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Summer Safari Camps
Times & Fees
Weekly summer camp sessions for 2023 begin May 30 and run through August 11. Parents can drop students off as early as 7:30am and pick them up as late as 5:30pm. Snacks are provided but participants must bring a sack lunch.
FOSZ Member Rate | Non-Member Rate | |
All Day Session 8am to 5pm | $145/weekly session | $165/weekly session |
Registration Information & Permission Forms
Enrollment will be taken on a first come, first serve basis. Enrolled students will receive a confirmation packet discussing schedule, dress code and camp checklist. Registration will open at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, March 27, 2023.
- Online Registration - opens 8:00 a.m. on Monday, March 27, 2023
Register online from anywhere at anytime until classes fill by clicking here - Phone or In-Person - opens 8:00 a.m. on Monday, March 27, 2023
You can also register by phone at 785.587.2737 or in person at any Manhattan Parks & Recreation location including City Hall, the Zoo or the Flint Hills Discovery Center during regular operating hours.
Permission Forms
Payment Plan & Refund Policy
Payment Policy
At time of enrollment, a minimum of 50% of each session’s fee is due to reserve a child’s spot. Sessions must be paid in full within five working days prior to the first day of each camp session. Youth will not be able to participate in a camp if fee is not paid in full by the first day of the session, no exceptions. No refunds or prorating for partially-used sessions.
Refund Policy
A full refund is provided if registration is canceled prior to one week (7 days) of start date. Partial refund given if registration is canceled between one week (7 days) and 48 hours prior to start date. No refund given if canceled within 48 hours.
Overview of Camps
Each camp is themed around a specific topic, and activities include live animal interactions, themed tours of the Zoo, crafts, games and nature hikes. See below for more details about each camp classroom and the current session topics.
For additional information regarding Sunset Zoo's Summer Safari Camps, check out the Parent Handbook.
Pre-Teen & Teen Opportunities
For opportunities over the summer for your pre-teens and teens, check out Sunset Zoo's Junior Conservation Crew and Zoo Teens programs.
Hyena Clan | Completed Kindergarten - 2nd Grade | Capacity - 30
High-energy activities interspersed with downtime and nature-based free time play take place every day. Activities include live animal interactions, themed tours of the Zoo, crafts, games and story times. Downtime and free time include coloring opportunities, word puzzles, free play in the zoo's nature playspace, and time spent exploring in the Wild Wonders Room.
The Hyena Clan will be divided into two classrooms, Stripped Hyena Clan and Spotted Hyena Clan, to create two cohorts. Classrooms will be established based on ages of all enrolled with the youngest half in one classroom and the oldest half in the other classroom. If a camper is wanting to be in the same classroom as another camper, please email the Curator of Education, Jared Bixby. Campers must have completed kindergarten.
Date | Session Topic | Description |
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May 30 - June 2 | Animal Investigations | What objects can float? Do we need to float? Why is air important for floating? This session will have the Hyena Clan explore how animals live in their habitats and engage in class experiments that show how fantastic wildlife is. |
June 5 - June 9 | If I Owned A Zoo | What are zoos? How do zoos work? Could I be a zoo keeper? These are just some of the questions the Hyena Clan will explore in this Summer Safari Camp session. |
June 12 - June 16 | Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes | Whether it's an owl that can turn its head with great freedom or a hyena with extremely powerful jaws, all animals have body parts specifically adapted to make them unique. During this camp session, the Hyena Clan will explore these various animal structures and just how animals use them. |
June 19 - June 23 | How Animals Eat | From beaks to fangs, animals have many unique ways to eat their food. The Hyena Clan will investigate the special ways that all animals eat their food. |
June 26 - June 30 | Animals of Water | Water is home for many animals, like turtles, fish, sharks, and much more. The Hyena Clan will dive deep into this habitat to explore the animals that call water their home. |
July 3, & July 5 - 7 | Great Climbers | In this Summer Safari Camp, the Hyena Clan will explore the world of animals that climb. We'll discover which animals use their climbing abilities to spend most of their time in trees away from the jungle floor and which spend their time climbing the rocks found in their habitat. |
July 10 - July 14 | Animals with Patterns | Why do tigers have stripes? Why do cheetahs have spots? Join the Sunset Zoo staff as we explore animals with patterns and discover how they use their patterns to survive. |
July 17 - July 21 | Jungle Adventures | Gorillas, elephants, tigers, and many more animals call the jungle home. The Hyena Clan will investigate the Jungle and the animals that inhabitant it. |
July 24 - July 28 | Ways Animals Interact | The Hyena Clan will investigate the different animal relationships and how they work off each other. Whether it's a hippo, fish, or lion, animals all have a part to play in these relationships. |
July 31 - August 4 | Food Chains | Do you know the roles producers and consumers play in the animal kingdom? Join Sunset Zoo staff as we explore the different roles of producers and consumers, and learn just how important their interactions are. |
August 7 - August 11 | Thank You Nature | What are pollinators? How can animals educate us? Can animals provide us with services? These are just some of the questions the Hyena Clan will explore in this Summer Safari Camp session. |
Chimp Troop | Completed 3rd Grade - 5th Grade | Capacity - 15
Campers will connect with the natural world through activities around the Zoo, crafts, stories, live animal interactions, themed Zoo tours and nature hikes. Planned learning activities are interspersed with free time spent playing in the big field across the street from the Zoo, time in the Zoo's nature playspace, and time spent exploring in the Wild Wonders Room.
Date | Session Topic | Description |
May 30 - June 2 | Investigating Survival Adaptations | Do marine animals float? Can a hippo float? What is the purpose of floating? The Chimp Troop will investigate how animals reside in their habitats and participate in class experiments that convey how amazing wildlife can be. |
June 5 - June 9 | Exploring How Zoos Operate | What is the purpose of a zoo? Why is enrichment important? How do keepers care for the animals? These are just some of the questions the Chimp Troop will investigate in this Summer Safari Camp session. |
June 12 - June 16 | Animal Structures & How They Use Them | Some animals have feet that help them swim while others have feet that support running. The Chimp Troop will investigate animal structures and how they help them in the wild. |
June 19 - June 23 | Chomp, Crunch, Gulp | How do birds eat their food? Which adaptations do meat eaters have in common? What does the term filter feeding mean? These are just some questions that the Chimp Troop will explore in this Summer Safari Camp session. |
June 26 - June 30 | Underwater Adventures | The Chimp Troop will explore different water habitats and all the associated animals. Whether it's a dolphin, seahorse, or a fish, the animals all have an important role in this distinctive ecosystem, and we'll discover the functions played by each. |
July 3, & July 5 - 7 | Climbers of the Animal Kingdom | Some animals enjoy living in trees while others thrive in the frigid mountain tops. In this Summer Safari Camp, the Chimp Troop will investigate the world of animals that climb. |
July 10 - July 14 | Wild Patterns | Zebras, tigers, and many other animals have stripes, and lots of animals have spots. Join the Sunset Zoo staff as we explore animals with patterns and uncover the importance of these patterns for their survival. |
July 17 - July 21 | The Jungle Habitat | The Chimp Troop will investigate the Jungles of the world and all the associated animals in this session. Whether it's a chimpanzee or a sloth, the animals all play an important part in this notable ecosystem, and we'll uncover the roles played by each. |
July 24 - July 28 | Interactions Across the Animal Kingdom | Animals participate in complex relationships and interactions. Some are benefit both while others have unfortunate consequences. The Chimp Troop will explore the various animal relationships and the significance of each during this session |
July 31 - August 4 | Who Eats What | What is the difference between a food chain and a food web? Why are decomposers and scavengers important ways of life? Join Sunset Zoo staff as we investigate the various food chains and webs and the roles that each animal plays. |
August 7 - August 11 | Benefits of Nature | Nature helps us learn about the world we live in and provides us with resources we need to survive. Sunset Zoo staff will help the Chimp Troop build an appreciation for the benefits we receive from nature. |
Contact Us
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Jared Bixby
Curator of Education
Email: bixby@cityofmhk.com
Ph: 785-587-2737
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Tammy Jones
Administrative Assistant &
Membership Coordinator
Email: jones@cityofmhk.com
Ph: 785-587-2737