Page 28 - august2017lifeinnaples

A ROARING GOODTIME

NAPLES ZOO’S CAMP WILD:

by Kelsey Burr
S ummer Camp WILD is in full swing at Naples to have fun during the summer, while also teaching them
Naples Zoo

Zoo! Camp WILD gives children an opportunity
valuable lessons, and providing experiences they wouldn’t
have gotten anywhere else. Those experiences include going
to connect with wildlife and nature. They’ll learn
about animals from around the world, careers
and making enrichment for the animals. Enrichment is
working with animals, what animals build, and why animals behind-the-scenes, meeting our keepers and veterinary staff,
act a certain way. Children can also learn about steps they something put in an animal’s environment to stimulate their
can take now to help save animals and the environment. senses and natural behaviors. It’s exciting for the campers
As someone who loves animals, this would have been the when they can look inside an exhibit, and see an animal
dream summer camp for me as a child. To this day, I still eating or playing with what they made.
love learning about animals and observing them. I could Specifically this summer, campers will be able to see our
sit for hours in front of some of the exhibits, watching the anteater getting fed, make animal-friendly ice cream, rake
animals as they go about their days. That’s why I believe this the giraffe yard and feed the giraffes, learn how to track
opportunity is so important. animals, and learn how we train our animals. Campers will
Camp WILD is unique in that it gives children a place get to go on scavenger hunts throughout the zoo, make a

28 Life in Naples | August • September • October 2017