NEW! Junior Zookeeper Experience - Available April - October
You’ve seen the adorable Zoo Babies playing in the nursery and marveled at our mini pigs, donkeys and alpacas as they follow their trusty Keepers around the park. Now it’s your turn to hold the reins! This new and exciting Junior Zookeeper experience is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the animal-loving child – or adult!
Head over to the Spaulding Children’s Zoo and enjoy quality, hands-on time with our wallabies while learning about the TLC given to them every day by their loyal Keepers. Be sure to sit down and relax – you may end up with a wallaby in your lap!
Following your wallaby play date, choose from two of three exciting interaction options that will teach you all about what it takes to be a real zoo keeper. ADA Accessible Experience.
Donkey Day Spa– Pamper our sweet miniature donkeys with a luxurious grooming session and learn from their Keeper about the importance of daily maintenance including proper hair, foot and health maintenance techniques.
Alpaca Adventure – Ever wished YOU could be the one leading that pretty alpaca around the park? Now’s your chance! Learn from a Keeper how to properly feed and harness a friendly alpaca before taking a stroll around the Zoo. *Alpacas will be double led by a Keeper for safety.*
Marvelous Mini-Pigs - Have a seat inside the Children’s Zoo barn and enjoy some hands-on time with our three, charismatic miniature pigs – Thatcher, Cinder and Magnolia. Watch our mini-pigs GO as you lead them through a miniature hurdle course built just for them and learn all about the special training and operant conditioning methods that our Keepers use to keep their animals in tip top shape.
Cost: $500 for 2 guests, $1000 for up to 5 guests
Restrictions:
Children ages 4 and above are permitted with an accompanying adult.
Youth over the age of 13 are permitted to tour solo with written permission of an adult or guardian.
You must wear closed toe shoes! No loose shoestrings or drawstrings will be permitted.
Signed Liability Waiver
Being a zookeeper takes careful preparation. Here are some things you will need to know to be prepared to work side by side with a member of our Children's Zoo team... Junior Zookeeper Experience Details(pdf)
Purchase Jr. Keeper Experience
Elephant Extravaganza - Available year round!
Have you ever met an elephant up close and personal? Come and enjoy the opportunity to receive a Behind the Scenes Tour of the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden with one of our staff members at the Elephant House. The Elephant Extravaganza will include an opportunity to meet our 3 Asian elephant cows (Jati, My-Thai, and Schottzie) along with Sabu, our bull. Help our elephant staff wash My-Thai and learn about her daily care and upkeep. Watch her paint a masterpiece that you can take home to remind you of your special day. Proceeds from your behind-the-scenes experience will fund conservation work in the field and help protect elephants in the wild. ADA Accessible Experience.
Cost: $500 for 2 guests, $1000 for up to 5 guests
Restrictions:
Children ages 5 and above permitted with an accompanying adult.
Youth over the age of 15 are permitted to tour solo with the written permission of an adult or guardian.
You must wear closed toed shoes! If you forget, rubber boots will be provided.
Signed liability waiver
Being a zookeeper takes careful preparation. Here are some things you need to know so that you can be prepared to work side by side with a member of our Elephant team... Elephant Extravaganza Details (pdf)
Looking for a WILD wedding proposal idea? Contact Allison at 513-487-3327 for details!
Pool Hopping with Penguins & Sea Lion - Available April - October
Ever wondered how we care for and work with our sea lion? Head to our sea lion pool and assist with our sea lion training program while at the same time providing him with enrichment. If you are lucky you might even get a kiss on the cheek! Get the opportunity to watch the keepers work through our medical husbandry training and learn how operant conditioning helps our vets and keepers take better care of their animals on a daily basis: brushing teeth, simulated blood draws, ultrasounds, mouth check, etc. Once you’ve visited our sea lion pool take a walk to the Wings of Wonder building and meet up with our feathered friends. Watch how happy our penguins feet get when you get the opportunity to feed them. Work with our keepers to prepare a meal for the penguins in the Bird House and then get to feed the different penguin species (Magellanic, rock hopper, and king) while the birds are on display.
Cost: $500 for 2 guests: $1000 for up to 5 guests
Restrictions:
Children ages 10 and up are permitted with an accompanying adult.
Youth over the age of 15 are permitted to tour solo with the written permission of an adult or guardian.
You must wear closed toed shoes!
Signed liability waiver
Being a zookeeper takes careful preparation. Here are some things you need to know so that you can be prepared to work side by side with a member of our Aviculture and Sea Lion team... Pool Hopping Details (pdf)
Purchase Pool Hopping Experience
Rhino Roundup - Available March - October
Have you ever met a rhino up close and personal? Come and enjoy the opportunity to receive a Behind the Scenes Tour of the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden with one of our staff members. The Rhino Roundup will include an opportunity to meet and greet our Indian Rhino, Nikki and provide her with a bubble bath while learning about her history and the reproductive research, led by scientists at CREW, to save her species. Also enjoy the opportunity to paint with one of our rhinos while learning about our operant conditioning program. If time allows, meet the other beautiful animals the Veldt has to offer including okapi, bongo and zebra. Proceeds from your behind-the-scenes experience will fund conservation work in the field and help protect rhinos in the wild.
Cost: $500 for 2 guests; $1000 for up to 5 guests
Restrictions: Children ages 9 and up are permitted with an accompanying adult.
Youth over the age of 15 are permitted to tour solo with the written permission of an adult or guardian.
You must wear closed toed shoes!
Signed liability waiver
Being a zookeeper takes careful preparation. Here are some things you need to know so that you can be prepared to work side by side with a member of our Veldt team... Rhino Roundup Details (pdf)
COMING SOON! Endangered Excursion in Wildlife Canyon
Go behind-the-scenes of Wildlife Canyon for this thrilling opportunity to come face-to-face with some of the rarest animals in the world including the Bactrian camel, red panda, red river hog and a revered and elusive animal that can only be seen at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden - the Sumatran rhinoceros.
Guests of the Endangered Excursion will receive a custom canvas painting created by one of the Zoo’s most talented artists in residence – the red panda.
Check back soon for additional details and availability!
A portion of each Behind-the-Scenes Experience is tax-deductible.
