Summer Conservation Camp

2023 Registration

Registration Opening Dates:

The member pre-sale for Conservation Camp is sold out. Additional spaces will be released and waitlists will be activated when general registration opens on March 2 at 10 a.m

Household Members, Individual Members and general public registration opens Thursday, March 2 at 10 a.m. via the Zoo Camps web page. Click “Learn More” under the Conservation Camp or Zoo Crew headings to find the registration link beginning 10 a.m. on March 2.

Campers may register for up to five different-themed weeks of Conservation Camp. All campers must be registered by their legal guardian and be at least 4 years old on their first day of camp. In order to provide a safe space not only for our staff and guests, but the animals in our care, Lincoln Park Zoo requires all eligible campers to be vaccinated for COVID-19 before attending camp.

Safari-level members and above receive the opportunity to participate in presale registration for camp. To join the zoo as a Safari-level member, visit lpzoo.org/membership or call 312-742-2321.

Camp will not take place the week of July 3–7.

Practice for the Chicago Air and Water Show is expected to take place near the zoo from August 16–18. If your camper is sensitive to loud noises, please consider signing up for a different week of camp or providing them with noise-reducing headphones.

Registration Guide:

Visit our registration guide here

Camp Themes

Theme A: Week 1 (June 12–16) and Week 6 (July 24–28)

PreK: Birds of a Feather Flock Together

What makes a bird a bird? What is the difference between a mammal and a reptile? Campers will discover the answers to these and many more questions in this exciting week all about animal groups.

Grades K–1: Camouflage and Coverings

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 discover how these coats help them to survive.

Grades 2–3: What’s Size Got to Do With It?

Ever wonder how a mouse gets away from predators? Ants are so small—how strong can they really be? Why are giraffes so tall? Let’s dive into the world of big and small and discover size as a means of survival in the animal kingdom.

Grades 4–5: Under the Skin

Giraffes stand almost 20 feet tall, but did you know they have the same number of neck vertebrae as you do? Learn about other awesome similarities between you and the inhabitants at Lincoln Park Zoo, starting from the inside out!

Theme B: Week 2 (June 19–23) and Week 7 (July 31–August 4)

PreK: A Place Called Home

Whether it’s deep in the soil, up in a tree, down in the water, or inside a cozy cave, all animals need a place to call home. Campers will encounter creatures across the zoo and learn about where they live.

Grades K–1: Storybook Safari

Discover the zoo through the pages of some of your favorite books! Amazing animals have inspired many wonderful stories over the years, so 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!

Grades 2–3: Habitattitude

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 that reside in them!

Grades 4–5: Conservation Heroes

How do you become a superhero for planet Earth? Through conservation! Join us as we go on a journey to learn about ways Lincoln Park Zoo is working to keep our planet and animals healthy and how you can help no matter where you are.

Theme C: Week 3 (June 26–30) and Week 8 (August 7–11)

PreK: Colorful Creatures

From pink flamingos and blue frogs to green parrots and white polar bears, the animal world is full of vibrant colors. Campers will explore a rainbow of animals and learn how colors help them in the wild.

Grades K–1: Artistic Animals

Did you know that some animals, such as humpback whales, sing beautiful and complex songs to impress their mates? Bees do a waggle dance to help other bees find food, male peacocks 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 2–3: Animal Architects

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 social weaver birds construct out of twigs and straw. Join us to learn all about amazing animal structures.

Grades 4–5: Ingenious Animal Engineering

Did you know wolves affect rivers? Or that spider silk is stronger than a Kevlar vest? Dive deep with us as we explore the engineering talents of animals around the world and challenge these amazing feats with our own designs.

Theme D: Week 4 (July 10–14) and Week 9 (August 14–18)

PreK: Whose Hoof Is That?

Campers will explore the different types of tracks animals leave, from footprints and paw prints to slither lines, wing prints, and more. Campers will also learn about different types of animals and the adaptations that help them in the wild.

Grades K–1: All in the Family

Who is a part of your family? How does it compare to how zebras or fish families come together? Explore colonies, herds, packs, prides, blobs, and more as we discover animal relationships.

Grades 2–3: Leaders of the Pack

In the animal world, males are often dominant. But in a group of Japanese macaques, it’s the females who make the rules. Other animal groups are ruled equally by a male and female pair, living as a family and working together to raise their young. Explore the different groups that animals form and find out who the real leaders of the pack are.

Grades 4–5: Caring for Young at the Zoo

Pups, kits, owlets and cygnets are just a few of the “zoo-borns” you can find now and then at Lincoln Park Zoo. Take a journey to learn about our scientists and vet care staff who help these new additions make their way into the zoo world.

Theme E Week 5 (July 17-21)

PreK: Animal Movers and Shakers

How does a tadpole become a frog? How does a caterpillar become a butterfly? Campers will discover how animals move and shake through their life cycles on their way to adulthood.

Grades K–1: Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall Animals Do It All

Do all animals hibernate in the winter? If they don’t, how are they spending their time? What happens in the summer for animals that like the cold? Come take a journey through the seasons and learn how animals live their lives through their changing environments.

Grades 2–3: Animals Around the Clock

What’s your bedtime? And when do you feel the widest 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.

Grades 4–5: Migrations Around the World

Where do monarch butterflies fly off to in the fall? Why do some birds migrate at night? Come explore the why, the when, and the how of grand animal movements—and the hiccups that come along with them.