Minnesota Zoo

The Minnesota Zoo’s Summer Zoo Camps are classic “zoo kid” weeklong experiences built around animal encounters, special zoo experiences, tours, and games, with campers grouped by grade/age and taught by professional naturalists. Offerings span a wide range—from Preschool/Kindergarten options (including single-day and multi-day formats) through Grades 1–12 weeklong camps—and the Zoo notes that camps can sell out quickly.

For School’s Out Camps, the Zoo offers in-person break-week camps for Grades 1–5, designed as full-day programs (typically 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Monday–Friday) with themed weeks like spring-focused exploration for younger campers and navigation/nature discovery for older elementary kids. Capacity is explicitly limited to keep program quality high, and registration closes the Friday before camp starts (at noon), so families who know their break dates usually benefit from booking early.

School Vacation Days
Spring Break (either March 23-27 or March 30-April 3, 2026)

‍Summer Camps
June 1 - August 21, 2026 (single day, 4 day, or week long options)

13000 Zoo Boulevard

Apple Valley, MN 55124

School Vacation Days

‍$395/week for non-members, $370/week for members

‍Summer Camps‍

• $50/day for single day, half day camps (members receive slight discount)
• $120/day for single day, full day camps (members receive slight discount)
• $185 - $225 for 4-5 day, half day camps (members receive slight discount)
• $445/week for week long, full day camps (members receive slight discount)

Registration for school break camps can be done online here. It closes the Friday before a given camp begins.

Registration for summer camps can be done online here. Online registration opens February 3, 2026 at 10 a.m. for Zoo Members & February 10, 2026 at 10 a.m. for the General Public.

952.431.9390

educate@mnzoo.org

‍Contact Us Form

What Parents Like‍

• One parent blogger described Zoo Camp days as “fun filled” and “educationally packed,” with their child out cold unusually early after camp—classic sign of an active, engaging day. (1)
• A day-by-day recap includes things like farm animal learning (chick/chickens/rabbits), shows, camel rides, marine-life learning, and touch opportunities—very “zoo camp” in the best way. That same parent specifically praised staff as “amazing” and “very friendly,” and emphasized how closely supervised and security-focused pickup felt (photo ID + approved list). (1, 1.5)
• A mom quoted in a local roundup said her child had done Minnesota Zoo Camp for two years and “loved it,” adding “I really don’t think you can go wrong.” (2)
• Other reviews described it as an educational opportunity that many campers really enjoyed. (3)

‍What Parents Think Could Be Improved‍

• Parents mention long walks across the zoo (e.g., getting to lunch) and kids being noticeably tired—plan for good shoes and a big water bottle. (1) Como Zoo camps are a good alternative, their facilities are easier to navigate for small legs.
• Some topics may land better than others depending on the kid—pretty normal for interest-based camps, but helpful expectation-setting. (1)
• There aren’t many publicly indexed, detailed parent write-ups specifically about MN Zoo camps—most online feedback is either brief/one-off or general zoo reviews.

‍Our Take

‍MN Zoo camps are a strong pick if your child loves animals and can handle an active day: high movement, hands-on learning, and lots of variety. The biggest “watch-out” is simply to prepare for the physical side (walking + sun + end-of-day fatigue) and set expectations that some themes will be a bigger hit than others.