Plenty Of Pgms. In Spring & Summer
The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Queens Zoo has opened registration for 2013 spring and summer education programs.
The zoo has created a variety of interactive programs for toddlers to teens. All programs include age-appropriate hands-on science activities, animal encounters, exhibit visits, and arts-and-crafts. Some programs, including the spring and summer Teen Internship include meeting zoo keepers.
Fees are charged for all programs.
Due to popular demand, the Education Department has expanded the Zoo Camp. Campers can now come to the zoo for two-week sessions and the new Extended Care program for children ages 4 to 10 helps working parents by providing kids with engaging activities until 5 p.m.
For more information or to register for a program, visit www.queenszoo.com/programs, contact qzeducation@wcs.org or call the registrar at 1- 718-271-7361. Space is limited, and programs have been known to sell out quickly.
The spring and summer programs are as follows:
– “Overnight Adventures” for ages five and up accompanied by an adult. Participants will explore the zoo at night by going on late-night walks in the aviary and meeting zoo animals close up. Sessions are Saturday into Sunday, May 18-19, and Saturday into Sunday, June 8-9, from 5 p.m. to 10 a.m.
– “Little Hatchlings” for children from ages 23 months to 10, accompanied by an adult. Participants will explore the zoo with their kids by singing songs, doing arts-and-crafts and visiting animal exhibits. The series will take place on six Wednesdays, Mar. 6, 13 and 20 and Apr. 3, 17 and 24 from 10 to 11 a.m.
– “Toddler Time” for children ages two to three accompanied by an adult. Participants will meet a variety of zoo animals and take part in interactive classes. Each session consists of six classes on either a Wednesday or a Saturday. The Saturday series runs on Apr. 6, 13, 20 and 27 and May 11 and 18. There are two Wednesday sessions: first, on Mar. 6, 13 and 20 and Apr. 3, 10 and 17; the other on Apr. 24 and May 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29. Times are from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and from noon to 1 p.m.
– “Kinder Kritters” for children ages four to five accompanied by an adult. These interactive classes include hands-on activities, animal encounters and visits to animal exhibits. The Sunday series runs on Mar. 10, 17 and 24 and Apr. 7, 14 and 28 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
– Mini camp for children ages five to nine. Youngsters will discover the natural world around them in this camp program that includes animal presentations and more. The midwinter camp runs on Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 18-19; the spring camp runs on Wednesday and Thursday, Mar. 27-28. Both programs run from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. each day.
– Spring high school Internship for teenagers ages 13 to 17. Teens will get an in-depth experience working at a zoo by meeting vet technicians, conducting animal behavior studies and learning about zoo keeping. Internship dates are on Sundays, Feb. 24 and Mar. 3, 10, 17 and 24, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.
– “Summer Toddler Camp” for children ages two to three accompanied by an adult. The sessions will take place on three weeks, Monday through Friday, on June 17-21, June 24-28 and July 1-5 (closed on July 4). Camp runs each day from 10 to 11 a.m. and from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.
– “Kinderzoo” for children ages four to five. Sessions will take place on four weeks, Monday through Friday, on June 17-21, June 24-28, Aug. 19-23 and Aug. 26-30. Program runs each day from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
– “Week of Wildlife” for children ages six to seven. Sessions will take place on four weeks, Monday through Friday, on July 8-12, July 15- 19, Aug. 19-23 and Aug. 26-30. Program runs each day from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
– “Zoo Explorer” for children ages eight through 10. Sessions will take place on two weeks, Monday through Friday, on July 8-15 and July 15-19. Program runs each day from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.
– Extended care provides daily extensions of camp programs for children ages four through 10. Extended sessions run on four weeks, Monday through Friday, on July 8-12, July 15- 19, Aug. 19-23 and Aug. 26-30, from 3 to 5 p.m. each day.
– “Junior Keepers” for children ages 11 through 12. Session runs on Monday, July 22, through Friday, July 26, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. each day.
– Teen internship for youths ages 13 through 17. Session runs over three weeks from Monday, July 19, through Friday, Aug. 16, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. each day.
The Queens Zoo is located at 53-51 111th St. in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.
