Scout Experiences | Learn & Explore

Bunk for a Badge

Available select dates in June, July and August.

The Bunk for a Badge program is specifically designed for Girl Scout Juniors and Brownies! Your scouts will have fun earning a badge while spending the night at the Zoo.

Join us on one of our thematic evenings. Brownies choose between Pets and Senses. Juniors choose between Animal Habitat, Detective and Flowers. The first troop to book the night selects the badge and only one badge program can be run per evening.

Only registered scouts, their leaders and parents are permitted for this program. Arrival time is 6pm. The next morning after breakfast, groups can stay and explore the Zoo all day.

Pets (Brownies)
Senses (Brownies)
Animal Habitat (Juniors)
Detective (Juniors)
Flowers (Juniors)

Do you know what it takes to care for a pet?

Whether you have a pet or not you will learn all about what you need to care for an animal as well as see how the Zoo cares for their animals. Through crafts, behind-the-scenes tours and other activities at the Zoo you will create your own pet care manual while earning your Brownie Pets badge.

Ever wondered why we have five senses?

We use them every day, but in this badge, your girl scouts will put their senses to the ultimate test! Don’t worry; we have items that will help you develop super senses for the evening. Your scouts will smell your way through “food” items, just like some ocean animals do. We will play a game with your ears, and strap on some “new” eyes to see the world differently. We will even take a look at our Deserts Dome to see how the animals use their senses.

It’s a celebration so put your party shoes on and come to a ‘wildlife party’ at the Zoo.

You will learn about animals and their habitats while getting ready for the party. There will be games to play and crafts to make as well as a scavenger hunt all in celebration of animal habitats.

When a long-haired snipe escapes at the Indianapolis Zoo, it is up to a group of Girl Scouts to help get it back.

Using clues, decoding messages from friendly orangutans, and making tracks, Girl Scout Juniors follow and eventually recover this fictitious animal.

They smell great, make amazing gifts and can cheer up any room!

But flowers are more than just a plant with good looks. Come and dig up more secrets about flowers in this badge. Go on a flower hunt, create a scented item to take home and find out your own flower superhero strength! We will even see some animals that flowers depend on in order to survive. By the end of our evening, your scouts will know just why flowers are a part of many cultures around the world.

Important Requirements for Participation

Participants must be at least 6 years old to participate in any Indianapolis Zoo overnight program.
All participants must have a signed waiver of liability before beginning the program. Participants under the age of 18 must have their waiver signed by a parent or legal guardian.
All scout groups must provide a certificate of liability insurance from their scout council.
Please note that our Bunk for a Badge overnights have a minimum attendance requirement of 25 people. If you have a smaller group, please consider signing up for a date with another group.
Group overnights require a deposit of $100 due at time of registration with the remaining balance due 30 days prior to your overnight.

Additional Bunk for a Badge Information

Your program fees include Zoo and White River Gardens admission, parking fees, all activities, spending the night at the Zoo and a catered breakfast buffet.
Generally, your group will be joined by others. The maximum number of participants for a Bunk for a Badge is 45.
Please note that our overnights also have minimal attendance requirements, and the Zoo reserves the right to cancel due to participation numbers that do not meet our minimums. We will notify you at least two weeks in advance if we need to cancel.
Groups sleep on the floor in the Dolphin Gallery. The Gallery is the large room that leads into the dolphin dome, but no one is allowed to sleep in the dome. There are bathroom facilities inside the building, but there are no showers available. The Zoo reserves the right to change your sleeping area as necessary.
Below is a sample itinerary during an Overnight Adventure. Specific activities and schedule for each overnight vary depending upon the program selected. For Bunk for a Badge overnights, girls perform activities to earn a badge. For all overnights, the first group to register gets to select the topic. Please note that the Zoo reserves the right to change any programming as necessary, including anything listed above. Also, please understand that we are not equipped to mix and match the activities.

DAY ONE

Arrive	6:30pm
Welcome & Orientation	6:30-7pm
Activity #1	7:15-7:45pm
Activity #2	8-8:30pm
Activity #3	8:45-9:15pm
Snack	9:30-10pm
Lights Out	10:15pm

DAY TWO

Wake Up Call	7am
Breakfast	7:30am
Zoo Field Trip on Your Own	8:30am

Summer Safaris

Available select dates in June, July, and August

Have you ever wanted to take an evening trek through the wild? At the Indianapolis Zoo, you can! During our Summer Safaris, you will discover the animals of Africa and beyond on this overnight adventure. This summer safari takes place at the Zoo where you will explore animals big and small. You'll take an after-hours hike in the African Plains and go behind the scenes in the Zoo Commissary while being guided by one of our knowledgeable educators.