Ages 1st - 6th grades. Offered for two weeks with a different theme each week! Sign-up for any number of days, or all eight! Themes: Are you Smarter than a Zoo Animal? and Warm Winters offer daily topics to choose from. Registration is required and open online now.
Events for Tuesday, October 15, 2024 - Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Winter Break Day Camps (1st-6th Grades) – Jan. 2-5
Electric Safari – (Nightly until January 1, 2024)
All ages. Celebrate 27 nights of mountainside magic during Electric Safari with 85 light sculptures on over 50 acres! Named 3rd BEST ZOO LIGHTS, 5 years in a row by USA TODAY’S 10Best! Top off this astounding display by gazing out at the city’s lights and watch all of Colorado Springs sparkle. You'll also enjoy photos with larger-than-life illuminated inflatable animals, and our new holiday-safari themed drone show! Save $5 per ticket by visiting on a non-peak day! Advance timed e-tickets are required for everyone and sell out quickly.
Outdoor School: Winter Wild
Ages: Middle School & High School. Every living thing in Colorado must find a way to adapt to the cold as winter approaches. Whether they choose to hibernate, migrate, or tolerate each must put their skills to the test in order to survive. **Purchase of program includes daytime admission for participants. Registration is required.
Paint. Sip. Safari. (Jan. 23)
Ages 21+. Offered on January 23 with a sloth theme. Join us for an adults only program where you not only get to create memories but a painting of one of our amazing animals as well. Each month offers a different animal theme to paint. Spend the evening at the Zoo strolling through animal exhibits, enjoying an adult beverage, meeting animals up-close and creating a masterpiece! Registration is required.
Stroller Safaris: Jumping in January (Jan. 27, 31)
Ages 1-4 years with adult. Offered: January 11, 19, 27 & 31. This month we are kicking off the New Year by jumping right in and meeting some animals who are really good at this method of locomotion! Families will also get to show off their own jumping skills! Registration is required and open online now.
Hands-On Homeschool: Hunt & Hide
Ages: 1st - 8th grades; Elementary & Middle School groups. Embark on a thrilling journey with “Hunt & Hide” as we explore the fascinating world of Predators & Prey. From understanding animal adaptations to exploring the delicate balance of nature, learners will make new discoveries of our wild neighbors. Registration is required.
Outdoor School: Animal Tracking 101
Ages: 3rd - 5th grades. Take a dive into the lives of the animals that stick around for winter! Come explore the zoo’s nature trail to see what wildlife calls Cheyenne Mountain home even during the cold season. We’ll practice identifying tracks, scat, and even try our hand at some tracking techniques that professional biologists use in the field! **Purchase of program includes daytime admission for participants. Registration is required.
Teen Community Workshop: Exploring Enrichment
Ages: Middle School & High School. Whether it’s taking your dog on a walk or giving your cat some toys, we are always providing our animals enrichment in their daily lives. But how do we do the same for more exotic animals in human care? Join us as we dive into the importance of zoo enrichment and even try our hands at making some for our residents! Registration is required and closes 48 hours prior to the program.
Teen Community Workshop: Designed Behavior
Ages: Middle School & High School. Come learn how zoos design their animal exhibits and provide the best homes possible for their wild residents. We’ll study exhibits right here at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and see how the design can ultimately influence the behavior of wildlife in human care. Registration is required and closes 48 hours prior to the program.
Teen Program Summer Season 2024 – Applications Open (Feb. 1-14)
Ages: Middle and High School, 6th - 12th grades. Summer Session runs May 27 – August 9, 2024 for Zoo Crew, Junior Zoo Keeper and Teen Leader programs. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Teen Programs provide meaningful life experiences that inspire teens to take conservation action both on and off Zoo grounds through education, leadership, stewardship and environmental exploration. Admission to the program is through an application process. Online applications for Zoo Crew, Junior Zoo Keeper and Teen Leader will be open during this time. An application fee applies. Once you have completed your application fee transaction you will get an automatic generated email that contains the link to your application! All applications must be submitted by midnight on February 14, 2024.
EARLY BIRD Members Only & General Summer Camp Registration
Mark your calendars - EARLY BIRD pricing and an exclusive member's only summer camp registration period will be open February 1-5! Then, Early Bird registration continues for the general public, February 6-15, 2024. Summer Camp programs will be available to children in preschool through 8th grade. Register your wild ones early as camps fill quickly.
Outdoor School: Mindfulness by Nature
Ages: Middle School & High School. No matter the season, getting outside can be a boost for your mental health. Join us as we explore the zoo’s nature trail and learn to connect more deeply with our wild spaces. **Purchase of program includes daytime admission for participants. Registration is required.
Vote for CMZoo for BEST ZOO and BEST ZOO EXHIBIT 2024
Last year, you voted Cheyenne Mountain Zoo the fourth Best Zoo and second Best Zoo Exhibit (for Rocky Mountain Wild) in North America in USA TODAY's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards Program. We have once again been nominated, and we need your votes! You can vote once a day, every single day from now through 9:59 a.m. MT Monday, March 4. Thanks for your support, and happy voting!
Paint. Sip. Safari. (Feb. 6 or 21)
Ages 21+. Offered on February 6 or 21 with a hippo theme. Join us for an adults only program where you not only get to create memories but a painting of one of our amazing animals as well. Each month offers a different animal theme to paint. Spend the evening at the Zoo strolling through animal exhibits, enjoying an adult beverage, meeting animals up-close and creating a masterpiece! Registration is required.
Stroller Safaris: Feathered Friends February (Feb. 8, 17, 23, 29)
Ages 1-4 years with adult. Offered: February 8, 17, 23 & 19. This month we will be focusing on birds! Participants will get a chance to meet a variety of feathered friends and make enrichment for native bird species! Registration is required and open online now.
Special Valentine’s Day Stroller Safari: Feathered Friends (Feb. 14)
Ages 1-4 years with adult. Offered: February 14 only. This month we will be focusing on birds! Participants will get a chance to meet a variety of feathered friends and make enrichment for native bird species! Registration is required and open online now.
Hands-On Homeschool: Colorful Creatures
Ages: 1st - 8th grades; Elementary & Middle School groups. Dive into the captivating realm of camouflage strategies and communication tools found in nature's palette. During this program we will explore the mysteries of animal coloration and illuminate the fascinating science behind the hues of the world. Registration is required.
Outdoor School: Home Sweet Habitat
Ages: K-2nd grades. What makes a good habitat? How do animals build their homes to stay warm in winter? In this young learners program we’ll navigate the zoo to learn how animals build different homes to survive the winter. **Purchase of program includes daytime admission for participants. Registration is required.
Hiring Event
Ages 18+. We have several part-time guest experience and food service positions available! Stop by Cheyenne Mountain Zoo on Saturday, Feb. 17 or Sunday, Feb. 18, anytime between 2 and 4 p.m. to share your resume and interview for one of our part-time positions.
Kinder Kingdom: Tiny Tracks
Ages 4-5 years, PreK-K. Dive into a world of animal footprints and explore the stories written in the tiny tracks left behind by creatures big and small. Through scavenger hunts, identification, and storytelling, we will uncover big discoveries. Registration is required.
Atka’s Antlers Weigh-in
CMZoo Alaska moose, Atka, will be strutting a new “minimalist” look for the next few months. As most male moose do each winter or spring, our 3-year-old Alaska moose, Atka, has shed his antlers! We want you to guess how much they weigh for a chance to meet Atka up-close. Use the form below to enter your guess for the combined weight of both of his antlers. One person who guesses the closest combined weight of his antlers will win a 30-minute encounter with Atka for up to four people.
Help us celebrate $5 MILLION RAISED FOR CONSERVATION!
All ages. Throughout the Zoo on Sunday, March 3, 2024, guests can check out special keeper talks, informational conservation booths, and a learn and earn free animal feeding opportunity - all day long! Advance daytime admission tickets required and are on sale now.
Stroller Safaris: March Mammal Madness (Mar. 23)
Ages 1-4 years with adult. Offered: March 8 & 23. This month we are focusing on animals that are just like us; mammals! Participants will get a chance to meet some “furry” friends and learn about a special group of mammals called marsupials. Registration is required and open online now.
Dog Days at the Zoo (March 21)
On Thursday, March 14, or Thursday, March 21 (rescheduled date) - add an extra ticket to make your family outing complete! Bring your canine kiddo for a Zoo adventure. For these special dates, you can bring your well-behaved dog to the Zoo with you! Simply purchase a dog ticket along with your family’s human tickets, and Fido can experience many of the sights, sounds and smells that make the Zoo so special. Dog tickets are limited. Advance tickets are required.
Paint. Sip. Safari. (Mar. 20)
Ages 21+. Offered on March 12 or 20 with a ring-tailed lemur theme. Join us for an adults only program where you not only get to create memories but a painting of one of our amazing animals as well. Each month offers a different animal theme to paint. Spend the evening at the Zoo strolling through animal exhibits, enjoying an adult beverage, meeting animals up-close and creating a masterpiece! Registration is required.
Hands-On Homeschool: The Marvels of Migration
Ages: 1st - 8th grades; Elementary & Middle School groups. Pack your bags as we voyage across the world alongside migrating animals! Learners will explore the incredible challenges wildlife face when navigating to new terrain and unveil the extraordinary stories of these globe-trotting creatures. Registration is required.
Special St. Patrick’s Day Stroller Safari: Gorgeously Green (Mar. 16)
Ages 1-4 years with adult. Offered: March 16 only. This special Holiday edition Stroller Safari includes a special demo with an animal from our reptile area, meet & greets with other “green” animals, and a fun green themed sensory activity! Registration is required and open online now.
Kinder Kingdom: Aussie Adventure
Ages 4 & 5 years old / Kindergarten learners. Join us as we hop to Australia and explore the fascinating home to wallabies, budgies, and more! Together we will immerse ourselves in the Aussie spirit. Registration is required.
Outdoor School: Symbiosis: The Art of Living Together
Ages: Middle & High School. Earth is home to millions of animal species that all interact with one another in many different ways. Whether it’s working together as a team or competing for the same resource, our wild planet showcases what it takes for animals to survive. Join us as we study zoo residents and delve into the many different types of symbiotic relationships from around the world. *Purchase of program includes daytime admission for participants. Registration is required.
Special Easter Stroller Safari: An Easter EGGstravaganza! (Mar. 30)
Ages 1-4 years with adult. Offered: March 30 only. This includes a visit with our resident rabbits and egg decorating! Participants will also learn how eggs are connected to lots of other animals around the Zoo too! Registration is required and open online now.
Stroller Safaris: Awesome Amphibians in April (Apr. 27)
Ages 1-4 years with adult. Offered: April 27. This month we are focusing on toads, frogs, newts and salamanders! Participants will get a chance to meet some of these animals and make their very own frog slime to take home and explore! Registration is required and open online now.
Outdoor School: Native Nightlife
Ages: MIddle & High School. Join us for a unique after-hours tour of the Zoo! Through hands-on activities and interactive learning we will study the unique adaptations and lifestyles of our nocturnal neighbors right here in Colorado. Registration is required.
CMZoo Hiring Event
Join us for this Zoo Hiring Event on Monday, April 8 and Tuesday, April 9, 2024.. For ages 18+. Several part-time jobs are available! Opportunities to share your resume and pre-schedule an interview for one of our part-time positions. Bring your resume!
Dog Days at the Zoo (May 10, 31, June 12, 24)
On Fridays, May 10 & 31, Wednesday, June 12, and Monday, June 24, add an extra ticket to make your family outing complete! Bring your canine kiddo for a Zoo adventure. For these special dates, you can bring your well-behaved dog to the Zoo with you! Simply purchase a dog ticket along with your family’s human tickets, and Fido can experience many of the sights, sounds and smells that make the Zoo so special. Dog tickets are limited. Advance tickets are required.
Paint. Sip. Safari. (Apr. 9 or 24)
Ages 21+. Offered on April 9 or 24 with a leopard and tokay gecko theme. Join us for an adults only program where you not only get to create memories but a painting of one of our amazing animals as well. Each month offers a different animal theme to paint. Spend the evening at the Zoo strolling through animal exhibits, enjoying an adult beverage, meeting animals up-close and creating a masterpiece! Registration is required.
Hands-On Homeschool: Our Blooming Planet
Ages 1st-8th grades. Join us April 12 as we buzz into the vibrant world of pollinators as we discover the fascinating dance between plants and their wild allies! Join us as we investigate the crucial role animals play in shaping the biodiversity of our planet. Registration is required.
Kinder Kingdom: Rumble in the Jungle
Ages 4-5 years. Swing into action as we learn about the diverse and fascinating lives of primates. Through the lush canopies and dense foliage, we will uncover the mysteries of the jungle’s treetop acrobats. Registration is required.
Stroller Safaris: Magnificent Migrators (May 3, 16, 25, 29)
Ages 1-4 years with adult. Offered: May 3,16, 25, 29. Things are finally warming up outside and that means animals will be moving back to their “summer homes” soon. This month we will learn what migration is and meet some animals who are master migrators! Registration is required and open online now.
Hands-On Homeschool: Waterside Wonders
Ages 1st-8th grades. Offered on May 3. Make the start of your summer a splash by joining us in this wet and wild adventure. Learners will explore the remarkable lives of semi-aquatic animals, from playful river otters to stealthy crocodilians. Together we will discover the adaptations that allow these creatures to navigate both the terrestrial and aquatic realms. . Registration is required.
Outdoor School: Conservation Photography
Ages: Middle & High School. Enjoy a morning of photographing animals & nature at the zoo! Alongside zoo educators, you’ll learn some basic photography tips & tricks while also discovering how taking photos of our wild world can help play a role in conservation. *Purchase of program includes daytime admission for participants Registration is required.