Education
Keeper For A Day
New program alert! We are looking for animal lovers ages 10 and up to become zookeepers for a day! If you have ever wondered what it’s like to work at a zoo, this program is for you. During this 3 hour program, participants will go behind-the-scenes and discover how our keepers and educators help our animals and zoo thrive every day!
This program runs from 9:00AM-12:00PM and includes hands-on opportunities to explore the ins and outs of this exciting career! Throughout the program, participants may be involved in the following activities:
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- An exclusive zoo tour with one of our knowledgeable educators
- Assist in an animal’s diet preparation
- Watch our zookeepers live in action as they prep for the day
- Observe an ambassador animal training session(s)
- Receive an ambassador animal painting
- A mini animal encounter
- Make animal enrichment
- And more!
Participants will also receive a complimentary Lehigh Valley Zoo Keeper for a Day t-shirt and take home a painting made by one of our animal artists! For more information, please email edureservations@lvzoo.org.
Rates
- Price: $250 per participant (Ages 10 and up)
- General admission to Lehigh Valley Zoo is included.
- OPTIONAL: Do you want photos taken throughout the experience? For an additional $20, we will take photos of the participant(s) fully-immersed in zoo life, and send them to you electronically within one week of the completed program.
Requirements
- Participants must be at least 10 years old.
- Participants must wear mask/face covering at all times.
- Group sizes must be no larger than 4 participants.
- Participants must wear weather-appropriate clothing that may get dirty.
- Participants must wear closed-toed, comfortable footwear.
Additional Information
- It is recommended that participants bring a snack and water bottle, as food and drink are not provided.
- Please leave valuables at home.
- Availability:
- Please submit a request form with your preferred dates. This program can be booked from 9AM-12PM any day of the week (as long as the Lehigh Valley Zoo is open). Once you submit your request form, our Education team will confirm the availability of one of your preferred dates and will send you confirmation paperwork upon booking.
- Cancellation Policy: all sales are final and non-refundable unless cancelled by Lehigh Valley Zoo.*
- *Full Lehigh Valley Zoo policies and agreements will be included in your confirmation paperwork upon booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: Is this program just for kids, or can adults book this program, too?
- A: This program is great for kids AND adults! If you love animals and have an interest in learning what it’s like to care for a wide variety of species, this is an excellent program for you!
- Q: I want to sign my child up for this program, but I’d like to attend as a parent/chaperone. Would I be charged the participant fee?
- A: Yes, anyone who intends to walk around with the educators for the duration of the program will be charged the $250 participant fee. This is because you would also join in on the fun and exclusive activities!
- Q: If my group is not large enough to fill all four available spots, does that mean we may be paired with a group of individuals we do not know?
- A: Due to precautions related to COVID-19, this program can only be booked by private groups. At this time, we will not be filling the other available spots with individuals of another party.
- Q: Can I purchase zoo admission for the duration of the program so I can watch my child in-action?
- A: You are welcome to purchase zoo admission to enjoy the zoo while your child participates in the program. However, you would not be able to participate in any of the program’s scheduled activities, which includes an exclusive zoo tour and behind-the-scenes access. If you would like to attend the program with your child, you will also be charged the participant fee.
- Q: Can you take pictures of the participant(s) and send them to me after the program?
- A: Yes! For an additional $20, our educators can photograph the participant(s) as they go through the program activities, then send the photos* to you within a week of the completed program. We would just require a signed photo release form, which would be sent along with your confirmation paperwork upon booking.
- *Photos would be taken on our educator’s smartphones. Please note that our educators are not professional photographers, so we cannot guarantee high-quality photos. However, we will do our very best!
- A: Yes! For an additional $20, our educators can photograph the participant(s) as they go through the program activities, then send the photos* to you within a week of the completed program. We would just require a signed photo release form, which would be sent along with your confirmation paperwork upon booking.
- Q: Are all of the activities listed guaranteed?
- A: Zoo staff will work diligently to provide participants with an exciting and memorable experience. All of the listed activities are accurate depictions of what happens each day at the zoo. However, the time of each activity varies daily, so some (but not all) of the listed activities will be conducted within the 3-hour timeframe.
- Q: What if it rains on the day of my scheduled program?
- A: This program is conducted rain or shine. Our zookeepers, educators, and vets work through rain, sleet, and snow, so our keepers for a day will, too! Please arrive for your program in clothes that can get muddy or wet. Raincoats and rain boots are encouraged on rainy days!
Have another question not listed above? Please reach out to our Education Department at edureservations@lvzoo.org.