Summer 2026 ZooCamp Registration Now Open at ZooAmerica

ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park today announced that registration for ZooCamp 2026 is now open. The highly-anticipated summer camp at the 11-acre zoo in Hershey, Pa., provides a safe, fun and educational environment for campers of all ages to connect with the incredible wildlife and natural habitats of North America.

The Zoo offers 29 weeklong camp sessions - the most ever - from June 8 through Aug. 17, 2026, for preschoolers through high school students. Given the continued popularity of ZooCamp, ZooAmerica added another Middle School ZooCamp session and another session for first through third grade this year.

The ZooCamp curriculum is carefully crafted to be age-appropriate, with a blend of hands-on activities, close-up animal encounters and exploration designed to foster a lifelong love for wildlife and conservation:

• Preschool ZooCamp (Ages 4-5): This session is a perfect introduction to the animal kingdom! Preschool campers will participate in an animal-themed story time, create a craft to take home, enjoy a provided snack, get an up-close look at one of the ambassador animals with a dedicated Zoo educator, and take a short, guided walk through a portion of the Zoo.
• School-Age ZooCamp (Grades 1-6): Designed for elementary students, this session dives deeper into the world of wildlife. Activities include animal encounters, opportunities to create cool crafts, guided zoo walks with focused discussions on different regions and species, and more.
• Middle School ZooCamp (Grades 7-8): This session offers a more hands-on, career-focused experience. Middle schoolers will have the unique opportunity to shadow naturalists during their morning opening routine, allowing them a behind-the-scenes look at daily animal care. They will also actively participate in making enrichment activities for select animals and will work on meaningful conservation projects to benefit wildlife.
• ZooCrew I and II (Grades 9-12): This extensive session is ideal for high school students passionate about zoology, veterinary medicine or conservation careers. The curriculum covers advanced topics such as animal anatomy and classification, safe animal handling techniques, principles of exhibit design and conservation efforts. Campers will participate in an enrichment lesson and project, a specialized falconry presentation, in-depth discussions on zoo careers, conservation projects, nature-inspired crafts, an educational field trip and other activities.

A highlight of ZooCamp is the special excursion across the pedestrian bridge to the Aquatheatre located inside Hersheypark amusement park. This exciting addition allows campers to have a memorable visit with the seals and sea lions cared for by the experts at Ocean Connections.

ZooCamp sessions range in price from $240 to $490 per participant, depending on the age group and session selected. ZooAmerica Pass Holders and 2026 Hersheypark Season Pass Holders are eligible to receive a discount on their ZooCamp registration. 

Parents and guardians eager to secure a spot for their child should register online now, as these popular sessions fill up quickly. If a camp session is full, interested families can email ZooAmerica@HersheyPA.com with their preferred session and contact information to be added to our official waitlist.

We look forward to another wild summer filled with exploration, hands-on learning, and unforgettable adventure at ZooAmerica!