Nature Rocks! NC Zoo’s Pre-K Nature Play Camps 2025
Registration Link!
Offered by the Week - Tuesday & Thursday
For Rising Preschool and Kindergarten Age Students
Get Wild About Nature while splashing in our play stream, stomping in mud puddles, exploring the woods, and meeting our Animal Ambassadors!
Price: $75/week (Tuesday and Thursday session)
Time: 8:30am-12:30pm
Maximum number of campers: 12 campers per week
Please note updated medical policy: Zoo staff are not allowed to administer ANY medications except for an EpiPen. If your camper must take medications, they will have to be able to take them on their own. If your camper has to carry medications other than an EpiPen, in case of an emergency, staff will not be able to administer, and a parent or guardian will have to accompany the camper all during camp.
All camps are rain or shine. Camp will only be cancelled if the Zoo is closed for inclement weather.
Join us for a summer of fun they’ll always remember!
Weekly Themes
Week 1: June 17 & 19 Party for the Pollinators! Visit the Honey Bee Garden and Kaleidoscope’s Butterfly Garden, learn about the butterfly life cycle, experience hands-on flower pollination activities, and make your own pollination seed pod to take home.
Week 2: June 24 & 26 Gnomes & Fairies in the Forest! Let imaginations run wild with enchanted pretend play and dress up, make your own fairy/gnome house with materials from nature, and even visit our Cypress Swamp habitat.
Week 3: July 1 & 3 Marvelous Mud! Get messy by playing in Kidzone’s Mud Cafe’, making mud art, building your own mud creature, practicing your mud-throwing skills, and visiting the rhino habitat.
Week 4: July 8 & 10 Remarkable Reptiles! Visit the desert habitat, make your own box turtle craft, experience hands-on snake shed activity, and meet a few of our animal ambassador reptiles too.
Week 5: July 15 & 17 Wonder of Water! Play in Kidzone’s stream, make your own boats, learn about the importance of water and water filtration, experience hands-on ice painting, and visit our Rocky Coast habitat.
Week 6: July 22 & 24 Sci-Fun-Damentals! Let’s inspire some curiosity by doing some hands-on science experiments, making slime, and visiting our Solar Pointe picnic area.
SOLD OUT Week 7: July 29 & 31 Zebras, Ostriches, Giraffes, Oh My! Visit the giraffe feeding deck, learn about unique adaptations, experience a hands-on zebra stripe activity, and even make your own giraffe ‘ossi-crown.’
Week 8: August 5 & 7 Pets and Vets! Visit our vet hospital, learn about wildlife rehabilitation, make catnip socks for shelter cats, and create animal enrichment for our resident ambassadors.
What does a daily schedule look like for the campers?
Daily Schedule:
8:30 AM drop off at Stedman Education Building in North America Parking Lot
9:00 arrive at Kidzone
9:15-9:30 Play activity based on weekly theme
9:30-9:45 Animal Ambassador visit/Bathroom Break
10:00-11:00 Visit a Zoo habitat based on the weekly theme
11:15-11:30 Snack Time/Bathroom Break, snacks will be provided and will be based on the weekly theme. You may send a snack if you prefer. Also please inform us of any food allergies. All campers will need to bring a reusable water bottle with the camper’s name on it.
11:30-12:15 Free Play in Kidzone, children may get wet in our Play Stream and/or muddy in our Mud Café. Packing a change of clothing is recommended.
12:30 PM Pick up at Stedman Education Building in North America Parking Lot
How do you register for one of our camps?
Registration Link! If you have any questions, you can contact Kathy Osborne at kathy.osborne@nczoo.org
How much are the camps? Is there a Society or multiple camp discount for these?
Price: $75/week (Tuesday and Thursday session)
Current Society Members
If you don't have your Zoo Society promo code to get your discount, please call the NC Zoo Society office at: 336-879-7250
Refund Policy
You will be refunded your entire camp registration fee if you cancel at least 2 weeks before the camp. If you cancel after that or fail to show for your camp, there will be no refund. You may only attend the camps you have registered for.
Is there a camp t-shirt?
Yes, it can be purchased as an add-on on the ticketing site.
Waitlist Procedure
If a camp is sold out and you would like to be added to our waitlist please email Kathy (kathy.osborne@nczoo.org) with the camp date and number of tickets requested. As spots open we will notify you.
What is the camper to staff ratio?
Camps are staffed by 3 adults(staff to child ratio= 1:4) with combined 8 years preschool camp experience. At least 1 staff member is currently certified on child CPR and First Aid.