Member registration opens on March 15, 2023 at 12:00 pm PST.

General public registration opens on March 22, 2023 at 12:00 pm PST.

You will be asked to supply your personal address, phone and emergency contact information, other named adults that will be picking up your child, any allergies your child or children have, as well as age, grade level, birthday and physician information.  We also recommend that you look at the list of classes available for your camper(s) before you begin your registration and have a list of classes you want to register for.

Zoo members must register for the saczoo.org website. Please use the name and address as they appear on your membership card. Once you have registered for the website, you can test your registration here.

We recommend doing this at least one week prior to the registration date.

Summer camp member registration will open on March 15, 2023, and you must be signed in to access it. You can reference the camp registration guide to prepare.

If you have any questions about this process or experience any difficulties, call 916-808-5888 or email the Member & Visitor Services Office.

It is recommended that you become a member and register for the website at least a week ahead of registration to ensure you are included in the member pre-sale process.

New Members
If you are becoming a member for the first time, you register for the website at the same time by checking the “register for site” box.

Yes, all membership levels have access to the member pre-sale for camp.

The PCI Security Standards Council is the standard for industry best practices for all online merchants and credit card processors. You will need to have the following versions of operating system and browsers (or higher/newer versions) to process a credit card transaction.

Operating System: Windows 7 or newer
Internet Browsers: Chrome 22+, Firefox 27+, Internet Explorer 11+, Safari 7+, Edge
Mobile Browsers: Safari 5+, Firefox 27+, Internet Explorer 11+, Opera 14+

If you are receiving an error regarding an out-of-date operating system (OS), please upgrade to proceed.

Registration will be open to the public on March 22, 2023. Visit the Summer Camps registration page.

Yes. If the campers are signing up for the exact same class, you will be prompted to enter registration information for all attendees on the same screen. If your campers are in separate classes, you must register them separately, which can be done by adding one camper’s class to your cart after completing the information, then clicking the back button twice to get back to the class list screen. Then select the class for your second camper and repeat the process.

You can reference the camp registration guide to prepare.

You must hit the “add to cart” button to save your space in the class and finish the payment process. You can reference the camp registration guide to prepare.

If the class is sold out, you may add your camper to the wait list. Note that only members may add their child to the waitlist during the Member Pre-Sale period.

Step-by-step instructions are listed in the camp registration guide.

We do not recommend campers staying for only half the day because our teachers plan activities for the whole day, and we would not want your camper to miss out. However, if your camper has an appointment and needs to leave early, please make sure to let the teacher know that morning.

If your child has been waitlisted for the class, it means that the class is full, and you are on the list to be contacted when an opening becomes available. If an opening becomes available, you will be contacted via phone and email to see if you are still interested in the class. Once you are contacted, you will have 48 hours to contact the reservation specialist to take advantage of the opening. If there is no response from the phone and email inquiry after 48 hours, the next person on the list will be contacted and offered the opening. You will not be removed from the waitlist and will be contacted again if another spot opens.

We recommend that if you are interested in a class, always put your child on the free waitlist. No matter where they fall on the waitlist, there is still a possibility that they will get into the class. If your availability changes and you are no longer interested in the class, please email our Registration Specialist so we can remove your name from the waitlist associated with that specific class.

NOTE: Only current Sacramento Zoo members may enter their information onto the waitlist during the Member Pre-Sale period. Any non-members’ information entered during this period will be removed without notice.

No. If a camper has informed us that they will not be attending camp that week, our Reservations Specialist calls the next person on the wait list. If we are not informed of a cancellation ahead of time and an individual does not show up on the first day, their spot is held for them until they let us know they are cancelling.

Once you have registered for your camp class(es), a receipt will be instantly generated and sent to you via email. A follow-up email containing directions and rules will then be sent to one week prior to your zoo camp class.

Kindergarten classes have a maximum of 18 students per week, and all other age groups may have up to 25 campers.

Our camper to staff ratio is approximately one staff member for every five campers. Staff includes our teachers, assistant teachers and teen camp counselors.

When the temperature rises during the summer, we encourage our campers to drink lots of water. Our teachers will also adjust their days to spend more time in the shade, utilize our indoor classrooms (only one camp class per classroom), and play water games! We will ensure that our campers have enough time to cool down and are shaded from the sun.

Zoo camp will not be cancelled due to weather or environmental conditions unless the whole zoo is closed due to severe weather conditions. As soon as the decision has been made to close the zoo, all campers/parents will be notified by email and phone.

We have water available to the campers at all times. Children should bring their own reusable water bottle labeled with their name.

Reusable Sac Zoo water bottles are also available for purchase. Visit the Summer Camp Add-Ons page for more information.

Due to various camper allergies, we do not provide snack for campers most days. Teachers will plan one snack/bathroom break time each morning and afternoon for campers to eat snacks they have brought from home.

Note: Please make sure to list all camper allergies during registration.

No, lunches are not provided. Campers are encouraged to bring their own lunch. If you bring your lunch, please be aware that lunches are not refrigerated, although they are kept in a shady place.

Campers may also purchase a lunch from our onsite catering company, Taste of the Wild. Visit the Summer Camp Add-Ons page for more information.

No, we have a policy that prohibits campers from going to the café or gift shop during camp hours.

If a parent or guardian agrees to the promotional release, their photos may be used in our emails, website or other promotional materials.

Each camp or class includes at least one up-close encounter or interaction with different animals at the zoo, and every class will participate in a weekly animal enrichment or feeding.

Yes. At the Sacramento Zoo, we know that it is very important for kids to spend time outdoors exploring nature. Our camp is designed with that mindset. Please be sure that your child is dressed in play clothes according to the daily weather report. Campers will receive their camp shirt the first morning and are asked to wear it all week. Closed-toed and closed-heeled shoes are required for all classes. Flip-flops are not allowed as they can lead to injuries.

Extra camp shirts will be available for purchase in the mornings during camp sign-in for $15 each (credit card only) OR in advance online. Visit the Summer Camp Add-Ons page for more information.

Morning drop-off will begin at 8:30 am

1st-6th Grade camps: Campers must be picked up by 4:00 pm (unless you have purchased after care until 5 pm).

Kindergarten camps: Campers must be picked up between 11:45am and 12:15pm

Drop-off and pick-up will take place at the front of the zoo. When you arrive Monday morning, your child will receive their camp t-shirt and make a name tag before heading up to the camp class area.

If you are authorizing other adults to pick up your child, those names must be provided prior to the start of camp. You can provide additional names when registering your child for class(es) online, or submit a Camp Class Authorized Pick Up Form to the Reservation Specialist.

All campers must be signed in and out by an authorized adult, and a photo ID is required at the time of pick up. No exceptions.

Drop-off for camp will occur at the front of the zoo. Parking for the camps will be street parking in Land Park, or in the lot across the street by Fairytale Town (do NOT park in the loading zone in front of the zoo’s main entrance). Please park your car and then walk up to the registration tables. You will be signing in and out each day at this same location. Please plan for enough time to find parking and walk your child to the sign-in table.

Note for Kindergarten pick-up: Land Park can be busy at noon, so please plan for extra time to find parking for noon pick-up.

Parents/guardians of campers will have an opportunity to meet the staff and ask questions at the drop-off/pick-up area in the mornings. On Monday mornings, we make sure that camp teachers and staff are available to answer any questions or alleviate any concerns you may have for the coming week.

If you do not know which staff members will be working with your child, just ask and we can introduce you!

Camp gates open at 8:30 am for camper drop off at the front of the zoo. As our teens and teachers need time to set up for camp, we are unable to open the gates before 8:30 am.

Yes. You can sign up for after care online prior to your camp date, OR at the sign-in area each morning of camp class. After care is offered from 4 to 5 pm daily.

There is a flat rate of $15 per camper per day (or $75 for a full week) per camper, but children may be picked up any time during that time window.

After care for a full week may be purchased in advance online for $75 per camper per week. After care purchases are non-refundable. Visit the Summer Camp Add-Ons page for more information.

After care is offered as a courtesy to parents, but we are not a day care facility. Camp ends at 4 pm, and any activities after that time are unstructured and include playing games and watching movies. Most of the activities occur indoors because the children will have been outside all day.

If you pick up your child after 5 pm, you will be charged $1 per minute because the zoo must pay our staff overtime to stay with your child. Payment will be collected at the time of pick up.

NOTE: After care is not available for the Kindergarten camps

No, campers are not permitted to have cell phones, mp3 players, or gaming devices with them at camp. Due to the active nature and behind the scenes aspects of camp, electronic devices could be damaged or prove a distraction to the class. If brought to camp, electronic devices will stay with camp lunches and we are not liable for those devices or for any damage which may occur. If your camper needs an electronic device for an emergency or medical need, please let us know ahead of time and we will do our best to find a solution.

The Sacramento Zoo adheres to the most updated recommendations from the CDC, California Department of Public Health, and Sacramento County Public Health in order to maintain a healthy environment for all campers and staff. Check the main camp webpage for the most up to date COVID policies; the Summer Camp COVID Policy will be made available no later than May 15, 2023.