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Explore what humans and animals must have to survive in space and on Mars. Create and launch a rocket, design a pet's spacesuit, and watch a cricket take a ride in a model rocket. Explore space in a whole new way! 

Ages 5-7: 9am-12pm

Ages 7-9: 1pm-4pm

Animals in Space Camp | OFFICIAL WEBSITE

$75-85

Registration for 2025 Zoo Camps will begin February 1, 2025.

Camp Age Groups and 2025 Fees

Learning Adventures:  Ages 5-7

• 5 day camps available in half day format, 9am-12pm 
• $135 Non-Members (Members save 15%)
• Morning-only extended care available: +$15

Learning Adventures:  Ages 8-11

• 5 day camps available in full day format, 9am-4pm
• $235 Non-Members (Members save 15%)
• Morning AND afternoon extended care available: +$30

Learning Adventures:  Ages 12-14

• 5 day camps available in full day format, 9am-4pm
• $260 Non-Members (Members save 15%)
• Morning AND afternoon extended care available: +$30

Children must meet the minimum age requirement by the first day of camp in order to participate.

All fees are per child, per camp.  Some camps may have fees different than standard fees listed above due to proration for an adjusted schedule or specialty program fees.  "Member" denotes the discounted fees available to Zoo Members. Full payment is required at the time of registration.  

Included in your fee: all materials and supplies, keepsake photo, daily snack, and workbook.

Extended Care

An optional Extended Care service is available for Learning Adventures camp sessions only. Morning care: 7:30-9:00am Afternoon care: 4:00-5:30pm. A flat fee of $30 per child, per week applies to full day camps and includes both morning and afternoon sessions. Half-day camps offer morning-only or afternoon-only care for $15 per child, per week. Extended Care provides supervision only and is not instructional time. Once selected the service can be used as much or as little as needed.

Camp Location

All camps have home base in the DeFouw Education Center on Zoo grounds. Drop-off and pick-up is via a car line system in the Wallace Avenue parking lot. During a typical camp day, participants will take excursions outside to visit zoo exhibits, go behind-the-scenes, and take advantage of the beautiful Columbian Park setting.

Lunch and Snacks

A daily snack will be provided for all camps and may include crackers, pretzels, fruit, or other similar items, along with water.

You may choose to pack an alternate snack. Parents of full-day campers are expected to pack a lunch for their child daily. Please avoid including nut-based food items due to allergy concerns. Refrigeration and reheating are not available. We encourage children to bring a litterless lunch and a reusable plastic cup or water bottle.

Allergies and Functional Needs 

A Zoo Health Advisory and Accommodations Form is required to be on file prior to the start of camp. This form is attached to your registration receipt, or available by download here. We also invite you to discuss any allergies or functional needs your child may have with the Education Team prior to registering, so that we may answer any questions you have and learn how we can best set up your child for a successful camp experience. It is always our goal to be as inclusive as possible. We believe the first step to achieving this is open and transparent two-way communication. 

Please note that Zoo facilities are NOT peanut-free, tree nut-free or latex-free. Despite our best efforts, we cannot guarantee your child will not be exposed to an allergen. Although contact allergies with zoo animals are rare, please discuss any known animal-related allergies with Zoo staff prior to camp.

If your child requires medications to be administered during camp hours, or travels with an Epipen, rescue inhaler or other critical care medication, please review our Medication Policy found in the Education Programs Participation Agreement.

Are You a Member?  Members receive a special discount of 15% off camp fees! If you're not already a member, consider joining today.  Click HERE to join online.

Summer Camps | Lafayette, IN - Official Website

This course introduces students to Generative AI tools like ChatGPT and DALLE. They'll explore how AI creates text and images, while learning to think critically and create responsibly with AI.

NEED laptop or tablet (not provided)

$200

06/23-06/27, 1-4 pm, weekdays

Margerum city hall room 126

Learn to Code with Object-oriented programming. This course teaches the fundamentals of Java programming including variables, Loops, and object-oriented concepts. Students will build real programs while developing logical thinking, problem-solving skills, and coding confidence.

$200, Supplies: Laptop or tablet (not provided)

06/09-06/13, 1-4pm, Weekdays

11+ yrs.

OR

07/07-07/11, 1-4pm, Weekdays

11+ yrs.

Margerum City Hall, room 126

2025 Learning Adventures (ages 12-14) Camp Schedule:

*Please note, while we try to keep this schedule and open/closed status as current as possible, there may be delays in website updates. Please see our registration portal for current availability

If your desired session is full, you can join the wait list through our online registration portal.

Learning Adventures (ages 12-14) Camp Fees:

• $260 Non-Members (Members save 15%)
• Extended care is available for an additional $30 per child. per week and runs 7:30am-9:00am and 4:00pm-5:30pm

Important Info About This Camp Experience

Who Wants to Be a Zookeeper is a new version of an old favorite camp (previously titled A Week in the Life of a Zookeeper) but with updates to better achieve our educational goals while providing the best quality experience to our learners and animal residents. Kids who participated in the old version will notice significant differences in format, but the overall educational content is quite similar.  

What to Expect:

This camp is unlike other Zoo Camps.  A portion of each day will be spent in the classroom with Zoo Educators, learning about the zoo industry. Campers will also rotate through some opportunities to work alongside zookeepers on safe animal husbandry tasks such as enclosure cleaning, diet preparation, etc.  Campers will also be expected to speak publicly to small groups of zoo visitors about the animals in our care.  
 
Zookeepers work in all weather conditions and campers will be expected to complete outdoor activities unless a severe weather situation arises.  Campers will get hot, sweaty and will be exposed to dirt, animal feces/urine, hay/straw, other allergens, and cleaning chemicals.  Personal protective gear, such as gloves and masks, will be provided as appropriate and must be worn as directed.  In addition, campers are expected to work cooperatively within small groups on various activities throughout the week.

What to Bring:

A reusable water bottle, packed lunch, a long pair of socks (to wear under provided rubber boots), and a great attitude!

2025 Learning Adventures (ages 5-7) Camp Schedule:
*Please note, while we try to keep this schedule and open/closed status as current as possible, there may be delays in website updates. Please see the registration portal for current availability.

If your desired session is full, you can join the wait list on our registration portal.

Learning Adventures (ages 5-7) Camp Fees:

• $135 Non-Members (Members save 15%)
• Extended care is available for an additional $15 per child per week and runs 7:30am-9:00am only for morning camp sessions
• *NOTE: some camp sessions may have modified fees and/or not include extended care - see registration portal for details
• Learning Adventures Camps (ages 5-7) | Lafayette, IN - Official Website

Bring a laptop or tablet.

This course uses Minecraft to teach game design, creativity and problem solving. Through Building challenges and Redstone logic, they'll explore STEM concepts while developing collaboration, critical thinking and digital skills.

Margerum City Hall, Room 126

Ages 5-11

$200 each session

2 Sessions:

06/02-06/06, 9am-12pm

06/23-06/27, 9am-12pm

Catalog - City of West Lafayette Parks & Recreation

In our Python class, students dive into one or our most popular programming languages used by professionals today. Through Hands-on projects like games, chatbots, and simple apps, they'll learn the fundamentals of coding, problem-solving, and logical thinking in a fun and engaging way. Perfect for beginners, this course builds a strong foundation that prepares students for more advanced programming in the future.

NEED laptop or tablet (not provided)

$160

06/16-06/20, 1-4pm, M,T,W,F

11+ yrs.

This course introduces students to game development using Roblox Studio. Through Hands-on projects, they'll learn coding with Lua, and game logic-building creativity, problem solving, and computational thinking skills.

Supplies: Laptop or Tablet (not provided)

06/09-06/13, 9am-12pm, weekdays

5-11 yrs

OR

07/07-07/11, 9am-12pm, weekdays

5-11 yrs

Margerum City Hall Room 126

This camp focuses on the world of manufacturing, engineering and technology. June 2nd-6th from 2-4pm. 

$80-90

Robotics Camp | OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Students will learn beginner and intermediate chess concepts and activities, starting with piece movements, chess puzzles, basic mating webs, and chess playing.

5-15 yrs.

$30 supply fee plus $200 class fee

Margerum City Hall room 123

06/02-06/06, 9am-12pm, weekdays

06/16-06/20, 9am-12pm, M,T,W,F

07/14-07/18, 9am-12pm, weekdays

07/23-08/01, 9am-12pm, Weekdays

In our Scratch class, kids learn to code by creating interactive stories, games, and animations -- building problem-solving skills, creativity, and confidence in a fun, beginner-friendly environment.

NEED Laptop or Tablet (not Provided)

$160

06/16-06/20, 9am-12pm, M,T,W,F

5-11 yrs.

Margerum City Hall, room 126

Summer is for fun, memories, and active learning! Adventure Station and STEAM Academy offer day camp through age 12, including 11 themed weeks of memorable experiences and field trips for school age children!

May 27 - August 8

A One-day intensive STEAM exploration camp for ages 10-14. Monday July 28, 9am-3pm. $60 for non-members, $50 for members.