for Brownie and Junior Girl Scouts
Discover how animals stay warm when the weather gets cold. Learn about a variety of adaptations animals have made for dealing with winter in this special winter twilight for scouts. The program includes learning about animals, doing some hands-on activities and entrance to Christmas at the Zoo after the program.
Cost: $35 for scouts and $25 for adult leaders
(At least one adult must attend per 10 youth participants.)
Fridays Dec. 11 or 18 • 5-6:30pm
Saturdays Dec. 5, 12 or 19 • 4-5:30pm
Cost: $50 per scout, $30 per adult
Available 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.
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.
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.
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.
Using clues, decoding messages from friendly orangutans, and making tracks, Girl Scout Juniors follow and eventually recover this fictitious animal.
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.
No Bunk for a Badge overnights are currently available. Please check back in 2021 for updates.
Cost: $50 per child, $30 per adult
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. Perfect for younger, older, or mixed age Girl Scout troops, BSA, or other groups. Available select dates in June, July, and Aug.
No Summer Safaris are currently available. Please check back in 2021 for updates.
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. The maximum number of participants for a Summer Safari is 75.
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.
Overnight guests sleep on the floor in one of our indoor event spaces. Air mattresses are welcome. Bathroom facilities are available but no showers.
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.
Other questions? Contact the Education Staff.
