Fall Safari Camp

Zoo Atlanta is running Fall Safari Camp for kids ages 5 to 11 during the upcoming school breaks. It's set up as an outdoor classroom, so instead of sitting at a desk, the campers spend their days exploring the zoo. The program runs in two separate sessions: a five-day week from October 12 to 16 and a shorter three-day session from November 23 to 25, both from 9 AM to 4 PM. Each session has its own theme, so if you're deciding between the two, it helps to know what they're actually doing.

The October session focuses on how animals hold their shape and how skeletons affect healing in wildlife. The November session looks at the different ways animal families live and work together. Both weeks follow the same basic format: zoo explorations, up-close animal encounters, STEAM-based projects, hands-on science activities, and environmental games. The goal is to get kids thinking about conservation stewardship from a young age, and the variety of activities means they're moving around rather than just listening to a lecture.

Logistically, it's a full day, so you'll need to pack snacks, lunch, and a water bottle for your child. Check-in and pick-up both happen at the Education Conservation Gate, which is on the south corner of the Cherokee Avenue parking lot at 800 Cherokee Ave. An adult 18 or older has to handle both the drop-off and the pick-up.

Pricing depends on which session you choose. The October week is $400, or $350 for members. The November session is $240, or $210 for members. If you need a little more breathing room in your day, extended care is available for $15 a day. There are also scholarships available through the 2026 Scholarship Program, supported by Cox Enterprises, the Atlanta Foundation, the JALS Family Foundation, Southwire Company, LLC, and David Markert through the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta's Extra Wish Program; these go to Metro Atlanta residents who qualify for free or reduced lunch.