–Second Graders
Session A: Homes, Holes and Hideaways
Session B: Animals Around the Clock
Third–Fourth Graders
Session A: Wild Within
Session B: Grossology
Frequently Asked Questions
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Download the Conservation Camp FAQs |
About Conservation Camp
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Kristine Casman |
Camp Instructors
Each camp group is lead by two camp instructors. These professionals have extensive experience working with children and a demonstrated commitment to connecting children to the natural world. Camp instructors facilitate all educational components of the camp day, but groups also have the chance to meet zoo staff throughout the week, from veterinarians to zookeepers to scientists. Camp Teen Volunteers provide additional support to the camp staff and their groups.
Let’s Move!
Lincoln Park Zoo is committed to connecting children to nature. Did you know there are lots of ways to spend time outdoors while getting exercise?
Yoga at the Zoo
Some camp groups may have the chance to participate in yoga sessions, doing fun animal poses to stay fit. Parents—you too can enjoy Yoga at the Zoo!
Healthy Snacks
We provide healthy snacks to campers each day. Possible snacks include fresh fruit, veggies and crackers.
Learn more about the Let’s Move! Initiative.
Camp Teen Volunteers
In spring 2013, we will begin recruiting a limited number of teens (13–18 years old) who are interested in helping out with Conservation Camp. Participating teens will have the chance to work with children as well as gain professional experience. All interested teens will be required to apply and interview for this selective position.
Multimedia
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Summer Camp Comes to a Close From touching the scales of a blue-tongued skink to making pinatas for Eurasian lynx, Conservation Campers connected with wildlife. |
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Zoo Scholarships for El Valor Campers Special scholarships let 4- and 5-year-olds from Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood attend a free week of summer Conservation Camp. Fun animal encounters laid the foundation for a lifelong appreciation for nature. |
Conservation Camp Themes
4–5-Year-Olds
Session A: Storybook Safari
Amazing animals have inspired many wonderful stories over the years. Come meet some of the magnificent animals that make the stories come to life! From the fuzzy bat in “Stellaluna” to the big bear in “Bear Wants More,” discover the zoo through the pages of some of your favorite books.
Session B: Whose Skin Is This?
From smooth scales to furry coats, animals protect themselves from the elements in many ways. Come explore the different coverings of some of your favorite zoo animals, from the zebra’s stripes to the armadillo’s shell!
First–Second Graders
Session A: Homes, Holes and Hideaways
Where would you look to find your favorite animal? From the frozen tundra to toasty deserts, birds, bears, bugs and other animals live in every corner of the Earth. Join us as we investigate a variety of animal habitats from around the world—and the critters themselves!
Session B: Animals Around the Clock
What’s your bedtime? And when do you feel the most wide awake? While some animals snooze all day, some hardly sleep at all! Discover the unique behaviors and sleep habits of some of the most interesting animals, from hibernating bears to nocturnal bats!
Third–Fourth Graders
Session A: Wild Within
Giraffes stand almost 20 feet tall, but did you know they have the same amount of neck vertebrae as you do? Learn about other awesome similarities between you and the wild inhabitants at Lincoln Park Zoo, starting from the inside out!
Session B: Grossology
Are you fascinated by the weird but true, wild and wacky, gross and yucky? Animals can be delightfully disgusting! Come explore how the waste of some animals helps others survive, how scat can help you identify animals, how animal blood colors vary and how slime helps some creepy creatures move, digest food or defend themselves!
