Night Howls
Third Thursdays, October through March from 5:30-7pm
March 21
Bundle up and bring your friends to the zoo to hear the wolves howl, the owls hoot and the big cats call!
Participants will begin the night indoors enjoying hot cider and cookies while learning about nocturnal animals and the noises they make. Guests will then proceed outdoors for a guided tour of the zoo in the dark to observe the creatures and enjoy spectacular views of the city at night.
Members: Children $9/Adults $12
Non-Members: Children $12/Adults$15
To pre-register, visit our Square store.
Spring Fling
Saturday, March 23 from 11-4pm
Spring is in the air! Come up to Mill Mountain Zoo to celebrate the beginning of spring with activities related to gardening, birding and other fun things to get you thinking about springtime! Enjoy spring themed crafts, get your face painted and of course see our great collection of animal residents. All of the activities are included with regular zoo admission!
Spring Break Camp
Mill Mountain Zoo’s Spring Break Zoo Venture is back! As in years past, each day has a special theme and is chocked full of fun and educational activities. There will be hands-on interactions with animals, guided zoo tours, games, art activities, stories and more. To make it easy for any schedule, parents can pick and choose half days or full days and can enroll their children in one day or in all three!
Registration
Zoo Venture is designed for students ages 5-13. Half day camps run from 9am-12pm or 12:30-3:30pm. Campers can also be enrolled in the full day from 9am-3:30pm. All camps are outdoors and occur rain or shine, so students must dress appropriately. Tennis shoes are required. Full day campers should bring along a lunch that does not require refrigeration. The zoo will provide water and juice.
Registration deadline is April 8, 2019!
Reservations can only be made with full payment. No refunds are given unless the zoo cancels camp. Space in all camps is limited. To register, fill out the downloadable registration form and return to the zoo with full payment. Registration may be faxed, mailed, e-mailed or dropped off at the zoo. No phone reservations will be accepted. Please call or email Bambi Godkin with additional questions at (540) 343-3241 x23 or education@mmzoo.org.
Day Rates:
Member Non-Member
Morning Half Day (9am-12pm) $30 $40
Afternoon Half Day (12:30-3:30pm) $30 $40
Full Day (9am-3:30pm) $55 $65
3 Day Rate:
Member Non-Member
Morning Half Day (Tues-Thurs.) $85 $100
Afternoon Half Day (Tues.-Thurs.) $85 $100
Full Day (Tues.-Thurs.) $160 $180
Camp Schedule
Tuesday, April 16-Eew, That’s Gross!
Scent marking, regurgitation, eating your own skin and even eating your own…dare we say it? Poo! These are just a few of the behaviors animals can engage in that people may find pretty yucky. Campers will spend the day learning why these behaviors are so important and how they actually help animals survive.
Wednesday, April 17-Extreme Animals
Many animals have amazing abilities that allow them to do extreme things. How does a snow leopard stay warm in cold mountain temperatures? What helps certain animals feel so at home in the water? Campers will explore these adaptations and many others that allow animals to live and thrive in extreme conditions and do extreme things.
Thursday, April 18-Animal Detectives
What makes a bird a bird or a mammal a mammal? Do reptiles always have scales? Campers will learn about how animals are classified and use their detective skills to identify various animals at the zoo.
Ravishing Raptors
Thursday, April 18 5:30-7:30pm
Join us in welcoming Falconer Philip Bailey and Dr. Kerri Cooper-Bailey back to Mill Mountain Zoo, along with a number of their beautiful bird companions. Meet a variety of species and get the chance to chat with these avian experts. You won’t want to miss it!
Member: Adult $12/Child $10
Non-Member: Adult $15/Child $12
Visit our Square Store for advance reservations. https://squareup.com/market/mmzoo
Party for the Planet
Saturday, April 27 from 11-4pm
Come celebrate Earth Day with Mill Mountain Zoo and Clean Valley Council. Chat with zookeepers and participate in neat earth friendly art activities for the whole family! Plus…the unveiling of two very unique sculptures made from litter cleaned out of the river! Artists: Katherine Devine and Toobz Muir. All activities are included with Zoo admission!
World Migratory Bird Day and Community Art Show
May 11 from 11-4pm
WMBD is a holiday that celebrates the migration of nearly 350 species of migratory birds between nesting habitats in North America and non-breeding grounds in Latin America, Mexico and the Caribbean. Join us to celebrate and learn more about migratory bird conservation and how you can help. Keeper chats, crafts and face painting are just some of the activities. You can also participate in our 5th annual Community Art Show. Animal themed works of art will be hung at the zoo during the duration of the event, and anyone bringing a piece to hang will get free admission. All activities are included with regular zoo admission!
Breakfast with the Animals
Third Saturdays May through October from 8:30-10am
May 18
June 15
July 20
August 17
September 21
October 19
Join us at the Mill Mountain Zoo every 3rd Saturday, May-October for a unique opportunity to have breakfast with the animals. Guests will be treated to a light breakfast buffet and the chance to meet one of the zoo’s education outreach animals. This will be immediately followed by a special chat with zookeepers as they amaze our guests with more fun and educational facts about our animal residents. This intimate experience will allow zoo visitors to learn more about various animals’ diets, behavior and personalities. Following the chat, there will be a child-focused and parent-assisted project and activity sheet that will be designed to further foster excitement and knowledge about the featured animals.
Saturday, May 18-Munch with Mountain Dwellers
Did you know that many of Mill Mountain Zoo’s animals come from mountainous habitats? That certainly seems fitting since Mill Mountain Zoo is up on a mountain too! Sign up for this program and enjoy a delicious breakfast and learn about some of the animals that live in the mountains and how they are well-adapted to that type of environment. After breakfast and the keeper chats, guests will create a crumpled tissue paper animal to take home.
Saturday, June 15-Nibble with Native Species
Mill Mountain Zoo is home to many animals that are or were once found right here in Virginia. Register for this month’s program, and enjoy a yummy breakfast while learning about some of the captivating native species that live at the Mill Mountain Zoo. After the keeper chats, children can craft a felt finger puppet of their favorite native species.
Saturday, July 20-Treats with Turtles and Tortoises
A variety of turtles and tortoises call Mill Mountain Zoo home. Join us for breakfast and learn about some fascinating information about these amazing reptiles. Following the keeper chats, guests will be able to design a “stained glass” turtle or tortoise to take home with them.
Saturday, August 17-Whet Your Appetite with Aquatic Critters
Water is an important habitat or hunting ground for a number of the animals found here at Mill Mountain Zoo. From wetlands to lakes to rivers, many species live in or spend a lot of their time in the water. Have a nice breakfast, and then hear about some of these water loving animals. After the keeper chats, children can make a crayon watercolor resist painting of their favorite aquatic critter.
Saturday, September 21-Breakfast with the Birds
Join us for breakfast and stay for some great conversation about the many birds that call Mill Mountain Zoo home. There is more to our feathered friends than meets the eye! When the keeper chats are over guests will have the opportunity to make a cute bird companion to take home.
Saturday, October 19-Eat with the Endangered
Mill Mountain Zoo is home to many vulnerable and endangered species. Attend this program to learn about the different threats these animals are facing in the wild and other interesting information as well. After the keeper chats, attendees can do a 3-dimensional Model Magic sculpture of their favorite endangered species.
Cost per breakfast:
$18/non-member adult $14/member adult
$15/non-member child $11/member child
$55/non-member family of 4 $40/member family of 4
Register online at our Square Store or download and submit the registration form.
Storybook Safari
Saturday, June 15 11-1pm
Thursday, June 20 10-12pm
Tuesday, July 16 10-12pm
Tuesday, July 30 from 10-12pm
In this fun program, child and caregiver will get to hear an animal themed children’s book, meet some Mill Mountain Zoo education animals, have a mini-tour of the zoo and ride the train.
This program is for 4-6 year olds to attend with a caregiver.
$15 for member child with a caregiver
$20 for non-member child with a caregiver
$5 for each additional child coming with a caregiver
Art Gone Wild
Saturday, June 15 2-4pm/Ages 8-12
Friday, June 28 from 10-12pm/Ages 6-9
Friday, July 12 from 10-12pm/Ages 8-12
Saturday, July 20 from 11-1pm/Ages 6-9
Does your child like animals? Does your child also like art? Why not combine the two together?!? This 2 hour class will give children the opportunity to use the zoo’s residents as inspiration for fun, colorful and unique art projects. Painting, 3-dimensional work and multi-media projects are just a few of the possible, critter-themed activities children will have a chance to participate in.
$15 for member child
$20 for non-member child
Animal Enrichment Fun!
Friday, June 21 10-12pm/Ages 8-12
Friday, July 19 2-4pm/Ages 12-16
Saturday, July 20 2-4pm/Ages 8-12
Saturday, August 17 11-1pm/Ages 12-16
A lot goes into taking good care of the animals at the zoo. Besides feeding and cleaning, keepers also need to find creative ways to entertain the zoo’s residents. This is called enrichment, and if you sign up for this class, you can help create some! Not only that, you’ll get to see the animals enjoy their enrichments at the end of the program.
$15 for member child
$20 for non-member child
Summer Camp
Mill Mountain Zoo’s popular summer camps are a terrific way to introduce your child to the animal kingdom or to foster an existing interest in the feathered, furry and scaly critters we share the planet with. Each 3 day camp is designed to encourage a child’s respect and enthusiasm for the natural world through hands-on, fun and educational activities. Besides shadowing and assisting keepers, campers will experience up-close animal encounters, arts and crafts, scavenger hunts, scientific explorations and OH, SO MUCH MORE! There are camps available for ages 6-13.
Camp Schedule
Camp for ages 6-8
June 25-27 Teeth, Talons and Tongues
Humans use hammers, screwdrivers, forks and spoons, among many other tools. Animals use tools too, but most of theirs are a part of their bodies. In this class, campers will discover how animals use their claws, mouths and other body parts to build structures, eat and even play.
Camps for ages 8-10
July 9-11 Zoo Keeper 101
Just what does a zookeeper do? Campers will get to explore the various animal husbandry techniques it takes to care for the many birds, mammals and reptiles that make up Mill Mountain Zoo’s collection. The importance of animal enrichment for an animal’s well-being will also be explored.
July 23-25 Zoo Keeper 101
Just what does a zookeeper do? Campers will get to explore the various animal husbandry techniques it takes to care for the many birds, mammals and reptiles that make up Mill Mountain Zoo’s collection. The importance of animal enrichment for an animal’s well-being will also be explored.
Camp for ages 10-13
August 6-8 Junior Zoo Keepers
Junior Zookeepers builds on the information that campers learned in Zookeeper 101. Campers will delve further into how animals are cared for at the zoo as they assist keeper staff with some of their daily duties. Be ready to get dirty!
Requirements for Junior Zoo Keepers:
It is preferred that campers have taken Zookeeper 101 this summer or a previous summer. Campers also need to submit a letter stating why they think they would be a good Junior Zookeeper
Cost
All Camps: $160 Zoo Member $180 Non-Member
To register, download the form, fill it out and return to the zoo.
Zoo Boo
Saturday, October 26 from 11-4pm
Are you looking for a great, safe place to bring your family for some howling Halloween fun? Spend your Halloween holiday at Mill Mountain Zoo’s annual Zoo Boo! From trick-or-treating, to costume contests, to performances and “spooktacular” art activities, Zoo Boo is a fun-filled day for the whole family! Plus, you get to enjoy it all in the beautiful outdoor setting of Mill Mountain Zoo. Even better, all of these activities are FREE with Zoo admission! So for a “terrorably” good time, come and celebrate Halloween 2019 with the animals and staff of Mill Mountain Zoo.