Lowry Park Zoo Offers Unique Summer Camp for Tampa Bay Area Children

Whether it's a daily animal encounter, a hike through the zoo or talking with a zookeeper, kids who choose to particpate in Lowry Park's Zoo School will see up close what life at the zoo is like.

The Zoo School is a program that was developed to allow zoo personnel an outlet to communicate with kids in the local area and show them animals they wouldn't otherwise encounter.

"Because we're located in the center of Tampa we are very reliant on the community to be a part of what we do," Lowry Park's Education Coordinator Andrea Schuch said. "When people see that we do so much with the kids and that they aren't just being baby sat for a few hours they feel good about the kids getting involved at the zoo."

Among the activities that zoo school students participate in over the ten week long camps are animal shows, encounters and feedings.Animal enrichment, as Schuch calls it, shows kids how zookeepers go about giving animals activities that will keep them from growing bored of life in captivity.

"We try to keep the animals life a little bit exciting and it's good for the kids to see that we do that," Schuch said. "They also have animal encounters where an animal will come to the classroom and the kids can get up close and personal with it. The kids really enjoy a camp day."

This up close and personal experience with the animals is something that zoo teachers believe kids carry with them for a life time.

"We've had kids that start out in camps and then start wanting to work at the zoo when they get older," she said. "It really has effected some kids lives because they come out of the camp with a new appreciation for nature and animals and they sometimes see a direction that they want to go in life. We have people that are employees now that started out as campers years ago. It's something that will stick with them."

The week long camps include much more than just a few animal encounters. Examing artifacts, arts and craft projects and educational videos will also be on the agenda.

"We squeeze in some educational stuff too so it's just them going on our rides and play in the water all day," Schuch said. "One thing that gets to them is when we do some of our artifacts. We have a manatee rib bone that shows what happens when one of the animals is hit with a boat propellar. It really has an effect on the kids when they see that."

Camps will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and schedules will vary according to the student's grade level, instructor and weekly theme.

The cost of enrollment is $170 per week for zoo members that want to do five-day camp weeks, while non-zoo members will pay a fee of $190 per week. Specialty camps and four day holiday weeks are also available at varying prices. Enrollment discount days will take place at various times throughout the summer as well.

For more information on Lowry Park Zoo's Zoo School program, call 813-935-8552.