APEX
The Animal Park is excited to launch a variety of Educational Experiences under the APEX program!
Throughout our 21 year history, the Animal Park at the Conservators Center has supported wildlife education and conservation. Our dedication to public wildlife education extends from our on-site tours to various educational and institutional partnerships the Animal Park maintains. It is through our mission statement, “educating people, caring for animals, and advocating for species” that we are able to benefit both the animals we work with and the community around us.
Our Education Department has created various experiences, from Day Camp to even Adult Experiences to choose from and we are confident we’ll have an experience for everyone. Read more below to learn about pricing and structure.
APEX Offerings
Day Camps
Ages: Elementary through Middle School
In-Person Option: These Day Camps are offered Monday through Sunday each week. Each camp will last one full day, so students can decide which day they would prefer to come out on. Camp will run from 10am - 3pm and aftercare will be available until 5 pm!
Virtual option: Our Virtual Day Camps will be offered Monday through Sunday during two different time sections: 12-12:40 and 4-4:40. Each camp will last one day for each camper, so you can choose which day of the week works best for you. These will be hosted on Zoom! Students will be able to choose which theme they want to do including Animal Enrichment, Animal Biology, and Animal Art.In-person price: $40 per camp/per student. After care can be provided for an additional $10 a day per kid.
Virtual price: $8 per camp/per student
Day Experiences
Ages: High School through College
The main goal of this is to get students on our site and excited to learn about different animals and career paths in the industry. Throughout the day students will be learning specifics about our animals, the runnings of our park, and at the end of the day they will get to work on a project to benefit the park like making enrichment for our furry friends!
In-person option: These day long experiences are offered Monday through Sunday. You can choose which day works best for you! The experience will last between 10 am - 3 pm. Any students in high school or college (recent grads too) can attend!
Virtual option: These are offered Monday through Sunday from 5 pm - 5:40 pm. These are hosted on Zoom just like our current virtual summer camps. Students will be able to choose which theme they want to do including Animal Enrichment, Animal Biology, and a park overview.
In-person price: $40 per experience/per student College students will get a discount of $10 with a student ID.
Virtual price: $8 per experience/per student.
Adult Experiences
Ages: 21 and above
In-person option: Adult in-person experiences are coordinated between the interested individual(s) and the teacher/supervisor (Elise Gammon). The experience will last between 10 am - 3pm on the date arranged by those involved! Throughout the day adults will be learning specifics about our animals, the runnings of our park (getting to talk with select staff members/volunteers), and at the end of the day they will get to work on a project to benefit the park.
Virtual option: Adult virtual experiences will be coordinated between the interested individual(s) and the teacher/supervisor (Elise Gammon). These will be hosted on Zoom and will last for a total of 40 minutes! Attendees will be able to choose which theme they want to do including Animal Enrichment, Animal Biology, and a park overview.
In-person price: $40 per experience/per adult
Virtual price: $8 per experience/per adult
In-Class Teaching Sessions
In-person option: These classes will contain videos from the park, informational power-points, and hands-on activities (such as enrichment creation). Elise Gammon will work with interested teachers and professors to modify each class to specifically meet the needs of their curriculum! These classes will be available Monday through Friday, and the specific time for the class will be arranged through the teacher and Elise. We hope we can hop into your lesson plan sometime soon!Virtual option: These classes will contain videos from the park, informational power-points, and hands-on activities (such as enrichment creation). Elise Gammon will work with interested teachers and professors to modify each class to specifically meet the needs of their curriculum. These classes will be available Monday through Friday, and the specific time for the class will be arranged through the teacher and Elise. These classes are especially great for teachers who want a day off. You need not tune in unless they are particularly interested in the subject or want to supervise!
In-person price: $20 per hour of teaching
Virtual price: $10 per hour of teaching
Need to Know Before You Go
Accessibility, Safety, and Pets
The Animal Park is not wheelchair accessible; however, accessibility accommodations are available for visitors with mobility issues. Please note that we do not allow unauthorized vehicles, including scooters or motorized wheelchairs, in the park. You can find more information about disability accommodations and handicapped access in the Tour FAQ on our Plan Your Visit page. Please note that strollers are also not permitted in the park.
If you are planning to visit the Animal Park, please take a moment to review and complete our online tour waiver. If you would like, you can also download and print the waiver and photography release forms to fill out and complete prior to your arrival. Waivers will also be available in the gift shop for visitors to complete during the check-in process.
For safety reasons, the Animal Park does not allow visitors to bring pets on site. Any visitor who brings an animal to the Park will be asked to leave immediately. We do not allow visitors to leave animals unattended in a vehicle at any time of year.