About This Activity
Camp Como at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory is a themed summer camp that lets kids spend a full week exploring animals, plants, and behind-the-scenes zoo life. The 2026 season offers half-day morning camps for preschoolers and rising kindergarteners (ages 4–5, 9:00–11:30 a.m.) and full-day camps for kids entering grades 1–6 (9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.). Drop-off starts at 8:30 a.m. and pick-up runs to 12:00 p.m. for half-day, or 3:30 p.m. for full-day campers. Families can also add after care.
Each camp week has its own zoo or nature theme, tailored to specific grade bands, so kids get age-appropriate content and activities. Preschool and K campers might do “Nature Playtime” or “Sensational Senses”, exploring the grounds through hikes, sensory games, and simple animal encounters. Older kids choose from themes like Prehistoric Times, Como Detectives, Como-ology, Animal Care & Exhibit Design, Como-Pros (trying out zoo and conservatory jobs), Garden Care & Design, and Relationships in Nature—all built around time in the zoo and conservatory, meeting animals and horticulturists, doing crafts and experiments, and learning how a real zoo and garden operate.
For parents, Camp Como is designed to be both educational and supportive. Como also employs Camp Care Specialists who can support campers with transitions, sensory needs, and emotional regulation, and encourages families to share information about learning or behavioral needs ahead of time; campers must be able to participate safely in a group with general supervision, but short-term one-on-one support is available during the day. All together, Camp Como offers a structured, nature-rich summer option for families who want a true zoo camp experience with thoughtful inclusion and logistics that work for a typical workday.
Dates & Schedule
June 8 - August 22, 2026
Location
1225 Estabrook Drive
St. Paul, MN 55103
Costs & Pricing
Half-Day Camps (preschool - K)
$205/week
Full-Day Camps (1st - 6th)
$390/week
Financial aid is available, apply here.
Como Friends Members get 10% off.
How to Register
Programs can be registered for online here.
They utilize the RecTrac system, you will need to create an account.
Contact
Ratings & Reviews
What Parents Like
- Reviews say Como is genuinely fun (and feels like a “Twin Cities summer staple”).While most public reviews are about the zoo/conservatory experience rather than camp specifically, families consistently describe Como as a place kids enjoy, with lots to see in a manageable footprint. (1)
- Visitor reviews repeatedly mention educational programming (talks/shows/animal-focused learning), which aligns well with why families pick an institution-based camp in the first place, but isn't so overwhelming that kids lose interest because they think they're in school. (1)
- Employee reviews specifically referencing the education department and summer camp call out a “healthy educational environment,” hands-on experiences, and behind-the-scenes exploration. (2)
- Families who like predictable logistics will appreciate the clearly published drop-off/pick-up windows, aftercare structure, and the fact that Camp Care Specialists are explicitly available for added support needs (transitions, sensory adjustments, behavior support, etc.). (3)
What Parents Think Could Be Improved
- Local community chatter explicitly warns that programs “fill up fast,” which matches the general reputation of high-demand Twin Cities summer options. Not an explicit negative but something to keep in mind! (4)
- Como’s posted camp refund policy includes no refunds within two weeks of the camp start date (and a processing fee otherwise), which is worth flagging for families juggling summer schedule changes. (3)
- Como is transparent that campers must manage key independence skills (stay with group, toilet/dress self, etc.) and that they can’t provide all-day 1:1 supervision—important for some families when weighing options. (3)
Our Take
Como’s camp program reads like a high-quality, institution-based day camp: structured schedule, clear expectations, optional aftercare, and a mission-driven learning environment rooted in animals/nature—plus a real effort to support access through scholarships. The one catch: public, camp-specific parent reviews are limited (most online feedback is about the zoo/conservatory visit itself), so your best move is to treat this as a “trusted local staple” pick—and register early, because families say these programs go fast.