Kindergarteners must be age 5 by May 26, 2026

Project GLOBE

It’s time to take action for our planet! Step into the world of conservation as you explore how our choices affect wildlife and wild places. Through up-close animal encounters, exclusive behind-the-scenes experiences and interactive eco-activities, discover how you can GLOBE - Grow, Learn and Observe to Better Earth, and inspire change in your own community.

Registration limited to 1 session per camper.

Pathway to Zoo Careers

Nashville Zoo’s Pathway to Zoo Careers is an exciting, hands-on program designed for high school students eager to explore the many career paths within the zoo world. Discover the world of conservation education and learn how educators spark curiosity and compassion for the natural world. Gain firsthand experience in animal care, husbandry, enrichment, and get a glimpse into a day in the life of a zookeeper.

Lastly, the week will focus on an inside look at veterinary medicine, where students will explore different education tracks within the field, learn about specialized equipment, observe on-show animal exams, and participate in labs focused on parasitology, mock blood-draw, and animal bandaging. Students will even practice skills like blow-darting.

If you ever dreamed of working with animals or protecting wildlife, this immersive experience is your first step toward making it happen!

Registration limited to 1 session per camper.

Zooperheroes Camp

Zooperheroes Camp is offered to children with special needs, providing additional support while learning at the zoo. This camp offers 1 on 1 support with a small class size and additional zoo educators along with visual schedules, visual supports, first/then boards, quiet areas, choice boards and more. Campers will meet animals up close, visit animals throughout the Zoo, along with hands-on activities, art exploration, and games. Zooperheroes Camp encourages peer social interaction and fosters connections with animals and nature at the zoo.

Dr. Zoolittle

Have you ever dreamt of talking to the animals? Step into the world of Dr. Zoolittle, where every creature has a story to tell! From chattering parrots to curious kangaroos, discover what our animal friends might say if we could understand their language. Through playful adventures, you’ll discover how we care for our zoo animals and help their worlds stay wild and wonderful!

Families interested in a camper attending Zooperheroes Camp must complete the pre-registration which will open on Wednesday, February 4. Due to an increased interest in this program, participants will be selected in the order the pre-registration forms are received. There are 10 spaces for this program and we will update the website when spaces are filled. Completing the pre-registration form does not guarantee a space at camp.

Interested in Zooperheroes Camp? Fill out our Pre-Registration Form.

For more information visit our Zooperheroes FAQ page »

For additional questions about Zooperheroes Camp, please contact zoocamp@nashvillezoo.org or 615-833-1534 x141.

Campers enjoy a wide variety of activities throughout the day, including Zoo exploration, up-close animal encounters, hands-on activities, games and more. Each camp has age-appropriate activities and experiences that align with the theme of the camp program. Zoo camp is an active program, and campers will spend most of their day outdoors.

Before care and after care are available for an additional cost and can be added while you are registering your child for camp. Before care is $40 for the week and open from 7:30 am – 8:45 am. After care is $75 for the week and open from 3:15 pm – 5:30 pm. 4-day camp weeks have prorated before and after care rates. If you need to add extended care after you have registered your child, you can log back into your account to purchase.

Campers must bring a nut-free, non-refrigerated lunch, snack and refillable water bottle. Nashville Zoo does not provide lunches for campers. Due to allergies, Zoo camp is peanut and tree-nut free (sun-butter is ok). To help keep lunches cool, a reusable ice pack is recommended for lunches. For campers attending after care, we recommend packing an additional snack. 

Camps for Kindergarten - 7th grade will be in small groups of 8-10 campers each led by one Zoo Camp Counselor & one trained ZooTeen (teen volunteer). Camps for 8th - 12th grades will have slightly larger groups led by two Zoo Camp Counselors. Camp counselors must be at least 18 years old, and most are college level students.

It is our goal at Zoo Camp to be an inclusive and safe space for everyone. During registration, you will complete a medical form for each camper where you can list allergies, medications or supports for your child during camp. To best meet the needs of your camper, we welcome you to contact us to discuss any accommodations your camper requires prior to camp. We are happy to discuss all available options. Email zoocamp@nashvillezoo.org with specific questions. 

Registration for Zoo members will open on Wednesday, February 4 at 10 am and open for the public on Wednesday, February 11 at 10 am. 

As a thank you for supporting the Zoo as a member, members receive early camp registration and a discount for camp sessions. Registration opens for zoo members on February 4 at 10:00 am.

On Wednesday, January 21, current zoo members will be emailed the link for registration and their unique discount code to receive the member discount for camp. Sending this email early will allow time for the email to arrive to your inbox (please check spam and junk folders) and ask questions ahead of member registration on February 4. You will be able to visit the camp registration site, but registration will not be open until February 4 at 10 am. The member discount code MUST be entered before checking out. There is no discount for extended care for Zoo members. 

We recommend searching your email accounts for recent emails from pr@nashvillezoo.org or membership@nashvillezoo.org to ensure that you are on our email list, that your email address is associated with your member number (you’ll see it at the bottom of our monthly e-news), and you know which email to check for your registration info sent on January 21. Because the member email will go to all Zoo member households, it takes time to arrive to everyone’s email so please be patient and check back if you do not see it by afternoon on January 21.  

If you are not sure if you have opted in to receive the Zoo e-newsletters, opt in for our E-News. Zoo Members, use the same email associated with your Zoo membership.

Purchasing a new membership?  Make your purchase prior to January 7, to ensure you receive the member email with the registration link and discount code.  After making your purchase, see how to find your membership number here.

Have a lapsed membership? Renew before January 7. In order to receive the Zoo member discount, you must be a current Zoo member by February 4. 

Need to find your membership number? You can find your membership number on your membership card or in a copy of our email newsletter. If you purchased your membership online, you can also find your membership number by following these instructions. If you can't find this information, please email our Membership Department at membership@nashvillezoo.org

Nashville Zoo has funding for a limited number of scholarships for Summer Camp 2026. Please complete the application for consideration for a scholarship. If you are applying for a camp scholarship for multiple children, please submit a separate form per child. The option of before care and after care are available for scholarship recipients at no additional cost. If selected for a scholarship for your camper, you will be contacted by the Summer Camp manager. There is a $40 processing fee for a camp scholarship, only paid if your child is selected.

Scholarship applications are due by Friday, February 27.  Complete the application here.

Camp is a great place to develop new friendships. Within each program, we are able to take requests for your child to be placed with friends or siblings signed up for the same camp.

Complete the following request form to submit your group request after you have registered for camp. Talk to the other families in your group - only submit one group request for all campers in your group. Fill out a Camp Group Request Form »

Prior to summer, all registered camp families will receive a comprehensive camp guide to help prepare their camper(s) for camp at the zoo. The week before your camp week, you will be sent reminders, daily schedules and an introduction to the educators leading the summer programs. 

We will notify families by Friday, February 13 if they have received a space for Zooperheroes Camp. If you do not receive a space, your camper is on the waitlist in the chance there are cancellations.

Zooperheroes Camp is recommended for children, ages 7 – 12, that benefit from one-on-one support in a learning/play setting. If your child is attending regular education classrooms or mainstreaming and you are interested in accommodations for your child to attend general camp programs, please email us to discuss further. For bathroom assistance questions, we understand accidents happen. In general, we ask that campers can use the bathroom without assistance.

There are 10 youth in Zooperheroes Camp. The camp is led by a team of 6 trained counselors, which creates a camper-to-counselor ratio of 1:1 and 2:1.  

Counselors go through KultureCity Sensory Inclusion Training, along with Nashville Zoo Camp accessibility training, CPR and basic first aid. Counselors are familiar with the supports available for camp and how to use them. These supports include social stories, visual schedules, transitioning supports, First/Then, Token Rewards and more.

Zooperheroes Camp is from 9 am – 3 pm. Each day starts and ends with free choice activities in the classroom. The days are structured to support the campers and the group moves through activities at their pace. Activities rotate from indoors to outdoors throughout the day. Campers experience different activities as a group, which include visiting animals out in the Zoo, hands-on activities, games, crafts, up-close animal encounters, jungle gym and more. The counselors help to encourage social interaction amongst the campers and spaces are always available for campers who need a break.

Counselors move around the jungle gym with the campers and when the campers need sensory breaks, or are ready to be done, even if early, we are able to support and accommodate their needs.

At the Zoo there can be many different sights, sounds, smells, and experiences your camper might encounter. Providing specific information on the pre-registration form helps us to anticipate your child’s needs while at camp. Keeping the camp group small allows camp staff to best support your camper throughout their time at the Zoo. Nashville Zoo has EMT’s but they are not able to administer medication and there is not a nurse on staff. For any specific medical questions, email zoocamp@nashvillezoo.org.

Zooperheroes Camp started in 2014 and has been offered every summer since (with exception of 2020).