Summer Learning Adventures for Kids at Sedgwick County Zoo

Thank you to Sedgwick County Zoo for sponsoring this post and offering amazing summer learning opportunities for Wichita families!

With school out for the summer, many parents look for fun activities to keep their kids entertained. Well, look no further, Sedgwick County Zoo is offering Summer Learning Adventures for all ages! These programs include various themes, interactive activities, opportunities to explore and different ways to connect with nature. We even offer Adult Learning Adventures periodically through the year. What better way to spend your date night or girls night out than with your friends at the Zoo?

Here’s the low down on our Summer Learning Adventures, with something to fit everyone’s interests!

Admission Information

Summer Learning Adventures admission varies with each age group. For ages 3-12, admission is $55 for members and $75 for non-members. For Zooniversity and Zookeepers Apprentice Program, admission is $120 for members and $140 for non-members. 

Year-round admission is free for children ages 2 and under, $11.95 for children ages 3-11, $15.95 for adults ages 12-61, and $11.95 for senior citizens ages 62+. Sedgwick County Zoo is open every day of the year, except for September 8, 2018, due to the preparation of the annual Zoo fundraiser, Zoobiliee.

Summer hours (March-October) are 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., and Winter hours (November-February) are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Memberships, gift certificates, group events, tours, birthday parties and school field trips are also available. Please visit our website for additional information on admission.

Children Ages 3-5, 6-9, & 10-12 (Junior Zookeepers)

Each class will focus on a different conservation theme, where kids will have fun, spend time in the Zoo, and learn ways to connect to nature. Each class is uniquely different, so, for example, children signed up for Flock A and B during the same week will be learning and doing different activities.

2018 Themes for Children Ages 3-9

Give a Helping Hand​ – Learn how animals and people work together and how we can help the planet and animals stay healthy.

Home Sweet Home​ – Explore what it takes to have a healthy home and create a place for native animals to live in our own backyards.

Outdoor Adventures​ – Develop a love for nature and some of the Zoo’s wild areas in a class that culminates with a family campout.

SAFE: Saving Animals from Extinction​ – Learn what is currently being done to keep kids’ favorite species SAFE and meet many of them up close and personal.

June 4 – 8

3-5 years old​ | Give a Helping Hand​ – Flock A: 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.
3-5 years old | Give a Helping Hand​ – Flock B: 10:30 a.m. – Noon
6-9 years old​ | Give a Helping Hand​ – Herd A: 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.
6-9 years old | Give a Helping Hand​ – Herd B: 10:30 a.m. – Noon
10-12 years old | Junior Zookeeper – Art in the Zoo:​ 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.
10-12 years old | Junior Zookeeper – Wild Encounters: ​10:30 a.m. – Noon
10-12 years old | Junior Zookeeper – Farms and Australia/South American Mammals: ​1:00 – 2:30 p.m.

June 11-15

3-5 years old | Home Sweet Home ​- Flock A: 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.
3-5 years old | Home Sweet Home​ – Flock B: 10:30 a.m. – Noon
6-9 years old | Home Sweet Home ​- Herd A: 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.
6-9 years old | Home Sweet Home​ – Herd B: 10:30 a.m. – Noon
10-12 years old | Junior Zookeeper – Horticulture and Elephants: ​8:30 – 10:00 a.m.
10-12 years old | Junior Zookeeper – Veterinary Medicine: ​10:30 a.m. – Noon
10-12 years old | Junior Zookeeper – Farms and Australia/South America
Mammals:​ 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.

June 18-22

3-5 years old | Outdoor Adventures​ – Flock A: 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.
3-5 years old | Outdoor Adventures​ – Flock B: 10:30 a.m. – Noon
6-9 years old | Outdoor Adventures​ – Herd A: 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.
6-9 years old | Outdoor Adventures​ – Herd B: 10:30 a.m. – Noon
10-12 years old | Junior Zookeeper – Birds:​ 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.
10-12 years old | Junior Zookeeper – Amphibians and Reptiles: ​10:30 a.m. – Noon
10-12 years old | Junior Zookeeper – North America and Downing Gorilla Forest:
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.

June 25-29

3-5 years old | SAFE: Saving Animals from Extinction ​- Flock A: 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.
3-5 years old | SAFE: Saving Animals from Extinction ​- Flock B: 10:30 a.m. – Noon
6-9 years old | SAFE: Saving Animals from Extinction ​- Herd A: 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.
6-9 years old | SAFE: Saving Animals from Extinction ​- Herd B: 10:30 a.m. – Noon
10-12 years old | Junior Zookeeper – Horticulture and Elephants:​ 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.
10-12 years old | Junior Zookeeper – Art in the Zoo:​ 10:30 a.m. – Noon

July 9-13

3-5 years old | Give a Helping Hand​ – Flock A: 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.
3-5 years old | Give a Helping Hand ​- Flock B: 10:30 a.m. – Noon
6-9 years old | Give a Helping Hand​ – Herd A: 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.
6-9 years old | Give a Helping Hand ​- Herd B: 10:30 a.m. – Noon
10-12 years old | Junior Zookeeper – Birds:​ 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.
10-12 years old | Junior Zookeeper – Career Exploration: ​10:30 a.m. – Noon
10-12 years old | Junior Zookeeper – Veldt: giraffe, hippo, and rhino:​ 1:00 – 2:30
p.m.

July 16-20

3-5 years old | Home Sweet Home​ – Flock A: 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.
3-5 years old | Home Sweet Home​ – Flock B: 10:30 a.m. – Noon
6-9 years old | Home Sweet Home ​- Herd A: 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.
6-9 years old | Home Sweet Home​ – Herd B: 10:30 a.m. – Noon
10-12 years old | Junior Zookeeper – The Touchables:​ 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.
10-12 years old | Junior Zookeeper – Career Exploration:​ 10:30 a.m. – Noon
10-12 years old | Junior Zookeeper – North America and Downing Gorilla Forest: 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.

July 23-27

3-5 years old | Outdoor Adventures​ – Flock A: 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.
3-5 years old | Outdoor Adventures​ – Flock B: 10:30 a.m. – Noon
6-9 years old | Outdoor Adventures​ – Herd A: 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.
6-9 years old | Outdoor Adventures​ – Herd B: 10:30 a.m. – Noon
10-12 years old | Junior Zookeeper – The Touchables:​ 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.
10-12 years old | Junior Zookeeper – Veterinary Medicine:​ 10:30 a.m. – Noon
10-12 years old | Junior Zookeeper – Veldt: giraffe, hippo, and rhino:​ 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.

July 30 – August 3

3-5 years old ​|​ SAFE: Saving Animals from Extinction​ – Flock A: 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.
3-5 years old | SAFE: Saving Animals from Extinction​ – Flock B: 10:30 a.m. – Noon
6-9 years old | SAFE: Saving Animals from Extinction ​- Herd A: 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.
6-9 years old | SAFE: Saving Animals from Extinction ​- Herd B: 10:30 a.m. – Noon
10-12 years old | Junior Zookeeper – Birds:​ 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.
10-12 years old | Junior Zookeeper – Amphibians and Reptiles: ​10:30 a.m. – Noon

Zooniversity | 13 years old 

Zooniversity is perfect opportunity for teens to get an in-depth look into our zookeepers everyday activities! This two week program is Monday through Friday, and allows students to work up close with different animals and explore all areas of the zoo.

May 21 – June 1:​ 8:00 a.m. – Noon
June 4 – June 15:​ 8:00 a.m. – Noon
June 18 – June 29:​ 8:00 a.m. – Noon
July 2 – July 13:​ 8:00 a.m. – Noon
July 30 – August 10:​ 8:00 a.m. – Noon

Zookeeper Apprentice Program | Ages 14 and older

Is your teenager interested in spending time outdoors learning all there is to know about animals, nature, and the science behind zoos? Well, we have just what you’re looking for. Our Zookeepers Apprentice Program offers teens an exciting opportunity to join a 4 level program, learning about what it takes to become a zookeeper! As this is a competitive program, we encourage students to challenge themselves while they’re here. Every student will start in level 1, where students are evaluated at the end of each session to determine eligibility in ZAP level 2. This is a two week program that runs Monday-Friday.

June 4 – June 15:​ 8:00 a.m. – Noon
June 18 – June 29:​ 8:00 a.m. – Noon
July 2 – July 13:​ 8:00 a.m. – Noon
July 16 – July 27:​ 8:00 a.m. – Noon
July 30 – August 10:​ 8:00 a.m. – Noon

You Don’t Outgrow The Zoo…It Grows With You!

Kids aren’t the only ones who like to have fun in the summer! Whether you’re looking for date night ideas, places to go for girls night out, or a place to unwind after work, we’ve got you covered! Adults can discover a whole new zoo adventure and meet new people along the way. Adult Adventures is an informal evening of drinks and learning with different themes at each event. Each event is from 6-8 p.m. All attendees must be 21 years old.

Friday, June 29, 2018: Drunken Botanist
Saturday, July 14, 2018: Cocktails with the Creatures
Saturday, August 18, 2018: Beastly Beers
Friday, September 28, 2018: Honey, Get Me a Drink
Saturday, December 8, 2018: Wild Wines

Stay Connected

We are constantly posting updates about the animals and everything new at the Zoo!

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How To Contact Us

Call us at (316) 660-WILD (9453) or reach us through email at [email protected].
Sedgwick County Zoo is located at 5555 Zoo Boulevard in Wichita, Kansas.

Wichita Mom
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