- VisitExploreLearn2024 Summer Camps
About Summer Camps
Happy Hollow offers full-day camps throughout the summer for young animal enthusiasts ages 5 to 13. Every camp at Happy Hollow is uniquely themed to provide your child with fun, hands-on learning experiences and memories that will last a lifetime. Each week of camp follows a different theme and incorporates a variety of age-appropriate activities and adventures. Come play at the zoo during summer break. These daily drop-off camps are filled with educational activities, live animal encounters, zoo tours & nature play.
Summer Camp Schedule
June 3 to August 7, 2024
View Full Camp Schedule
Monday through Friday
Hours: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Pricing
$395 per camp / $355.50 For members
Extra T-shirt: $15
(Please see Scholarship Opportunities below)
Little Critters Zooperheroes
Superhero powers are all the things that animals can already do! Campers will investigate the animals that have inspired the creation of famous superhero abilities.
Little Critters Dinosaur Roar
Discover the wonderful world of dinosaurs! We’ll dig our way back through time to learn about these ancient animals, explore theories about their extinction, and meet some of their modern-day relatives. Games, crafts, activities, animal encounters & behind-the-scenes explorations will guide our journey to the past.
Little Critters Zoolympics
Nature’s best competitors can run, jump & play better than our athletes. Campers will compete at their best through play like the animals do. We’ll tap into our wild & untamed skills and become Happy Hollow olympians.
Junior Vets
Campers will learn the tools, tests and time it takes to care for the zoo animals. This camp will dive into the digestive, skeletal, muscular, respiratory & circulatory systems & operation a little bit of “surgery & diagnosis” as well.
Junior Zoolympics
Nature’s best competitors can run, jump & play better than our athletes. Campers will compete at their best through play like the animals do. We’ll tap into our wild & untamed skills and become Happy Hollow olympians.
Junior Zoology Mythology
The worlds of myth, folklore, fantasy & fairy tales are full of animal-based creatures that we will discover, unearth & design in this NEW summer camp for 2022. Fantastical beasts, crazy chimeras & other legendary creatures will inspire us through our classroom, park & zoo explorations in this summer camp experience.
Junior Wild Rides
What about the rides? Every camp season our animal enthusiasts want to know more about our “Frog Hopper”, “Dragon Fliers” & “Danny the Dragon Train”-like experiences. This NEW, highly-requested camp is here to teach campers how the rides move like the zoo animals do & how we make it happen. We will combine a study of the animals & explore the rides through behind-the-scene tours, games, crafts, activities, animal encounters & wind-in-our-hair experiences.
Cadet Vets
Campers will learn the tools, tests and time it takes to care for the zoo animals. This camp will dive into the digestive, skeletal, muscular, respiratory & circulatory systems & operation a little bit of “surgery & diagnosis” as well.
Cadet Wild Rides
What about the rides? Every camp season our animal enthusiasts want to know more about our “Frog Hopper”, “Dragon Fliers” & “Danny the Dragon Train”-like experiences. This NEW, highly-requested camp is here to teach campers how the rides move like the zoo animals do & how we make it happen. We will combine a study of the animals & explore the rides through behind-the-scene tours, games, crafts, activities, animal encounters & wind-in-our-hair experiences.
Cadet Zoology Mythology
The worlds of myth, folklore, fantasy & fairy tales are full of animal-based creatures that we will discover, unearth & design in this NEW summer camp for 2022. Fantastical beasts, crazy chimeras & other legendary creatures will inspire us through our classroom, park & zoo explorations in this summer camp experience.
Cadet Zoolympics
Nature’s best competitors can run, jump & play better than our athletes. Campers will compete at their best through play like the animals do. We’ll tap into our wild & untamed skills and become Happy Hollow olympians.
Cadet STEAM-powered Zoo
Science Technology Engineering Arts Mathematics are at the core of this NEW summer camp where we traverse potential S.T.E.A.M. career paths for our campers. We will be experimenting with different kinds of science from “Astronomy to Zoology” and tying in math & art in the best possible way. With the zoo animals, engineering-design feats, various artistic media, outdoor field data collection, microscopes & other laboratory equipment, we are going to discover it all.
Vets in Training
Campers will learn the tools, tests and time it takes to care for the zoo animals. This camp will dive into the digestive, skeletal, muscular, respiratory & circulatory systems & operation a little bit of “surgery & diagnosis” as well.
STEAM-powered Zoo in Training
Science Technology Engineering Arts Mathematics are at the core of this NEW summer camp where we traverse potential S.T.E.A.M. career paths for our campers. We will be experimenting with different kinds of science from “Astronomy to Zoology” and tying in math & art in the best possible way. With the zoo animals, engineering-design feats, various artistic media, outdoor field data collection, microscopes & other laboratory equipment, we are going to discover it all.
Zoolympics in Training
Nature’s best competitors can run, jump & play better than our athletes. Campers will compete at their best through play like the animals do. We’ll tap into our wild & untamed skills and become Happy Hollow olympians.
Pricing
Fee: Non-Members: $395/ Members: $355.50 Extra T-shirt: $15 Are you a Happy Hollow Member? At check out, add code HHMEM in the coupon box and check the box for the HHPZ 10% Member Discount. Citywide scholarship fund covering 75% of registration fees are available for those who qualify. (Please see Scholarship Opportunities below)
HOURS
Camps take place Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Children attend camps independently without parents or guardians and should be comfortable in a group setting. Drop-off for camps is 8:45 to 9 a.m. and pick-up is at 4 p.m. Early drop-offs or late pick-ups are not permitted. Every camper must sign in (and out) with a camp instructor each day, and a valid form of ID must be presented upon request of the camp instructor.
HEALTH & SAFETY
We have revamped our programs to keep our campers and staff healthy and safe, and to comply with county and state orders. Modifications for all camp programs: • Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols. • Increased safety equipment and supplies on hand. • Daily health screenings of all staff and campers. • At this time (subject to changes in regulations), staff & campers will be required to wear face covering at all times. (Including parents/guardians during drop-off and pick-up.)
REFUND & TRANSFER POLICY
Refund and transfer requests need to be made in writing. Refunds and transfers will be given for requests received at least 14 calendar days prior to the start of the program/class. No refunds or transfers will be made for cancellations received by the City less than 14 calendar days prior to the start of the program/class. There will be a $10 refund processing fee for each activity.
INCLUSION POLICY
The City of San Jose’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services encourages and supports the participation of individuals with all ability levels in programs and services. To facilitate opportunities for people with and without disabilities to engage in leisure pursuits together, the Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services provides inclusion support services. These services include, but are not limited to, interpreters for the deaf or hearing impaired, improved signage, activity modification, additional staff training, accessible equipment and facility features and support staff. To ensure the requested accommodation, please notify the specific facility where the program is provided at least two weeks in advance. For more information on inclusion opportunities, specialized recreation services, and accommodations, please contact Therapeutic Services at 408-369-6438.
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
San José Citywide Scholarship covers 75% of fees and is available for families that qualify (San José residents utilizing public assistance programs including Medi-Cal, Lifeline phone service, Free & Reduced School Lunch Program, etc.) For questions regarding scholarships for zoo programs, contact the Education Department for details. 408-794-6420; [email protected]
The City of San José’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services’ Citywide Scholarship Program will ensure that residents of the City of San José in need have access to department programs, classes, and activities. All requests are subject to available funding and qualifications.
For the Spring/Summer 2024 season, families interested in scholarships can expect the following process:
Apply for Citywide Scholarship
1. If the family is not already enrolled in the Citywide Scholarship Program for 2024, they must complete the application process before registering for Happy Hollow Spring and Summer Programs. Applications for the Citywide Scholarship must be submitted in person at Happy Hollow Park & Zoo or any other City of San José Community Center.
2. Once a family is officially enrolled in the Citywide Scholarship Program, they can register as soon as Wednesday, Feb. 14. To register, scholarship families should call the Zoo Education department at 408-794-6420 or email [email protected] . Families are encouraged to call to register before Spring/Summer registration opens to all San José Residents on Saturday, Feb. 24 for a better chance of securing a spot. Summer Camps tend to fill up very quickly.