Winter Break Camp

FAQs

What are the procedures for check-in and checkout?

Check-in will take place each morning from 8:45–9:15 a.m. Checkout will take place for all grade levels from 3–3:15 p.m., unless the camper is registered for After Care. Caregivers will drop off and pick up their camper in the designated area outside the Judy Keller Education Center on Cannon Drive. Caregivers authorized to pick up campers must show a photo ID every day at checkout.

What gear does my camper need for camp?

• Each camper will receive a blue Conservation Camp T-shirt with registration. Campers should wear their blue camp T-shirt every day they attend camp. Please do not wear different colored T-shirts from 2021.
  
• Caregivers will have the option to purchase additional shirts.
  
• Many camp activities will take place outside, weather permitting. All campers should dress to be outdoors.
  
• Campers may be required to wear a face covering indoors, so please be sure to send a mask with them.
  
• All campers should bring their own refillable water bottle.
  
• Unless you have purchased lunch during registration, all campers should bring a non-refrigerated, nut-free lunch and snack.An open house and gear pickup event will take place shortly before the start of camp by reservation. Details will be on your registration receipt and announced via email to registered families. Gear that is not picked up at one of these events will be given to each camper on their first day of camp.

What are your policies regarding health and safety?

• It is Lincoln Park Zoo’s responsibility to provide a safe space not only for our staff and guests, but the animals in our care. Therefore, all campers must be vaccinated for COVID-19 in order to participate in camp.
• If your child is medically unable to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, please contact us at camp@lpzoo.org to discuss ways your camper can safely participate. You will be required to show documentation of your camper’s medical exemption signed by a medical doctor, as well as a negative COVID-19 test at the start of each week in which your camper participates.
• All campers and staff in groups with campers who are not vaccinated (due to medical exemption) will be required to wear face coverings except when they are eating or drinking.
• Lincoln Park Zoo staff members are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
• Lincoln Park Zoo will follow city and state guidelines regarding face coverings and other health procedures. At times, campers may be required to wear a face covering regardless of vaccination status, so please be sure to send a face covering with your camper.
• Camp staff are all CPR- and first aid-certified and an EMT is on-site during camp.
• Caregivers are the zoo’s most important partners in keeping our camp community healthy and safe. If your camper feels unwell or shows any signs of infectious illness (sore throat, new cough, difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, severe headache, or a fever at or above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit), please do not send them to camp!

What happens if a camper gets sick at camp?

If a camper feels unwell at camp, caregivers will be called to pick up their camper. Campers who have symptoms of infectious illness must be tested for COVID-19. They may return to camp after receiving a negative COVID-19 test if the camper has been fever-free for 24 hours and symptoms have improved.

What happens during the camp day?

No two camp days are exactly the same. Camp instructors do their best to follow camper interests while selecting each day’s activities from our camp curricula, so there is always variety. However, there are some things campers can count on:

• Morning and afternoon free play.
• Chats with zoo experts. These are times when campers can ask their most pressing animal care questions.
• Outside time, as much as weather permits.
• Activities that help campers build knowledge, empathy, resiliency, and curiosity about animals. These might be movement-based, art-focused, or imaginative.
• Visits to many of the zoo’s animal residents; however, animal care is left to our professional zookeepers.

Consider asking your camper:

• What made them smile today?
• What did they choose to do during free play?
• What animals did they see? What were the animals doing?
• Did they play a game? What was the goal of the game?
• What is their group’s animal name? Do they have a cheer or a song?
• Did any of the other campers do something silly that made them laugh?
• What did they do to be helpful today?

Will my camper get to touch or feed animals?

Your camper will see many of the animals at the zoo throughout their camp week. However, we leave care of the animals up to our professional zookeepers. Campers will not have the opportunity to touch or feed the animals.

What if my camper needs accommodations?

Lincoln Park Zoo is committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all. If you child needs accommodations or has specific needs, please contact our camp team at camp@lpzoo.org or include this information when registering so that we may discuss how to make sure your camper has a great experience.