Winter Safari Camp

Winter Safari Camp at the Zoo
December 21-23, 2026
December 28, 2026 – January 1, 2027
January 4, 2027
February 15-19, 2027

Time: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Extended care available for $15/day from 8 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.

When school is out, Camp is in! We are here to engage and excite your young learners ages 5-11 during Winter Breaks. 

Safari Camp is a great opportunity to engage young explorers in learning about the wild world around them and beginning their journey of conservation stewardship. Through Zoo explorations, up-close animal encounters, STEAM-based projects, hands-on science activities, environmental games and more, campers learn about attainable strategies and goals to combat environmental issues and are charged with finding simple ways that they can make a difference.

Each week campers embark on a different Zoo expedition, exploring wildlife and wild places. Young explorers will be immersed in hands-on, minds-on learning while having fun!

December 21-23 (3 days)
Training Treats: Did you know that animal training at modern zoological facilities is about much more than treats? Training is a powerful tool that helps Animal Care Specialists and Veterinarians build trust with the animals in our care, check regularly for healthy bodies, and provide engaging experiences that exercise animals’ brains in ways that support their well-being! This week, campers will learn about how Zoo Atlanta Animal Care Specialists train the wildlife we steward using positive reinforcement, discover how these behaviors help animals receive the best care possible, and uncover the problem-solving behind successful training sessions. From first attempts to big breakthroughs, campers will see that every training journey is a learning experience. At the end of the week, campers will propose a training plan for a new-to-the-Zoo species of their choosing!

December 28-January 1 (5 days)
Interdependent Interests: All around the world, wildlife works together to survive and thrive! Sometimes, these relationships are really healthy for everyone, and other times, these relationships take an interesting turn. Spend the week exploring ways in which wildlife (including the occasional plant or fungus) impacts and interacts with other living things. On Friday, Camp groups will share their favorite interdependent relationship with their peers by writing and performing a skit or song describing the species and how they interact! 

January 4 (1 day)
Marvelous Monotremes: Mammals are warm-blooded, covered in hair or fur, feed their babies milk, and give birth to live young… or do they? Nose into the magnificent world of monotremes, the mammals that break all (or some) of the rules! We will explore how monotremes follow and have unfollowed our mammalian rules, dig into why we still call them mammals, and design a brand new monotreme that breaks all the rules! Our designs will be shared in an end-of-day presentation to highlight our creativity and rule-breaking skills! 

February 15-19 (5 days)
Bizarre Behaviors: When survival is at stake, animals deploy a variety of methods to help them succeed in the wild. From communication, specialized diets, defenses and more, discover the variety of ways animals have adapted to flourish in their environments. Campers are sure to be amazed by these bizarre behaviors and inspired to take action to help species thrive in the wild.