School's Out Safari

Ages: Children in Grades 1 - 3
Time: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Cost: $75, members save 20%

School’s Out Safari Camps are single day camps scheduled on certain days when metro area schools are out for holidays or teacher professional development. During these camps, campers will explore the Zoo, meet some animals and participate in hands-on STEM learning. Possible topics include animal adaptations, habitats, conservation, animal care, and ecosystem dynamics.

Dates:
Friday, October 11
Metro districts without school: Des Moines Public, Saydel, Southeast Polk

Monday, October 21
Metro districts without school: Ankeny, Carlisle, Martensdale - St Marys, Urbandale

Monday, January 13
Metro districts without school: Ankeny, Martensdale - St Marys, Urbandale

Friday, January 17
Metro districts without school: Carlisle, Des Moines Public, I-35, Saydel, Waukee

Monday, January 20
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Multiple Districts Closed

Monday, February 10
Metro districts without school: Ankeny, Des Moines, Martensdale - St Marys

Monday, February 17
Metro districts without school: Johnston, Martensdale - St Marys, North Polk, Norwalk, Urbandale, Van Meter

Friday, April 25
Metro districts without school: Des Moines Public, Johnston, Saydel

Please note, while the districts listed above are the districts known to us that do not have school, all students are welcome at School's Out Safari including but not limited to, students from additional districts, homeschool students and those attending private or charter schools. Please always double-check your district's calendar for days off or possible snow day make-ups.

Registration and prepayment are required.

Click here to register

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Participation Guidelines

School’s Out Safari Day Camps are drop-off programs for children in grades 1-3.

Please dress children in comfortable, weather appropriate clothing. We will spend portions of each day outside exploring the zoo.

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Drop-off/Pick-up

Both drop-off and pick-up take place curbside. Please follow our signs for drop-off or see the drop-off/pick-up map located in the Safari Camp Parent Guide.
Drop-off: 8:45 - 9:00 a.m.
Pick-up: 4:00 - 4:15 p.m.

If you know in advance that you will be late to pick up your child, please let us know by calling the camp parent line at 515-974-2550. If you arrive after 4:15 pm, you will be charged a fee of $5 for every 15 minutes after 4:15 pm. For the safety of your children, we will only release your child to the person/s you list on your household’s authorized pickup list.

Before and after care are not available during Winter Safari Camps.

Please note, Zoo admission hours are 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. If you need to drop-off/pick-up your child outside of our designated drop-off/pick-up times and before/after Zoo admission hours, please call 515-974-2550 as Zoo admissions will be locked.

For the safety of your children, we will only release your child to the person/s you list on their authorized pick-up list.

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Lunch/Snack

Lunch: Lunch is not provided. All campers must bring a sack lunch from home. Refrigeration can be provided upon request by the adult.

Snack: Campers receive a morning and an afternoon snack each day (included as a part of camp registration – no extra fee). Snacks might include items such as: crackers, veggie straws and frozen treats (these items are tentative, subject to change and vary from day to day).

Campers may bring a snack from home in place of, or addition to, provided snacks. These snacks, however, may only be consumed during designated snack times unless there is a health concern discussed with camp staff prior to the start of camp or during Monday morning drop-off.

***Food items containing nuts are not served during camp. However, we cannot guarantee a nut-free environment. Camp kids often bring their own lunch items containing nuts, and nuts are a regular part of our animal diets. Please disclose all participant food allergies during registration. To discuss concerns or request special accommodations, please contact camps@blankparkzoo.org or call 515-974-2550.

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Medications at Camp

If you are bringing any medication to camp with your child (including rescue inhalers and EpiPens), you must adhere to the following guidelines:

• Morning/evening dose of medications should be given before or after your child attends camp. Only medications with a dosage schedule that cannot be adjusted for camp hours should be administered during the day.
• ALL medications must be given to a Camp Supervisor by an adult. Prescription medications must be in the child’s name and in its original bottle. Adult should advise whether the medication should be returned at the end of each day or stay at the Zoo for the duration of camp.
• A medication authorization form must be filled out completely for each medication to be administrated at camp.
• We will NOT administer medication without a completed form until we are able to reach a parent by phone.
• All medications must be in their original packaging and labeled with appropriate prescription, dosing and/or pharmaceutical information. Liquid medication must be accompanied with an appropriate measuring cup/syringe.
• We must have the child’s first and last name and exact time medication is to be given.
• We are unable to accept damaged/expired medications or loose medicine in unmarked packaging or give medication on an “as needed” basis.

Click here to download a medication authorization form.

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Registration, Confirmation and Cancellation

Pre-registration is required for all camps. After your registration is processed, a confirmation email will be sent. Call 515-974-2550 if a confirmation email is not received within 24 hours. The week before camp, you will receive a pre-camp email with instructions for drop-off and pick-up.

Cancellation requests received more than 2 weeks prior to the start date of camp will receive a full refund minus a cancellation fee ($15/day). Cancellations requested within 2 weeks of the start date of camp will not receive a refund.

If you have any questions regarding camps or registration, please email camps@blankparkzoo.org or call 515-974-2550.

Click here to purchase a Blank Park Zoo membership to save money on Safari Camps.

Please be prepared to provide your member ID number during registration. Please note that your registration will be reviewed and your charges may be modified if you choose, but do not qualify for this discount. If you do not know your member ID number, please call 515-974-2600 or email membership@blankparkzoo.org.

Grandparent & Grandparent Plus Memberships - If your camper is included on a grandparent or grandparent plus membership, please still register the camper under the parents' name and provide the membership ID for the grandparent or grandparent plus membership.

Click here to register

Click here to download our Safari Camp Parent Guide