Scout & Youth Group Experiences

March 16 or August 24 (1-3:30pm)

• Discover more about the Zoo’s animals by learning how to be an animal observer. Scouts will explore different ways to study nature on a visit to see the animals and earn their “Animal Observer” badge.   

March 23 or August 10 (1-3:30pm)

• Get creative with math while exploring the Zoo! Scouts will take a Zoo walk and discover shapes and patterns in nature and earn their “Math in Nature 1” badge. 

July 27 (1-3:30pm)

• Explore the world of animals! Scouts will learn how the Zoo cares for the animals and will get to create an enrichment item, all while earning their “5 Flowers, 4 Stories, 3 Cheers for Animals” badge. 

July 23 (6-9pm)

• Explore veterinary science and the work of the Zoo’s veterinary team! Participants will take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Polly Horton Hix Animal Medical Center and learn how veterinarians care for many different kinds of animals daily. 

July 30 (6-9pm)

• Discover the wide variety of careers at a zoo! Participants will go behind the scenes in one of our exhibit areas to learn about how our staff take care of animals and plants and promote wildlife conservation at the Indianapolis Zoo. 

• NEW! Night Owls for Cadets | June 18, 2024
  • Take a walk on the wild side after dark! Girl Scout Cadets will investigate the Zoo after hours and learn about animal adaptations for nighttime. Scouts will take an evening hike in our Deserts area and explore nature’s nocturnal side.
• NEW! Exploring Nature for Brownies| June 19, 2024
  • Girl Scout Brownies will explore nature and learn how to be an outdoor adventurer—at night! Scouts will buddy up for a nature-themed scavenger hunt, go behind the scenes in our dolphin kitchen, and learn how we care for animals. 
• Animal Habitats for Juniors | July 16, 2024
  • What does it take to keep animals healthy and active inside the Zoo? Junior Girl Scouts will explore animal habitats, learn about different animal enrichment and go behind the scenes after hours in our Oceans building to learn how a zoo habitat is designed. 

Participants of these programs will earn a special Indianapolis Zoo Girl Scout Patch. 

• Wildlife Conservation | June 12, 2024
  • How does the Zoo help wildlife around the world? Scouts will take a tour behind the scenes after hours to see how the Zoo cares for animals and learn steps they can take to conserve nature, too!
• Ocean Discovery | July 10, 2024
  • Take an after-hours voyage to the underwater world of Oceans! Scouts will learn about the world’s oceans and the species that call them home. Visit the dolphin kitchen and learn how the Zoo cares for one of the ocean’s most iconic mammals, too! 

Take a walk on the wild side after hours at the Zoo! BSA scouts will learn all about wildlife and discover how the Zoo works to save species around the world. Go behind the scenes in our Desert building to explore nature’s nocturnal side, too! 

Dates: June 11 and July 9

• Discover the animals of Africa and beyond on this overnight adventure. Take an after-hours educational hike in the Plains area and go behind the scenes in the Zoo Commissary to learn how animal diets are prepared. Perfect for any scouting troop or other youth group. 

• Parking: Vehicles may unload luggage at the admission entrance of the Zoo. Vehicles staying overnight should park in the main Zoo lot.
• Check-in begins at 6:30pm: Zoo staff will meet overnight groups at the admission entrance to the Zoo. Participants should have all their overnight luggage with them. Zoo staff will direct groups where to put luggage. Luggage will not be taken to the evening activities, so be sure to keep anything you will need before bedtime with you. Each participant is responsible for getting their own luggage to the sleeping area.
• Evening activities: All program activities begin around 7:15pm.
• Sleeping arrangements: Your group will sleep in one of the designated sleeping areas, such as the Dolphin Gallery or the Hix Institute. The Zoo reserves the right to move your group’s sleeping area. At the end of the night’s activities, Zoo staff will review sleeping arrangements and safety procedures and answer any questions. Education staff will stay overnight. Zoo Security staff are on site 24 hours a day. Lights out is around 10:15 pm.
• Morning: A wake-up call is issued at 7am. Groups will pack up before breakfast. A breakfast buffet will be served starting at 7:30am. Following breakfast, luggage should be stored in vehicles until the end of the visit.
• Animal encounter: Zoo staff will guide groups to a private animal encounter area. Afterward, program participants are free to explore the Zoo on their own.
  
  
• Additional meals: Dinner or lunch can be provided for your group through the Zoo’s catering partner. Please call Sodexo Live at (317) 275-5606 for more information. 

• Participants must be at least 6 years old.
  
• 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 school and scout groups must provide a certificate of liability insurance.
• Every attempt will be made to accommodate groups of all sizes, but minimum and maximum attendance levels are necessary to guarantee the quality of our programs. 
  • Each session has a minimum attendance of 35 individuals (adults and youth). 
  • If you have a smaller group, you may sign up for a date to combine with another group. 
  • If a date has not reached its minimum 30 days prior to the date of the event, the overnight may be cancelled. We will contact you to assist you with a refund or moving your group to an available date.
• Refunds/cancellations: A 21-day cancellation notification is required to issue a full refund, minus an administrative fee equal to 10% of the total order cost. We offer no refunds—partial or full—if your group cancels less than 21 days before the overnight date.