Thank you for choosing the Minnesota Zoo as your trusted summer camp destination—where natural wonder and discovery awaits! We are proud to provide campers with unforgettable and life-changing opportunities to connect with the greater world around us. As the state’s largest wildlife conservation learning resource, we specialize in connecting you and your child to the awe and wonder of nature.
Your camper will participate in animal encounters, special Zoo experiences, tours, and games. To ensure a great learning experience, campers are grouped by grade or age, and instructors are professional naturalists.
Scholarships
2025 Camp Registration Dates
Online Registration Opens:
February 4 at 10 AM for Zoo Members
February 11 at 10 AM for the General Public
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
To answer your camp questions, check out our Summer Camp FAQs Page.
Member Registration Day
Member registration opens for camps on February 4, 2025 at 10 am. An online waiting room will be available starting at 9:30 am that day. Click the register button for the camp you are interested in between 9:30 and 10 am, then once registration opens at 10 am, your spot in line will be randomly generated. If you sign on after 10 am, registration will be on a first- come, first-served basis. Due to the high volume of users, please expect to experience a long wait in our waiting room. If you click the register button before 9:30 a.m., it won't trigger the waiting room at 9:30 AM for you, so you'll want to wait to click that register button until AFTER 9:30 a.m.
Registration only takes place online and full payment is due immediately. In order to receive the member rate, your Zoo membership must be current (not lapsed) before you register. Registration requires signing legal waivers for each camper. Members may only register and sign for children named on their membership. "Plus" memberships are valid to have an extra person to come visit the Zoo, but not to register an extra person not named on your card for for Zoo Camp.
While registering online, if you encounter an urgent problem, please email [email protected] or call 952.431.9200 and we can try to talk you through the process, but we are unable to take registrations over the phone. Calls are returned in the order received so please do leave a message. Many camps sell out quickly. Please be prepared with a couple of camps or date options. A waitlist may be available for full camps. If a spot becomes available, the scheduler will contact the first person on the list and continue until the spot is filled.
NEW! T-shirt sizes asked during registration
Times: AM and PM sessions available for each date. Choose between AM session: 9 am–12 pm or PM session: 1-4 pm
Fee: $175 ($165 for Zoo members)
Animals have incredible survival skills! They survive in areas where it is cold or hot or dry or even worse. How do they do it? If we were to survive in these areas, we would need some special adaptations. Join us as we learn about some amazing animals in a fun-filled week of games, activities, and of course, lots of animals!"
May 27-30 (AM & PM)
June 30-July 3 (AM & PM)
Come hang out with our feathered friends at the zoo and learn about what makes a bird a bird! You’ll dive into the world of penguins, soar along with our tropical birds, and learn about the birds that call Minnesota home.
May 27-30 (AM)
June 30-July 3 (AM & PM)
Get ready to explore the wild world of predators! In this hands-on camp we will learn all about the animals that rule the wild—from the jungle to the savanna and beyond. Through interactive activities, games, and up-close encounters, children will discover the unique traits, habitats, and behaviors that make predators perfect for their environments.
May 27-30 (AM & PM)
June 30-July 3 (AM & PM)
Are snakes slimy? Why don’t we see frogs during the winter? Swim, slither, hop and crawl on over to learn the answers to these questions and more! We’ll find out the similarities and differences between reptiles and amphibians and why they are so COOL!
May 27-30 (AM)
June 30-July 3 (AM)
Times: Choose an AM session: 9 am–12 pm or a PM session: 1–4 pm
Fees: $215 ($200 for Zoo members)
Explore our farm with a different barnyard buddy each day! Visit cows, chickens, sheep, goats, pigs, and horses to discover how we take care of each of these animals.
June 9–13 (AM)
June 23–27 (AM)
July 14–18 (AM)
July 28–August 1 (AM)
August 11–15 (AM)
Were the dinosaurs of long ago anything like the animals we can see at the Minnesota Zoo today? Stomp on over to Dino Hideout, our dinosaur exhibit and nature play area, to get up close and personal with life-size animatronic dinosaurs like Triceratops and T-Rex, and roam the rest of the Zoo in search of other impressive grazers, predators, and dinosaur relatives. It’s sure to be a roarin’ good time!
June 2-6 (AM & PM)
June 16–20 (AM)
July 7–11 (AM)
July 21–25 (AM)
August 11–15 (AM)
Bring your sense of adventure as you explore the farm and the surrounding woods! Meet our resident farm animals, go on nature walks, visit the outdoor classroom, create nature art, and play in the Hanifl Family Wild Woods nature playground.
June 16–20 (AM)
July 7–11 (AM)
July 21–25 (AM)
August 4–8 (AM)
August 18–22 (AM)
Animals have incredible survival skills! They survive in areas where it is cold or hot or dry or even worse. How do they do it? If we were to survive in these areas, we would need some special adaptations. Join us as we learn about some amazing animals in a fun-filled week of games, activities, and of course, lots of animals!"
June 2–6 (AM & PM)
Get ready to explore the wild world of predators! In this hands-on camp we will learn all about the animals that rule the wild—from the jungle to the savanna and beyond. Through interactive activities, games, and up-close encounters, children will discover the unique traits, habitats, and behaviors that make predators perfect for their environments.
June 2–6 (AM & PM)
Meet a different animal friend each day and discover where the wild things live! Explore the tropical habitat of a snake, the underwater world of a shark, and where a raccoon may roam to find a home sweet home!
June 2–6 (AM)
June 9–13 (AM)
June 23–27 (AM)
July 14–18 (AM)
August 4–8 (AM)
August 18–22 (AM)
Join us as we spy animals from around the world. Discover what makes a fish a fish, a mammal a mammal, and much, much more— each day will be a surprise!
June 2–6 (AM)
June 16–20 (AM)
June 23–27 (AM)
July 28–August 1 (AM)
August 25–29 (AM and PM)
Times: PM session: 1-4 pm
Fees: $215 ($200 for Zoo members)
Explore the wonder of our Wells Fargo Family Farm by viewing farm animals up close, playing fun farm games, and as our sheep say—have a “bla-a-a-ast.”
June 9–13
June 23–27
July 14–18
July 28–August 1
August 11–15
Explore the farm and the surrounding woods! Enjoy close-up animal experiences, hikes, nature art, and playing at the Hanifl Family Wild Woods nature playground.
June 16–20
July 7–11
July 21–25
August 4–8
August 18–22
Grades 1 & 2 In-Person Week-long Full Day Camps
For children entering 1st or 2nd grade in the fall of 2025.
Full day session: 9:30 am-3:30 pm
Fees: $400 ($375 for Zoo members)
Children and animals are naturally playful, but play is serious business! By the end of the week, we’ll understand why play and cooperation are not only important for kids but also necessary for animal survival.
June 9–13
July 7–11
July 14–18
July 21–25
July 28–August 1
August 11–15
August 18–22
What does camouflage, super speed, and stinky spray all have in common? In this camp, find out what surprising adaptations animals have in order to get a meal or avoid becoming the meal!
June 9–13
June 23–27
July 14–18
July 21–25
August 4–8
August 18–22
Would you like to work at the Zoo? Explore and role-play jobs at the Zoo and see the grown-ups in action. If you imagine yourself caring for bears, training sea otters, or studying tigers, then this camp is for you.
June 16-20
June 23–27
July 7–11
July 21–25
July 28–August 1
August 4–8
August 18–22
August 25-29
Tromp through the tropics, journey through the grasslands, and “swim” through the oceans as we explore various habitats from around the world and their respective animals at the zoo.
June 9-13
June 23–27
July 14–18
July 28–August 1
August 4–8
August 11–15
August 25–29
Full day session: 9:30 am–3:30 pm
Fees: $400 ($375 for Zoo members)
Dragons and unicorns and phoenixes – oh my! Let your imagination run wild as we bring to life mythical creatures from stories and folklore around the world. Set out on an adventure to compare these mythical creatures to our zoo animals and discover how real animals can have magical traits.
June 16-20
July 7-11
July 14-18
July 21-25
August 4-8
August 11-15
August 18-22
August 25-29
Make glue from milk and discover how wool becomes clothing. Explore the amazing connections people have with farm animals through close up encounters! Visit other areas of the zoo while on the lookout for our farm animals’ wild counterparts.
June 9–13
June 23–27
July 14–18
July 28–August 1
August 11–15
Animals use the sun, the moon, and Earth’s magnetic field to find their way. How about you? Create a map, use a compass, and solve a Zoo treasure hunt with GPS. Explore the incredible ways animals use their own internal navigation system.
June 9–13
June 16–20
July 7–11
July 14–18
July 28–August 1
August 4–8
August 18–22
August 25-29
Splashing! Experiments! Adventure! Explore water and its wildlife in both marine and freshwater environments at the Zoo! Visit our aquarium, slosh and search for creatures in the marsh, investigate water invaders, perform experiments, and play water games. Please bring a bag each day with extra clothes and shoes that can get wet/muddy.
June 9–13
June 16–20
June 23–27
July 7–11
July 21–25
July 28–August 1
August 11–15
August 25–29
Lego™ and Minecraft™ love to use real world examples with their own unique twists. We will bring the virtual and block worlds to life as we learn about the animals, the biomes and the traits that inspired the sets and seasons of some of your favorite building activities! End each day creating a physical diorama that you will take home at the end of the week!
June 9–13
June 23–27
July 14–18
July 28–August 1
August 11–15
Full day session: 9:30 am–3:30 pm
Fees: $400 ($375 for Zoo members)
How do some animals survive in the harshest environments and live amongst some of the most fearsome animals? Together we will study the perplexities of animal survival as well as the traits that allow them to thrive in their various environments, especially those who call Minnesota home.
June 9–13
June 23–27
July 14–18
July 28–August 1
Welcome to a world of constant change. Meet the creatures of this wonderful watery world and explore their awesome abilities to survive and thrive—despite all the commotion.
June 16–20
July 21–25
August 4–8
Get ready for some delicious fun on the farm. Practice your farm keeper skills by helping with morning chores, discover the role farming plays in producing pizza ingredients, and celebrate the week with a pizza party!
June 16–20
July 7–11
July 21–25
August 4–8
August 18–22
A crime has been committed! The victim... wildlife! Can you identify the perpetrators? Put on your detective hat as we learn about the problems wildlife are facing while learning the skills and tools scientists use to track down criminals and help to save animals.
June 16–20
July 7–11
July 21–25
August 11–15
Full day session: 9:30 am–3:30 pm
Fees: $400 ($375 for Zoo members)
Have you ever wanted to study animals in the wild? Learn how plant and animal communities interact with each other? Spend a week at the Zoo using tools of the trade of professional naturalists that make a real world difference. Test your outdoor skills while investigating a research question of your choice. In this camp you’ll meet experts who work in the field and you'll learn how to think like a naturalist.
June 16–20
July 7–11
July 21–25
Explore a variety of marine ecosystems such as coral reefs, estuaries, and tide pools. Take a dive into some of the challenges marine life are facing in today's changing oceans along with some real-world solutions that people are putting in place to help these aquatic ecosystems. Develop a better understanding of the role that zoos play in marine conservation even when the ocean is far away.
June 23–27
July 28–August 1
August 11–15
Sneak a peek at the inner workings of the MN Zoo and see how the zoo strives to help save wildlife. Travel back in time to learn about zoo history, visit behind the scenes spaces, meet zoo staff, participate in conservation projects, conduct animal observations and much more.
June 16–20
July 7–11
July 21–25
From working with animals at the Zoo to saving wildlife in the field, zookeepers and scientists must problem-solve daily to design innovative solutions. Test your skills with real-world design challenges while learning how STEM is being used to help animals—around the world, in Minnesota, and right here at the Zoo.
June 9–13
July 14–18
August 4–8
Full day session: 9:30 am–3:30 pm
Fees: $400 ($375 for Zoo members)
What lies beneath the ocean surface? In this in-depth and hands-on camp, discover the diversity of life found in ocean communities. Practice your science skills with dissections and other hands-on activities.
June 9–13
July 14–18
Learn about the diversity of the animal kingdom by studying the animals at the zoo. Dig deep into the major taxonomic groups by observing animal behavior, investigating conservation issues, participating in community science and so much more. Visit behind the scenes areas, meet zoo staff and discover if a zoo career is right for you.
June 23–27
July 28–August 1
Autism Society of MN (AuSM) In-Person Week-long Camps
For youth with autism ages 8-19.
The Minnesota Zoo is excited to partner with the Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM) to offer summer camp opportunities for youth with autism.
All camp sessions will be co-taught by a Minnesota Zoo naturalist and AuSM educators. Participants must be group- ready. This includes demonstrating self-care skills without assistance; following adult directions; showing readiness for large group participation, including the ability to remain with the group at all times; and following safety rules independently.
Time: 1–4 pm
Tromp through the tropics, journey through the grasslands, and “swim” through the oceans as we explore various habitats from around the world and their respective animals at the zoo.
Fee: $375 $275 (Camp prices reduced this year thanks to Minnesota Zoo's scholarship fund.)
June 16–20
Time: 1–4 pm
Welcome to a world of constant change. Meet the creatures of this wonderful watery world and explore their awesome abilities to survive and thrive—despite all the commotion.
Fee: $375 $275 (Camp prices reduced this year thanks to Minnesota Zoo's scholarship fund.)
June 23–27
Time: 8:30 am–11:30 am
From working with animals at the Zoo to saving wildlife in the field, zookeepers and scientists must problem-solve daily to design innovative solutions. Test your skills with real-world design challenges while learning how STEM is being used to help animals—around the world, in Minnesota, and right here at the Zoo.
Fee: $375 $275 (Camp prices reduced this year thanks to Minnesota Zoo's scholarship fund.)
July 7–11
Llama Drama and Other Quirky Critters In-Person Single-Day Camps
For children entering 1st to 9th grade in the fall of 2025.
The Zoo is home to hundreds of creatures—and characters! Explore this pageant of personalities to learn what makes our animals that we care for at the Zoo unique as individuals. Spend the morning befriending our totally rad llamas at Llama Trek, then travel the Zoo in the afternoon to get to know even more of our resident animal superstars. Who will be crowned Most Playful? Biggest Scaredy Cat? Miss Congeniality? We'll find the best candidates among the Minnesota Zoo's quirky, charismatic, and sometimes comical animal team!
Full day session: 9:30 am–3:30 pm
Fees: $115 ($100 for Zoo members)
June 9
June 10
June 11
June 26
June 27
July 7
July 8
July 15
July 16
July 18
July 30
July 31
August 6
August 8
August 11
August 12
August 18
August 19
June 12
June 13
June 16
June 17
June 18
July 14
July 21
August 1
August 15
August 21
June 23
June 24
June 25
July 24
July 25
July 28
July 29
August 4
June 20
July 22
July 23
August 5
August 20
Grades K to 6 VIRTUAL Tours for Kids
Geared toward youth entering Kindergarten to 6th grade in the fall of 2025.
Connect with the Minnesota Zoo from anywhere! Our Virtual Tours for Kids are designed especially for youth ages Kindergarten through 6th grade. They provide a window into the natural world and connect kids to animals, nature, and the Zoo. Tours feature some of the Zoo’s most beloved animals and exhibits. They provide an opportunity to explore, ask questions, and have fun in the unique way that only the Minnesota Zoo can offer!
Live ZOOM session: 9:30 am–10:00 am
Fees: $8/device per tour ($6/device per tour for Zoo members)
Take a “dive” into the ocean with this live interactive tour of Discovery Bay. Our naturalists will introduce you to the sharks, rays, fish, and mammals that call the Minnesota Zoo home!
Thursday, June 26
Explore the diversity of the tropics from the comfort of your home! During this engaging virtual tour, naturalists will introduce you to animals that call the Tropics Trail home!
Tuesday, July 8
Minnesota is home to some AMAZING animals. Join our naturalist on this live tour to introduce you to some animals that you don't see everyday but call Minnesota home.
Thursday, July 17
Experience the Llama Trek and other nearby habitats like never before! In this naturalist-led virtual tour we will meet some llamas and other quirky creatures who call the Minnesota Zoo home.
Tuesday, July 22
13000 Zoo Boulevard
Apple Valley, MN 55124
952.431.9200
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