Zoo camp will immerse your keiki in the vast and unique world of animals. Campers will gain a wealth of knowledge about different animals and the environments in which they live. A different theme is highlighted each session/week and campers learn through hands-on lessons complete with bio-artifacts, interactive activities, crafts and games. Our camps are broken up into three age groups and curriculum is designed to meet national science standards.
2022 Zoo Camps
Summer Camp 2022
Registration:
- HZS Members: Available beginning Tuesday, April 5, 2022 at 10am
- Non-members: Available beginning Friday, April 8, 2022 at 10am
Theme:
- Animal Artists: Learn all about color and how animals communicate in the wild and be inspired to create your own animal art!
- What’s for Lunch: What’s the difference between a food web and nutrient cycle? Let’s uncover the impact that animal diets can have on the ecosystem while learning about some of the enrichment eats enjoyed by animals at the Honolulu Zoo!
- A Trip Through Time: Explore our earth’s past to encounter prehistoric species from trilobites to dinosaurs, and learn about their links to today’s living animals.
- Keiki Zookeeper: Caring for animals means more than just feeding them. Learn how to build strong bonds with our animal ohana through training and enrichment, and discover what it takes so that they don’t just survive, but thrive.
| Dates | Theme | Camp Group |
|---|---|---|
| March 31 – June 3 (4-day) | Animal Artists | Menehune |
| June 6 – 10 | What’s for Lunch | Menehune and ʻImi Loa |
| June 13 – 17 | Trip Through Time | Menehune, ʻImi Loa and Koa |
| June 20 – 24 | Trip Through Time | Menehune |
| June 27 – July 1 | Animal Artists | Menehune and ʻImi Loa |
| July 5 – 8 (4-day) | What’s for Lunch | Menehune and Koa |
| July 11 – 15 | What’s for Lunch | Menehune |
| July 18 – 22 | Trip Through Time | Menehune and ʻImi Loa |
| July 25 – 29 | Animal Artists | Menehune and Koa |
| August 1 – 5 | Keiki Zookeeper | Menehune and ʻImi Loa |
| HZS Member | Non-member |
|---|---|
| 5-Day Camp session: $350 | 5-Day Camp session: $400 |
| After-care: $70 | After-care: $80 |
Please check back later for fall camp 2022 updates!
What to Expect
When you enroll your child in Zoo Camp they’ll be immersed in fun educational activities all day long. Activities revolve around a unique featured weekly theme. Our Camp Leaders work hard to create exciting national Next Generation Science Standards-geared lesson plans that meet K-12 requirements. Schedule varies from day to day depending on the activities and encounters planned for that week.
Tips for Campers
- Remember to wear the Zoo Camp t-shirt each day of camp!
- Please stay tuned for the new 2022 camp t-shirt – coming soon!
- There are discounted 2018, 2019, and 2021 shirts available in our e-store.
- Your shirt order will be ready on the first day of your registered camp session! If you prefer to pick up your order before camp begins, please email education@honzoosoc.org to schedule a pick up date and time Monday – Friday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm.
- Complete self-screening Wellness Tracker each morning before heading to Zoo Camp
- Pack a lunch, snack (for those that need an extra snack), and filled water bottle
- Wear sunscreen, mosquito repellant and pack a hat just in case!
Zoo Camp FAQs
All members receive a discount on all camp programs.
Members will be eligible to register early. To check your membership status, call the membership hotline at 808.926.3191 ext.153. Make sure you join or renew your membership prior to early registration!
No. You must be an active member at time of registration to receive a discounted rate and to be eligible for summer camp early registration. To learn more about becoming a member, or renewing your membership, visit honoluluzoo.org!
If purchasing a new membership online, the membership number is on the PDF file sent in the confirmation email; it is the ID number located under the barcode.
If they have a membership card, it is on the back of the card.
If they have a membership and have no documents, please email membership@honzoosoc.org
No. Registrations must take place in advance and participants must be of the appropriate age for the program. Honolulu Zoo Camps fill quickly, and we cannot accommodate day-of registrations.
No. Please be aware that only the legal guardian may register campers. If a camper is registered by someone other than a legal guardian, that camper may be removed from the camp roster.
No. Due to confidentiality concerns, we cannot provide the names or registration information of other Honolulu Zoo Camp participants.
No. We are unable to rearrange group rosters and registrants once the camp week has started. Camp sessions historically fill up and for safety reasons we are unable to have more than the maximum number of campers in each session.
Once you register for camp, Honolulu Zoo Society adheres to a strict cancellation and refund policy. If for any reason you need to cancel your registration, you must do so prior to the cancellation deadline.
If the Zoo Camp program has begun and closes due to unforeseen circumstances or illness amongst camper and/or staff, a refund will be issued to the original form of payment, minus the deposit fee ($80) and days spent at camp (daily rate is ($70/day for HZS members, $80/day for non-members).
If the Zoo Camp program you registered for has not yet begun and the program closes due to unforeseen circumstances, a full refund will be processed minus a $25 processing fee.
Camp Deposit– In order to attend camp there will be a non-refundable $80 deposit that will go towards your total camp fee.
Camp Cancellation – A full refund minus the $25 processing fee, will be returned for all registrations cancelled up to two weeks prior to the scheduled camp. Cancellations received two weeks prior to the scheduled camp will be refunded 50%, minus the $25 processing fee. Cancellations received one week or less prior to the scheduled camp will not be refunded.
If parents cancel:
- Two week or more before camp starts = full refund minus $25 processing fee
- Within two weeks = 50% refund minus $25 processing fee
- Within one week or less = no refund
If we (HZS)cancel:
- If camp has not yet begun = full refund minus $25 processing fee
- If camp has already began = full refund minus $80 + days spent at camp ($70/day for members, $80/day for non-members)
No. All programs are specifically designed with the age and grade group in mind, and we require campers to enroll with their own age/grade group.
Summer Camps:
Campers attending the K-1 camps must be 5 years old by the Monday of their first registered camp week. Your camper must be enrolled in the class that matches the grade they will be entering in fall of that year (rising grade).
Spring, Winter and School Holiday Camps:
Campers attending the K-1 camps must be 5 years old by the first day of the program. Your camper must be enrolled in the class that matches the grade they are currently attending. This ensures your camper will enjoy a grade-appropriate program and provide them with the best overall experience.
Camp is designed to encourage interaction among participants of the same age, without caregivers. Due to space limitations, we are unable to accommodate caregivers. Some campers will perhaps experience a moment of anxiety, overcome their fears and participate more quickly without a caregiver present. If you think your camper cannot remain in class without you, please consider waiting another year.
All Zoo Society staff are first-aid and CPR certified. Zoo Security is another first-aid responder on zoo grounds.
If you have an emergency or an urgent question while your camper is attending camp please call 808.554.7173. All other inquiries, call 808.926.3191 ext. 3.
Your camper’s safety and well-being are our top priority. All our staff must submit to background checks and are trained to work with children. For their safety, we ask that your camper wear the camp T-shirt everyday so they can be clearly identified. All camp instructors, camp teen volunteers, and additional camp staff will also wear easily identifiable T-shirts and carry radios to keep in contact with each other. Camp check-in and check-out procedures are specifically designed with your camper’s safety in mind. If you have additional concerns, please feel free to contact us.
Campers may have the opportunity for up-close encounters with some of our small program animals (snakes, lizards, and more). For the safety of all, direct contact with exhibit animals is not possible. All exhibit animal care, including feeding and cleaning, is done by professionally trained zookeepers and/or veterinarians.
Honolulu Zoo Society Zoo Camp is all about respect. We expect that all campers will respect themselves, other people, the zoo and nature. Respectful behavior will help to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone at camp. At the beginning of every camp session, each camp group will further discuss the group’s expectations for good camp behavior. Parents will be required to sign a Keiki Code of Conduct as a part of registration. Honolulu Zoo Society reserves the right to suspend any camper that does not abide by our expectations for good camper behavior.
Yes. We strive to accommodate and include campers of all need levels. We do ask that all of our campers are able to provide their own personal hygiene care and are able to travel throughout the zoo with little to no additional assistance. Please contact the Zoo Camp crew if you have any questions or concerns prior to registering for Honolulu Zoo Camps. We can be reached at 808.554.7173 or education@honzoosoc.org.
No. Due to the prevalence of tree nut and peanut allergies we ask that parents NOT send campers with anything that contains nuts, peanuts or nut products. This includes, but is not limited to, peanut butter, cookies or baked goods containing peanuts, trail mix, Nutella, or any Nutella-based items, etc. (Note: “soy nut” butter and sunflower seed butter are great alternatives to peanut butter). Nut products will not be included in any Honolulu Zoo Camp activities.
We offer one healthy snack per day for each camper. All snacks are nut-free and prepared in nut-free facilities. Possible snacks include fruit, pretzels, goldfish crackers, and fruit twists. For campers with dietary restrictions, we offer vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free and soy-free alternatives for snack. Additional fresh fruit is available to all campers during lunch. Parents are encouraged to reach out to zoo staff in advance to discuss specific dietary needs.
We cannot provide alternatives if a camper does not like a snack or lunch item. Additional fresh fruit will always be available during lunch and as an option for snack.
COVID related FAQs
To minimize the number of people in a class and provide ample space for distancing, we are currently limiting our group sizes to 10-20 children. Our Zoo classroom is located next to the Keiki Zoo. Indoor spaces are disinfected daily, restrooms disinfected hourly.
These restrictions are subject to change as our local data from the health department improves.
Mahalo nui to our Camp Sponsor
