Summer Camps 2026

Balancing Beasts

For Pre-K Ages 4+
Balance is one of our most used senses, but we rarely think about it. Animals and humans both rely on their balance to move around their habitats. From tree limbs to mountain cliffs, animals use balance everywhere they go! Learn about how balance plays an important part in the lives of our animal friends.

Don’t Touch the Tigers

For Pre-K Ages 4+
As any Zoo camper knows, you shouldn’t touch a tiger! In this experience, we won’t be touching any tigers, but we will be learning about how their oily, rough — and surprisingly soft in places — fur feels! From fur to feathers to slimy skin, your camper will use their sense of touch to explore the animal kingdom!

Nature’s Noises

For Pre-K Ages 4+
Learn about the different sounds of the animal kingdom, from the loud roar of a lion to the sweet song of a bird. What do these noises mean and do animals really talk?

Secret Senses

For Pre-K Ages 4+
Did you know some animals can sense things that we can’t? From ears that ‘see’ through echolocation, to bodies that ‘hear’ through vibration; learn about these hidden senses and the different ways animals experience our shared world.

Smell Ya Later

For Pre-K Ages 4+
What’s that smell? Animals use smell to ward off predators, while others use pheromones to communicate messages to each other. In this camp, learn about how different animals smell, and what those smells are used for!

Spot the Spots

Sold Out

For Pre-K Ages 4+
Do you know how to tell a leopard and a jaguar apart? What about a turtle or a tortoise? This camp is all about learning how to spot animals, and how to identify which animal they are! We will explore the various kinds of animals at the Zoo, as well as learn some tips and tricks on how to find them.

Animal Helpers

For Grades K – 1
Campers will spend this week exploring the simple things humans can do to protect animals in the wild and in our own backyards through encounters with Zoo staff and animal ambassadors.

Hooray for Herbivores

SOLD OUT

For Grades K – 1
You may not like eating your veggies, but these animals sure do! Herbivores are animals who eat plants and come in all shapes and sizes: from tiny grain munching mice to tall leaf chomping giraffes and everything in between. Find out why these animals are so important in this camp that will make you yell “Hooray for Herbivores!”

Picky Eaters

Sold Out

For Grades K – 1
If you think your camper is a picky eater, wait until you learn about the picky eaters in the animal kingdom! From koalas and pandas to anteaters, your camper will explore just how picky the animal kingdom can be.

Zooper Heroes

Sold Out

For Grades K – 1
With great power comes great adaptations! Animal adaptations have inspired superhero powers like super strength, super speed, wall climbing, web-slinging, and so much more! Dive into this zooper world of animal superpowers as we discover what powers animals are hiding and how it helps them survive.

Extreme Biomes

For Grades 1 – 2
Scorching desert, roiling sea, freezing tundra, steep mountains and flooded forests are all home to living creatures that must be as tough as their environment to survive. In this camp, we will discuss some of the toughest, most extreme biomes on Earth and the creatures who somehow survive these intense conditions.

Charismatic Carnivores

Sold Out

For  Grades 1 – 2
Meat-eating animals are some of the most famous in pop culture and folklore. From majestic powerful tigers to cunning flexible ferrets, carnivores all share a love of meat — but what they eat and how they get it is often very different between species. Find out why these animals captivate us and discover how they secure their spots at the top, or middle, of the food chain.

Grossology

For grades 1 – 2
In this camp, we will discover all about things that make parents go “yuck!” From slimy slugs to stinky skunks, the animal kingdom has lots of things that we may consider gross; but animals use these gross adaptations to help them survive! Your camper will explore what gross adaptations animals have, as well as how those seemingly gross aspects help keep them alive!

Junior Keeper Camp

SOLD OUT

For grades 1 – 2
Get a glimpse into the daily life of a Zoo keeper! Campers will learn how Louisville Zoo keepers provide the best possible care for our animals and get a better understanding of animal husbandry practices. Explore not only what it takes to do the job of a keeper, but what steps are needed to become one!

Animal Architects

For Grades 2-3
The animal kingdom is filled with fantastic builders. From master carpenters to intricate architects: nature has some of the most talented designers hiding in plain sight. Explore which animals build and what their bizarre structures do to help them survive!

Herp Herp Hooray

Sold Out

For Grades 2 – 3
Herps like turtles, lizards, frogs and snakes — are some of the oldest and most diverse animals on our planet and have some incredible adaptations like soaring through the air, committing gravity-defying jumps, hiding in plain sight, regrowing limbs, or freezing solid and thawing out. This camp will have you cheering on these amazing critters!

Junior Vet Camp

SOLD OUT

For Grades 2 – 3
What does a Zoo veterinarian do each day? How do you study to become a veterinarian? Discover the ins and outs of animal health and learn how our Zoo doctors and keepers team up to take care of our animals every day. This camp explores not only what it takes to do the job of a Zoo vet, but what steps are needed to become one!

Enchanted Animals

For  Grades 3 – 4
Many animals are synonymous with magic and fantasy — but what are the roots of so many of these stories? In this camp, we will investigate if these animals are truly magical or not, plus try to uncover why they are believed to have enchanted properties.

Keeper Camp

SOLD OUT

For Grades 3 – 4
Zoo keepers have coolest job working alongside amazing animals of all sizes — but it isn’t all fun and games! Keepers train incredible behaviors, give medications, create diets with fascinating or disgusting ingredients, and clean up all the messes! In this camp, get a glimpse into the amazing and difficult work of a zoo keeper.

Polar Opposites

SOLD OUT

For  Grades 3 – 4
 We spend a lot of time figuring out what animals have in common, but what about the things they don’t share? From slow, tree-dwelling sloths to fast grassland lions, nature is filled with opposites! Learn about the duality of our planet by learning about what animals share and what they don’t!

Vet Camp

SOLD OUT

For Grades 4 – 6
What do Zoo veterinarians do each day? How do you study to become a veterinarian? Discover the ins and outs of animal health and learn how our Zoo doctors and keepers take care of our animals every day!

Zoo Careers

Sold Out

For Grades 4 – 6
Has your camper ever asked what it’s like to work at a zoo? Find out what it takes in this camp! We will learn about the typical jobs people think about like zookeeper, veterinarian, and director; but we will also be diving into some of the lesser-known zoo jobs like mechanics, carpenters, horticulturists, life service systems, educators, marketing professionals and so many more. Discover what jobs are at the Zoo and what kinds of people work them!

Zoo Exhibit Design

For Grades 4 – 6
What makes a good zoo exhibit? Your camper will explore the various aspects of zoo exhibit design by looking at the inner workings of animal exhibits that allow keepers to safely and effectively care for the unique needs of each species while highlighting each animal’s natural behaviors.