Ages: Middle School and High School. Join us at the Zoo as we put our photography skills to the test! Join the CMZ education team as we show you some of the basic skills needed to photograph wildlife and wild places. We will learn how photography can play a role in conservation and even try our hand at photographing some Zoo animals. *Registration will close 48 hours prior to the start of this program. Registration is required.
Ages: Middle School & High School. Join us on a unique workshop that will take you into the Zoo after hours to learn all about nocturnal animals. We’ll take an evening tour through the zoo to learn all about our animals that prefer the night and even meet a nocturnal ambassador. *Registration will close 48 hours prior to the start of this program. Registration is required.
Ages: Middle and High School. Location: Cheyenne Mountain State Park. Come explore one of Colorado Springs’ unique gems in Cheyenne Mountain State Park and learn how to capture its true beauty. Through this hands-on workshop, participants will learn the basics of photographing natural spaces and try their hand at some new techniques. Whether it’s focusing on a small portion of a plant or capturing an entire landscape, we will learn to perfect the different methodologies of outdoor photography. Registration is required.
Ages: Elementary or Middle School. Lions, Tigers…Pallas’ Cat? Join us as we study one of the world’s most fearsome predator, cats! From felines as small as house cats to those that weigh over 600 pounds, we’ll learn about many different feline families around the world. Together we will observe resident species at the Zoo and learn about their adaptations that make them the apex predators of their environments. Registration is required.
Ages: High School. It can be easy to tell how someone is feeling based on their body language and facial expressions, but what about an Orangutan or Gorilla? Join zoo staff as we learn what it takes for professionals in the zoological field to better understand the animals they work with. In this first session of our “Explorations of Ethology” series we’ll dive into the techniques and strategies of reading primate behavior and learn why understanding animal behavior is essential to their care. Registration is required.
It's a boy! In keeping with CMZoo’s tradition of naming baby animals after one month of age, it’s time for this little ball of energy to get a name! To celebrate, we’re offering the unique opportunity to bid to win the rights to name the little one and support the Zoo in an extraordinary way. Minimum bid $5,000. Win the chance to name our little hoglet before the window closes Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022, at 7 p.m. MT.
Ages: Elementary or Middle School. Come learn about the world’s most wonderful weasels! Mustelids, as the weasel family is taxonomically known, boasts some of our planet’s most unique and tough creatures, such as Badgers, Otters, and Ferrets. Join us as we learn what it takes to be a mighty mustelid and study the lives of these often misunderstood animals. Registration is required.
Middle & High School students. Offered October 7. Teenagers only for this community Starlight Safari. We will roast s'mores and walk among the stars as we tour our Zoo amidst the dark skies. Spend an evening away from home and find out what the animals do at night when the rest of the world is sleeping. We will tour multiple buildings as well as have a chance to meet an animal up close! Registration is required.
Families of all ages. Location - Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Nature Trail. Let imagination be your guide in this fort building adventure! Join zoo staff as we explore our very own nature trail and seek out the perfect spots to construct our forts. Together we will use natural materials to create unique designs and most importantly have fun in the outdoors. Bring your creative imagination and get ready to build! Registration is required and closes 48 hours before the event.
Ages: Middle School. Location - Fountain Creek Nature Center. Join us for a field trip to Fountain Creek Nature Center as we delve into the world of our native wildlife. Participate in a biodiversity study along with Zoo staff where we will seek out and observe the abundance of wild animals in one of our local parks. Registration is required.
Ages: 6th - 12th grades. Though we may not see them or hear them, they are all around us. With superpower-like adaptations, they rule the night skies. Join us at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo as we learn about the incredible lives of owls! Through hands-on activities and up-close experiences, we will learn what makes these creatures some of the most skilled hunters on our planet.Registration is required.
The Zoo welcomes giraffe lovers worldwide to join us for Bailey's Temporary Giraffe Nursery Cam! Fans can tune in to a special live stream broadcast from Bailey and her calf’s overnight stall, where viewers may be able to see mom and baby on the Giraffe Cam page, or on YouTube.
Ages: Elementary or Middle School. Insects are some of the most misunderstood creatures in our world though they are some of the most beneficial. Come join us at the Zoo as we break down the misconceptions of insects and show you how amazing they truly are through some up-close encounters. Registration is required.
All ages. Book your family fun with us today! If you're thankful and you know it, flap your wings! As we reflect on all things to be thankful for this month, we invite you to join us as we learn about a few animals whose contributions fly under the radar. We will even get to see a chicken soar into our hearts! Ambassador Animal: My Big Backyard chickens. Tour Area: My Big Backyard. Registration is required.
Families of all ages. Location - Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Nature Trail. Ever wonder how biologists actually track and study animals in the wild? Come learn from Zoo staff about different tracking methods that are used by professionals and even put your tracking skills to the test with some hands-on experiences using radio telemetry. Registration is required and closes 48 hours before the event.
Ages: 6th-12th grades. Come have an up close animal experience like never before! Join zoo staff as we explore the unique approach of macro-photography. Learn how we can make even some of the smallest creatures seem larger than life itself! Registration is required.
Ages: Elementary or Middle School. Come join Zoo staff as we learn what it takes to train an animal! Whether it’s your pet at home or our residents here at the Zoo, you’ll learn the strategies and techniques that zookeepers use on a daily basis. Through our hands-on workshop, you’ll put your animal training skills to the test with some of our smaller ambassador animals and gain some new knowledge to try at home! Registration is required.
In celebration of our baby giraffe's one-month birthday, we have some exciting news! YOU can help us decide by voting for your favorite name! Cast your vote in the poll below. The names were chosen by our giraffe care team, specifically for the female calf. VOTE NOW by selecting your favorite option! Each person can vote once during the voting period per unique email address. Voting ends at 11:59 p.m. MT, Sunday, November 27, 2022.
Ages 5 years and older. Offered Saturday, November 19. Drop off the kiddos for an evening program that will be sure to create a lifetime memory! We will start the evening with a pizza party before indulging in s'mores (weather permitting). After our bellies are full we will tour the Zoo to see what our animals do at night. We will meet an animal up close, and even feed our giraffe herd, we will also tour our Elephant Barn! To wind down before pick up, we will get creative and use fabric markers and stencils to personalize our very own Zoo pillowcase to take home. Registration is required.
Ages PreK-6th grade. Offered as day camps Monday - Wednesday, November 21, 22 & 23, 2022. PreK-K is a half-day 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., 1st-6th grade is a full day 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Join us for a day or all three! We will be exploring Dynamic Decomposers; Decaying, rotting, and molding, oh MY! Every wonder where all of our waste goes? As the leaves fall, join us as we learn about the decomposers that turn that waste into energy! Registration is required. Fall Break Camps are sold out.
All ages. Celebrate 26 nights of holiday lights and cheer during Electric Safari with 85 light sculptures on over 50 acres! Electric Safari has been ranked Third Best Zoo Lights in U.S. by USA TODAY’S 10Best four years in a row: 2019-2022! Top off this astounding display by gazing out at the city’s lights and watch all of Colorado Springs sparkle. You'll also enjoy photos with our larger-than-life illuminated inflatable animals! NEW THIS YEAR: Save $5 per ticket by visiting on a non-peak day! Advance timed tickets are required, must be purchased in advance and are subject to selling out.
Ages: Middle School. (Elementary school is sold out.) Winter is coming…and with it some major changes to our Zoo! Join us at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo as we dive into the lives of our resident animals during the cold season. Through hands-on experiences, we’ll learn about cold weather adaptations, habitat changes, and how we care for our residents right here at the zoo when the weather gets frigid. Registration is required.
Ages: Middle school / 6th-8th Grade. Come learn from Zoo staff as we explore the brilliant world of birds! We’ll dive into the unique lives of both native and exotic species and learn about the adaptations that make them so successful. We’ll see firsthand how keepers train and care for our birds and even get to meet a resident up close. *Registration for this program will close 48 hours prior to the day of the program. Registration is required and closes 48 hours prior to the program.
Ages PreK-6th grade - Offered as day camps Monday - Friday, December 26, 27, 28, 29, & 30. PreK is a half-day 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., 1st-6th grade is a full day 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Theme: Winer Around the World. As the weather outside is frightful, the animals are so delightful! Animals all around the world prepare for winter differently, join us as we learn about our hungry, sleepy, and cold animal friends! Registration is required. (Note: PreK-K and 1st-2nd Grade camps are sold out. Dec. 29 is sold out 3rd-6th Grades.)
All ages. Offered throughout January. Book your family fun with us today! The world of skunks is not as black and white as it appears! You red that right: discover how they avoid the blues, what greens they enjoy, and so much more! Hue won't want to miss this! Ambassador Animal: striped skunks. Tour Area: Rocky Mountain Wild. Registration is required.
Ages 3rd grade and up. Come try your hand in this beginner’s course as we face the challenges of photographing animals in winter! We’ll put our skills to the test with resident animals at the zoo and with any wildlife we can find on the zoo’s nature trail. *No photography experience is needed and any phone or camera will be acceptable to use. Registration is required, closes 7 days prior to the program, and is open online now.
Ages: Elementary (1st-5th) or Middle School (6th-8th). From studying animal diets to choosing plants for animal habitats, there is much more than just being a zookeeper. Join us as we tour the zoo and meet with staff to learn about some of the more unZOOsual careers within this field. Registration is required.
Ages 12 months - 4 years. Offered January 28. We are kicking off the New Year by jumping right in and meeting some animals who are really good at this method of locomotion! Families will also get to show off their own jumping skills! Registration is required and open online now. (If dates are sold out, you can be added to our waitlist by completing this form.)
Ages: 6th-12th Grade. Come learn the basics of animal training in zoos! Join Zoo staff and one of our Zoo teens as you to try your hand at training some of our animal ambassadors. Registration is required and closes 48 hours prior to the program.
All ages. Offered throughout February & March. Naked mole rats are mighty, yet misjudged. Join us as we discover what makes these animals neither a mole, nor naked. Together we will discover just how nifty our naked mole rats really are. Tour Area: Water's Edge: Africa & Primate World. Registration is required.
Ages: 6th-12th Grade. Come explore the dynamic relationships between predators and prey. For centuries animals have adapted to overcome one another and better their chances for survival. Join us in this unique workshop as we meet both predator and prey species and dive into the adaptations that make each so successful. Registration is required and closes 48 hours prior to the program.
Ages 5 years and older. Offered Saturday, February 11, 2023. Enjoy a night off while your kids have a blast at our Kids Only Valentines evening tour. Drop off the kiddos for an amazing night filled with pizza, animals, and nature connection right here on the mountainside. We will start the night with a pizza party and dessert before we adventure among the stars to visit our animal friends during a private evening tour. We will tour multiple animal buildings and get to meet an animal friend up close! Registration is required.
Please join CMZoo President and CEO Bob Chastain on Monday, February 13 at 12 p.m. MT, for this important conversation about wolves in Colorado as a special epilogue to Wolves in Colorado: Science & Stories series, from The Institute for Science & Policy, Warner College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University. Tune in as an expert panel provides an overview of the plan, explores the difficult issues the Stakeholder Advisory Group navigated, where and how compromises were made, and why certain compromises were worth making to achieve a draft plan. Registration is required. and free.
Ages 12 months - 4 years. Offered February 14 only, limited capacity. This special Holiday edition Stroller Safari includes a special animal demo, meeting birds around the zoo, and creating a birdhouse to take home so that your backyard lovebirds can have somewhere to raise their family! Registration is required and open online now. (If dates are sold out, you can be added to our waitlist by completing this form.)
Ages 3 and up with one adult. Many animals tend to stay throughout the winter in Colorado and embrace the cold just like us! In this hands-on, kids friendly workshop we’ll learn about the different types of homes animals make in winter. We’ll even make our very own bird houses that you can paint and bring home! Registration is required and closes 7 days prior to workshop date.
Ages 12 months - 4 years. Offered February 22. This month we will be focusing on birds! Participants will get a chance to meet a variety of feathered friends and make enrichment for native bird species! Registration is required and open online now. (If dates are sold out, you can be added to our waitlist by completing this form.)
Adults 21+. Offered Feb. 22. This women only evening program will highlight the powerful female animals in our collection, and their place in the hierarchy in the wild animal kingdom. Start the evening with an adult beverage and then enjoy an evening of storytelling on your guided tour of a few animal areas. Your guide will share the empowering stories of the queens of the animal kingdom and the role they play in the wild. Get an opportunity to meet an animal ambassador up close in the Loft and feed our tower of giraffe. This program is inclusive to all who identify as female. This program is for adults only, 21+. Registration is required. PLEASE NOTE: This program is sold out. If you would like to be on a wait list when any of our Date Night Starlight Safaris become sold out, please submit this form to us.
Ages: Middle School (6th-8th). Learn about the importance of enrichment in zoos and try your hand at creating your own for some of our resident animals! Registration is required.
Ages 5+. Offered Saturday, March 4. Have you heard the joke about giraffe necks? It's a LONG one... Come learn all about our giraffe tower during this Giraffe themed Kids Only Starlight Safari. After crafting our very own set of ossicones to wear for the evening, we'll have a pizza party, roast s'mores, enjoy a guided evening tour, feed our giraffe herd some of their favorite snacks, and we'll meet an animal up close! This program is a drop-off and pick-up program for kids only. Registration is required.
Ages 4-5 years old. Kinder Kingdom is a half-day, camp-like setting that allows your little wanderers to create a connection with nature and new friends. As the sun goes down and the moon comes up, these animals come out to play. Together we will learn about nocturnal animals and the advantages of playing under the moonlight. Registration is required.