Classes and Workshops

Zoo Classes

Munch with the Monkeys (Three sessions) Need only to register for the day of your choice.

Thursday, June 10

Wednesday, June 23

Wednesday, July 7

Tuesday, August 3

11 AM - 12:30 PM

Fee: $7 member/$9 non-member (includes a child’s zoo meal).

Learn what the monkeys, lemurs, and gibbon apes eat and help prepare their daily diet and enjoy a zoo kid’s meal.  We repeat this class every season because it is fun, fun, fun!

Pre-registration is required.

Tracking

Thursday  June 17   (Need only register for the session of your choice.)             

Friday, June 18

1 - 3 PM 

$7 member/$9 non-member

Learn to identify different animal tracks and how tracking is used for different leisure sports. Make a plaster cast to take home.  This is a favorite workshop!

Pre-registration is required.

Pond Life Adventure!

Tuesday, June 22

Thursday, July 15      

10 - 12:30 PM

$9 member/$10 non-member (fee includes a pond net to take home).

Please bring a sack lunch.

This exciting workshop focuses on pond life and local wildlife in the park.  Gently capture water critters with a net and spy them under a microscope.  Great Fun!

Pre-registration is required.

Junior Zoo Keeping I

June 8 -9 (Tues. And Wed.)  Or   June 15 - 16 (Tues. And Wed.).  Pick one of the two day sessions.

$30/fee (includes t-shirt)

10 AM - 1 PM both days (bring a sack lunch)

This camp is designed for ages 9 -14.  This two day workshop allows young people to spend time with a Chahinkapa Zoo Keeper and learn the responsibilities and tasks.  Children get a behind-the-scenes tour of exhibits and learn about habitat planning, prepare zoo diets, explore the zoo medicine field and design their own zoo.  The second day includes a short graduation ceremony where family is invited to share in the program.  This is a pre-requisite to be a Junior Zoo Keeper Volunteer.  (See Jr. Zoo Keeping Club).  Pre-registration is required. 

Junior Zoo Keeping II

July 13-14 (Tues. and Wed..)

Pre-requisite: Jr. Zoo Keeping I (limit 25 students)

$30/fee (includes t-shirt)

This second camp puts you in the middle of animal enrichment.  How does zoo staff keep the animals active and healthy in their habitat?  Help the monkeys forage for fruit and prepare frozen fish pops for the bears.  Zoo medicine is discussed more as the students learn blow dart procedures.  A short graduation ceremony is held on the second day where family is invited to view the results of your hard work.  Pre-registration is required.

Junior Zoo Keeping CLUB

After graduation from Jr. Zoo Keeping I or II, you may volunteer at the zoo for two hours each week.  You will receive a club card and invitation to the Zoo Friend Picnic in September.

There is a $20 supervisor fee.

Pre-registration is required.

Jr. Zoo Keeping III

Pre-requisite Jr. Zoo Keeping I and II

Six volunteer positions are available for petting zoo keepers.  There are two evenings of training and the keepers will be scheduled for two days/week in Grandpa’s Petting Zoo.  These volunteers are responsible for cleaning the barn and pastures, feeding the domestic livestock, keeping automatic waterers clean, assisting the public and being good zoo ambassadors for our visitors.  Ages 12 and older may apply.

No fee.  Call Kathy at (701) 642-8709 for an interview.

Orangutans!

Thursday, July 8

1 PM - 2:30

Fee: $7 members/$9 non-member

Who are these men of the forests?  Meet Chahinkapa Zoo’s newest residents – these great apes!   This first time workshop takes you behind the scenes of the orangutans to learn about these fascinating, intelligent animals.

Pre-registration is required.

Junior Zoologists - taught by Kathy Diekman

Tuesday, July 27

11:00 - 1 PM (Bring a sack Lunch)

Fee: $10.00member/$12.00 non-member (Includes the purchase of Chahinkapa Zoo binoculars and a field notebook).  This workshop is intended for ages 8-13 who are interested in the biology or zoology field.  Students will explore the outdoors with the Zoo Director identifying plant life, animals, tracking, and bird watching.  They will record their findings in a biology field notebook and discuss jobs in the science world.  Animal Behavior will be featured this season.

Pre-registration is required.

Doctor Doolittle

**Ages 8 and older

Thursday, July 29

1 PM - 3 PM

Fee: $7 member/$9 non-member

Animal health is very important.  This workshop helps you learn more as we venture to the Dakota Veterinary Hospital and learn from the best animal care professionals.  Pre-registration is required.   There is limited space. 

Turtles and Tortoises  - Craft included.

Thursday, July 29

10 AM - Noon

Fee: $7 member/$9 non-member

Have a hopping good time as you discover the reptile world at the zoo.

Pre-registration is required.

“A Day at the Museums!”

Tuesday, August 10

Noon – 2:30(Please bring a sack lunch).

Fee: $5 donation to the Richland County Museum

This two hour workshop compares a living museum with a historical museum.

First we will explore the zoo and learn why living museums are important for the Earth.  Next we will venture to the park where you will picnic on a sack lunch and then we will visit the Richland County Historical Museum where history comes alive!

Cats - Tigers, Cougars, Snow leopards, and Bobcats

Wednesday, August 11

Thursday, August 12

1 PM - 2:30

Fee: $7 member/$9 non-member

Meet the four feline species at the Chahinkapa Zoo.  See where they sleep and what they eat.  Learn about cat enrichment, diet and characteristics and their adaptations for survival in the wild.

Pre-registration is required. 

Oceans 11

Come and learn eleven fascinating facts about our oceans.  Explore Chahinkapa Zoo’s salt water aquariums. Help feed the eel and the lionfish.  And try to find Nemo’s cousin, Kevin.

Wednesday, July 21

1-3 PM

Fee: $8 member/$10 non-member

Arts and Crafts

Beaded Jewlery

This craft offers you to be creative with some beaded jewelry.

Thursday , June 24

1 - 2:30 PM

Fee: $7 member/$8 non-member

Pre-school Animal Crafts

Tuesday, July 13

2 – 4 PM

Fee: $6

Pre-registration is required.

Sand Art

Make a creative and beautiful sand art craft. 

Wednesday,  July 28

Ages 8 and up

2 PM - 4 PM

Fee: $5

Pre-registration is required.

Drawing Class for ages 5- 8.

Thursday, July 22

10 AM -11:30 AM

Fee:  $5

Kids learn to draw animals in the zoo.

Pre-registration is required.

Bugs!  Make your own bug jar and them find critters to fill it! 

Wednesday, August 4

Ages  K- 3^rd Grade

10 AM- 11:30 AM

Fee: $6

CAMP CHAHINKAPA River Rats III – The Final Chapter

Thursday August 5 at 1pm and lasts until Friday, August 6- 10am.

Cost: $35/child

This camp is designed for ages 8 – 14.  Camping, fishing, hiking, cooking, and camp fire building are just some of the many things that you will experience at this annual campout. NEW this year is CSI River Crime Lab!  Be a detective and earn honor merits to spend at the river store.  A hayride will transport the campers to Kidder Recreation for a fish fry and hotdog roast.  Please bring a sleeping bag and flashlight.  Your experience includes supper, breakfast, snacks, and MUCH MORE!  There is limited space.

Pre-registration is required.