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OPEN 365 DAYS A YEAR & FREE
OPEN 365 DAYS A YEAR & FREE
Summer Conservation Camp 2019
Conservation Camp offers exciting exploration opportunities for animal and nature lovers from preK to those entering fourth grade in fall 2019. Each Conservation Camp group explores the zoo and participates in activities to discover animal diversity, environmental conservation, and ways Lincoln Park Zoo cares for animals at the zoo and conserves them in the wild.
New this year! Add on a pre-made lunch to your camp week! Click here for more information!
Looking for summer opportunities for youth entering fifth–eighth grade? Check out Zoo Crew!
Registration | Pricing | Cancellation Deadline | Scholarships | Add-on Lunch| Dates and Themes | Inclusion at Camp | Teen Volunteers | Open House and Gear Pick-Up | FAQs | About the Staff
registration
Please note: Members and donors eligible for early registration will receive an email with the registration link prior to their early registration date.
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Zoo supporters at the Curators’ Circle level and above will be eligible to register early on Wednesday, February 6, beginning at 10 a.m.
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Active Safari-level members will be eligible to register early on Wednesday, February 13, beginning at 10 a.m.
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Household and Individual members will register with the general public but will receive a 15 percent discount.
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Pride members will register with the general public and will not receive a discount.
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To check your membership status, call the membership hotline at 312-742-2322. Make sure you join or renew your membership prior to early registration!
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Open registration will begin Wednesday, February 27, at 10 a.m. A link to the online registration form will be available on this webpage at that time.
Conservation Camp Pricing
Active Lincoln Park Zoo members at the Individual level and above receive a 15-percent discount on registration. Become a member today!
Full-Day Programs (Grades 1-4)
9 a.m.–3 p.m.
$350/week ($300/week for Lincoln Park Zoo members, Individual level and above)
Half-Day Programs (Grades PreK–K)
(PreK campers must be at least 4 years old by Monday of their first registered camp week. PreK-K campers cannot combine a morning and afternoon session)
Morning Session: 9–11:30 a.m.
(PreK campers must be at least 4 years old by Monday of their first registered camp week. PreK-K campers cannot combine a morning and afternoon session)
Morning Session: 9–11:30 a.m.
OR
Afternoon Session: 12:30–3 p.m.
$175/week ($150/week for Lincoln Park Zoo members, Individual level and above)
Afternoon Session: 12:30–3 p.m.
$175/week ($150/week for Lincoln Park Zoo members, Individual level and above)
Registration includes:
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Daily healthy snack
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Conservation Camp T-shirt
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Conservation Camp backpack
After Care
3 p.m.-5 p.m.
$100/week
After Care is available from 3–5 p.m. for full-day campers and for half-day campers attending the afternoon session. Campers stay after to enjoy additional time on zoo grounds and within the classroom. Campers will participate in a variety of activities during After Care, including going to animal buildings and,playing games..Instructors may utilize educator resources such as videos and online games. Campers will receive an additional healthy snack during After Care.
Cancellation Deadline
May 20
Lincoln Park Zoo adheres to a strict cancellation and refund policy. If the zoo must cancel a program, full refunds will be issued. If for any reason you need to cancel your registration before May 20, a refund will be issued, less a 12.5 percent processing fee. After May 20, Lincoln Park Zoo will not be able to offer any refunds for cancelled registrations.
Conservation Camp Scholarships
Application deadline: April 22
Lincoln Park Zoo offers partial and full Conservation Camp scholarships that cover the cost of one week of participation. Please complete and submit an application to be considered for a scholarship. You will be notified by April 29 if you have received a scholarship.
Please note: Scholarships are limited. Applying for a scholarship does not guarantee a spot in a summer program.
Optional: To guarantee your child a spot in camp, you may choose to register your child once registration opens. If your child is later granted a scholarship, we will refund the amount of the scholarship from the registration fee.
add-on lunch
New this year: Add on a pre-made lunch to your camp week! All lunches are peanut free and made in a nut-free facility. Vegetarian and gluten-free diets are welcome.
An add-on lunch is optional for students in grades 1–4. Those who do not purchase a lunch are responsible for supplying their own camper with lunches. This option is not available for campers in preK–K.
Early bird special: Purchase by May 15
$30/week
Regular rate: Purchase after May 15
$35/week
All lunches come with a juice box, fresh fruit, sunflower seeds, and a cheese stick. Lunches also come with dried fruit or applesauce. Below is the standard menu. Vegetarian lunches are listed below the daily menu when applicable. Gluten-free wraps will be provided for campers who have indicated a gluten-free allergy or need in their registration.
Monday: Sun butter and jelly wrap
Tuesday: Chicken salad wrap
Vegetarian option: Cheese pizza roll up
Wednesday: Hummus and corn chips
Thursday: Barbeque chicken salad wrap
Vegetarian option: Sun butter and jelly wrap
Friday: Cheese pizza roll up
conservation camp dates and themes
Conservation Camp is a week-long camp offered in three themes. Your camper can attend each individual theme once, for a total of up to three weeks. The themes are independent and non-cumulative, so you can enroll in any theme at any time, so long as the themes are not repeated. Perhaps you’d like to take a few weeks off between themes—the choice is yours.
Grades PreK–K
Theme A: Camouflages and Coverings
June 10—14
July 8—12
July 29—August 2
August 19—23
From the smooth scales of snakes to the warm fur of black bears, animals protect themselves from the elements in many ways. Come explore the different coverings of some of your favorite zoo animals and how these coats help them survive!
Theme B: Storybook Safari
June 17—21
July 15—19
August 5—9
Discover the zoo through the pages of some of your favorite books! 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, share in their stories while you learn about animals!
Theme C: Artistic Animals
June 24—28
July 22—26
August 12—16
Did you know that some animals, such as humpback whales, sing beautiful and complex songs to impress a mate? Bees do a waggle dance to help other bees find food, peacocks and Himalayan monals use their brightly colored feathers to attract females, and spiders weave intricate webs to catch their prey. Come learn about these animals and other artists of the natural world.
Grades 1–2
Theme A: Homes, Holes, and Hideaways
June 10—14
July 8—12
July 29—August 2
August 19—23
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, and the critters themselves, from around the world!
Theme B: Animals Around the Clock
June 17—21
July 15—19
August 5—9
What’s your bedtime? And when do you feel the most wide awake? While some animals snooze all day, some sleep hardly all the time! Discover the unique behaviors and sleep habits of some of the most interesting animals, from hibernating bears to nocturnal bats!
Theme C: Leaders of the Pack
June 24—28
July 22—26
August 12—16
In the animal world, males are often dominant. But within groups of Japanese macaques, it’s the females who make the rules. In a colony of ants, one female lays all the eggs and is protected by an army of male soldiers. Other groups are ruled by a male-and-female pair that lives as a family and works together to raise its young. Explore the different groups animals form and learn about the real leaders of the pack.
Grades 3–4
Theme A: Wild Within
June 10—14
July 8—12
July 29—August 2
August 19—23
Giraffes stand almost 20-feet tall, but did you know they have the same number of neck vertebrae as you? Learn about other awesome similarities between you and the wild inhabitants at Lincoln Park Zoo, starting from the inside out!
Theme B: Grossology
June 17—21
July 15—19
August 5—9
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 to move, digest food, or defend themselves!
Theme C: Animal Architects
June 24—28
July 22—26
August 12—16
In the heart of Chicago, it’s impossible not to notice the massive skyscrapers towering above your head. These man-made structures are certainly impressive, but they’re nothing compared to the giant mounds built by termites in Africa or the complex nests that weaver birds construct out of twigs and straw. Join us to learn all about the amazing homes animals create and how these models have inspired some of our modern building practices.
Zoo Camp for all! We work with campers, their families, and our staff to create an environment where all campers, with and without disabilities, engage in camp together. Our camp inclusion specialist supports individual campers and our camp instructors in providing an inclusive summer camp experience. During the registration process, parents/guardians will be asked to share any information about each camper that can help us provide individualized support to that camper, and whether our camp inclusion specialist should get in touch prior to camp for further discussion. We are committed to providing each child a fun and memorable experience at Zoo Camp!
Camp Teen Volunteers
In spring 2019, we will begin recruiting a limited number of teens (ages 13–18) to support Conservation Camp. Participating teens will have the chance to work with children and gain professional experience. All interested teens will be required to apply and interview for this selective position.
Open House and Gear Pick-Up Days
Dates for these events will be released in your confirmation email upon completing the online registration for camp.
The camp team will host an open house for registered parents and campers. At the open house, you can meet camp staff, see classrooms, and pick up and purchase camp gear, including T-shirts and backpacks.
Already familiar with Lincoln Park Zoo camps? Parents of campers who have previously attended Lincoln Park Zoo camp programs are welcome to drop by on one of the gear pick-up days to pick up and purchase camp gear, including T-shirts and backpacks.
Can’t make an open house? Camp families can also pick up camp gear on their first day of camp.
Frequently Asked Questions
About the Conservation Camp Staff
Each camp group is led by two first aid- and CPR-certified instructors who have completed rigorous staff and leadership training. . Camp instructors facilitate all educational components of the camp day, and groups have the chance to meet zoo staff throughout the week, from zookeepers to zoo educators to scientists. Many groups also include trained camp teen volunteers who provide additional support. A dedicated camp leadership team of five manages all aspects of the camp program.
For more information, please email camp@lpzoo.org or call 312-742-2056.
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Program Partners
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