We look forward to you joining us for the 2024 season of Camp Como! Online registration is now open. Find camp dates, descriptions, and more here!
Summer Camp 2024
Como Park Zoo & Conservatory is excited to announce that our summer camps will be back in 2024! Our camp season will run from June 10th through August 30th.
Registration Tips
Saint Paul Parks and Recreation has a new registration system! This is an exciting change, as the new system, RecTrac, will allow us to better connect our community to resources and create a more user-friendly experience.
- Before registration opens, browse the Camp Como offerings below and gather your key registration information.
- Create a new account in RecTrac. (Click the “Sign In/Register” button in the top right corner.) You will need to create a username and password as well as enter your contact information.
Camp Scholarships – The camp scholarship application window for 2024 has closed.
Como Park Zoo & Conservatory is excited to announce that we have scholarship funding for families needing assistance with camp registration fees. For more information click HERE.
General Information
Half-Day Morning Camps for Preschool and Kindergarten
- Children in preschool (who are at least four years old by the first day of camp).
- Children entering kindergarten in the fall of 2024.
Cost: $200
Time: 9:30 am-12:00 pm
Drop-off/Pick-up window:
- Drop-off from 9:00 am-9:30 am
- Pick-up from 12:00 pm-12:30 pm
Full Day Camps For Children Entering 1st – 6th Grade
- 1st-2nd grade – Children entering 1st or 2nd grade in the fall of 2024.
- 3rd-4th grade – Children entering 3rd or 4th grade in the fall of 2024.
- 5th-6th grade – Children entering 5th or 6th grade in the fall of 2024.
Cost: $375
Camp Time: 9:30 am-3:30 pm
Drop-off/Pick-up window:
- Drop-off from 9:00 am-9:30 am
- Pick-up from 3:30 pm-4:00 pm
Extended Care Options
Parents/guardians can utilize extended care as much or as little as they’d like.
Half-Day PreK-Kindergarten Camp extended care: $35 for the week.
- Morning only
- 8:15 am to the start of camp at 9:30 am
Full Day Camp extended care: $70 for the week. ($45 for July 1-3, and July 15-17)
- Morning: 8:15 am-start of camp at 9:30 am
- Afternoon: 4:00 pm-4:45 pm
Extended Care Drop-Off:
- Drop off your child between 8:15 am and 8:30 am.
- After 8:30 am, if you have not yet arrived, we will assume you will not be using extended care that day. Extended-care campers will be occupied from 8:30 am until the start of camp at 9:30 am.
Extended Care Pick-Up:
- Pick up your child between 4:30 pm and 4:45 pm.
More Important Camp Information You’ll Want To Know!
2024 Summer Camps
Offerings by Week – Click On The Camp Name To Register
June 10th – 14th
Splish Splash – PreK/K – Half Day
Splash! Jump on in and get ready for a wet and wild week as we explore the world under the water. Through crafts, games, and awesome adventures, we will learn all about the plants and animals that make the ocean, lakes, and rivers their home. (If you are interested in extended care click HERE)
Give it a Whirl – 1st & 2nd grade – Full Day
Get ready to try new things and develop your critical thinking skills right here at Como! You’ll be challenged with fun experiments, working as a team, and learning what to do if things don’t go as planned. What can we learn by trying and seeing what happens? Find out in our brand NEW Give it a Whirl camp! (If you are interested in extended care click HERE)
Como-Pros – 3rd & 4th grade – Full Day
Scooping poop, pruning leaves, testing water- there’s so much to do at a zoo and conservatory! Join us for the Como Pros camp and get ready to work! We’ll explore the different jobs that exist at zoos and conservatories and even try our hand at some of them. Learn what it takes to keep Como running and by the end of the week you’ll be hearing “you’re hired!” (If you are interested in extended care click HERE)
June 17th-21st
Nature Playtime – PreK/K – Half Day
Explore through the trees, collect rocks, and gaze at the clouds on an outdoor adventure! During our journey, we will learn about the natural world through hiking, playing, and observing our surroundings. We will get curious about plants and animals to make discoveries! Learn how to “Leave No Trace” and about all the amazing things nature has to offer. (If you are interested in extended care click HERE)
Sensational Senses – 1st-2nd grade- Full Day
Take a whiff…what do you think the sea lions eat? Can we find Mumford the lion by following his roar? Do cacao beans taste like chocolate? Join us as we use our five senses to learn more about the natural world, including the plants and animals that call Como home. (If you are interested in extended care click HERE)
Wild Things – 3rd-4th grade – Full Day
During this wild week, campers will start in Minnesota and then embark on a journey around the world. From South America to Africa to Asia, campers will encounter amazing plants and animals and construct a wild craft to take home. Passports not necessary! (If you are interested in extended care click HERE)
June 24th – 28th
Animal Senses – PreK/K – Half Day
Snakes smell with their tongues, butterflies taste with their feet, and mammals feel with their whiskers. Have a sensational time at Como as we play games, create art, listen to stories, learn from animals, and explore the zoo and gardens with our five senses. (If you are interested in extended care click HERE)
Prehistoric Times – 1st-2nd grade – Full Day
Giant sloths, ancient cycads, 6-foot penguins! Put on your paleontologist hat to uncover amazing prehistoric plants and animals from the fossil record. We’ll meet some of their living relatives as we explore the Zoo and Conservatory and make comparisons on how these creatures have changed over time! (If you are interested in extended care click HERE)
Animal Care & Exhibit Design – 5th-6th grade – Full Day
The wellbeing of Como’s animals is extremely important. Learn about the valuable work zookeepers do every day including diet prep, animal training, enrichment, and veterinary care. Explore what goes into building a new exhibit for an animal and all the things that need to be considered. Join Como’s exhibit design team to design your own animal exhibit! (If you are interested in extended care click HERE)
July 1st– 3rd
* Short Week due to July 4th Holiday*
No camp on July 4th or July 5th
Cost due to short week $225
Como Detectives – 1st-2nd grade – Full Day
Sharpen your sleuthing skills and unravel Como puzzles, riddles, and mysteries in this exciting camp! We’ll be using our powers of observation to solve curious questions about animals and plants at Como and around the park. (If you are interested in extended care click HERE)
Como-ology– 3rd – 4th grade – Full Day
Discover the wild world of “ologies” in this interactive and hands-on camp! Each day we will try out a new ology – like ornithology (birds), mammalogy (mammals), phytology (plants) and, of course, Grossology (things that make you go eww!) – and discover how we use it here at Como. (If you are interested in extended care click HERE)
July 8th– 12th
In the Dirt – PreK/K – Half Day
Bugs and worms, potatoes and seeds—life is busy below the ground! Get dirty as campers learn what is so wonderful about dirt. Explore things that dig, burrow, sprout or eat the dirt and learn why so many creatures depend on soil to survive. (If you are interested in extended care click HERE)
Give it a Whirl – 1st-2nd grade – Full Day
Get ready to try new things and develop your critical thinking skills right here at Como! You’ll be challenged with fun experiments, working as a team, and learning what to do if things don’t go as planned. What can we learn by trying and seeing what happens? Find out in our brand NEW Give it a Whirl camp! (If you are interested in extended care click HERE)
Como-Pros – 3rd-4th grade – Full Day
Scooping poop, pruning leaves, testing water- there’s so much to do at a zoo and conservatory! Join us for the Como Pros camp and get ready to work! We’ll explore the different jobs that exist at zoos and conservatories and even try our hand at some of them. Learn what it takes to keep Como running and by the end of the week you’ll be hearing “you’re hired!” (If you are interested in extended care click HERE)
July 15th– 17th
* Short Week due to a Como event*
No camp on July 18th or July 19th
Cost due to short week $225
Sensational Senses – 1st – 2nd grade – Full Day
Take a whiff…what do you think the sea lions eat? Can we find Mumford the lion by following his roar? Do cacao beans taste like chocolate? Join us as we use our five senses to learn more about the natural world, including the plants and animals that call Como home. (If you are interested in extended care click HERE)
Como-ology – 3rd-4th grade – Full Day
Discover the wild world of “ologies” in this interactive and hands-on camp! Each day we will try out a new ology – like ornithology (birds), mammalogy (mammals), phytology (plants) and, of course, Grossology (things that make you go eww!) – and discover how we use it here at Como. (If you are interested in extended care click HERE)
July 22nd –26th
Splish Splash – PreK/K – Half Day
Splash! Jump on in and get ready for a wet and wild week as we explore the world under the water. Through crafts, games, and awesome adventures, we will learn all about the plants and animals that make the ocean, lakes, and rivers their home. (If you are interested in extended care click HERE)
Prehistoric Times – 1st-2nd grade – Full Day
Giant sloths, ancient cycads, 6-foot penguins! Put on your paleontologist hat to uncover amazing prehistoric plants and animals from the fossil record. We’ll meet some of their living relatives as we explore the Zoo and Conservatory and make comparisons on how these creatures have changed over time! (If you are interested in extended care click HERE)
Como Olympics – 3rd-4th grade – Full Day
If the Olympics were held for animals and plants, what would the events be and who would take home the gold? Join Team Como as we look at some record-breaking plants and animals. Are you as strong as a Victorian Water Lily? Can you jump as far as a snow leopard? Or hold your breath as long as a seal? Get ready to carry the torch to world record-setting fun! (If you are interested in extended care click HERE)
July 29th-August 2nd
Nature Playtime – PreK/K – Half Day
Explore through the trees, collect rocks, and gaze at the clouds on an outdoor adventure! During our journey, we will learn about the natural world through hiking, playing, and observing our surroundings. We will get curious about plants and animals to make discoveries! Learn how to “Leave No Trace” and about all the amazing things nature has to offer. (If you are interested in extended care click HERE)
Como Detectives – 1st-2nd grade – Full Day
Sharpen your sleuthing skills and unravel Como puzzles, riddles, and mysteries in this exciting camp! We’ll be using our powers of observation to solve curious questions about animals and plants at Como and around the park. (If you are interested in extended care click HERE)
Como-Pros – 3rd-4th grade – Full Day
Scooping poop, pruning leaves, testing water- there’s so much to do at a zoo and conservatory! Join us for the Como Pros camp and get ready to work! We’ll explore the different jobs that exist at zoos and conservatories and even try our hand at some of them. Learn what it takes to keep Como running and by the end of the week you’ll be hearing “you’re hired!” (If you are interested in extended care click HERE)
August 5th– 9th
Animal Senses – PreK/K – Half Day
Snakes smell with their tongues, butterflies taste with their feet, and mammals feel with their whiskers. Have a sensational time at Como as we play games, create art, listen to stories, learn from animals, and explore the zoo and gardens with our five senses. (If you are interested in extended care click HERE)
Give it a Whirl – 1st-2nd grade – Full Day
Get ready to try new things and develop your critical thinking skills right here at Como! You’ll be challenged with fun experiments, working as a team, and learning what to do if things don’t go as planned. What can we learn by trying and seeing what happens? Find out in our brand NEW Give it a Whirl camp! (If you are interested in extended care click HERE)
Wild Things – 3rd-4th grade – Full Day
During this wild week, campers will start in Minnesota and then embark on a journey around the world. From South America to Africa to Asia, campers will encounter amazing plants and animals and construct a wild craft to take home. Passports not necessary! (If you are interested in extended care click HERE)
August 12th – 16th
Splish Splash – PreK/K – Half Day
Splash! Jump on in and get ready for a wet and wild week as we explore the world under the water. Through crafts, games, and awesome adventures, we will learn all about the plants and animals that make the ocean, lakes, and rivers their home. (If you are interested in extended care click HERE)
Sensational Senses – 1st-2nd grade – Full Day
Take a whiff…what do you think the sea lions eat? Can we find Mumford the lion by following his roar? Do cacao beans taste like chocolate? Join us as we use our five senses to learn more about the natural world, including the plants and animals that call Como home. (If you are interested in extended care click HERE)
Como-ology -3rd – 4th grade – Full Day
Discover the wild world of “ologies” in this interactive and hands-on camp! Each day we will try out a new ology – like ornithology (birds), mammalogy (mammals), phytology (plants) and, of course, Grossology (things that make you go eww!) – and discover how we use it here at Como. (If you are interested in extended care click HERE)
August 19th-23rd
In the Dirt – PreK/K – Half Day
Bugs and worms, potatoes and seeds—life is busy below the ground! Get dirty as campers learn what is so wonderful about dirt. Explore things that dig, burrow, sprout or eat the dirt and learn why so many creatures depend on soil to survive. (If you are interested in extended care click HERE)
Prehistoric Times – 1st – 2nd grade – Full Day
Giant sloths, ancient cycads, 6-foot penguins! Put on your paleontologist hat to uncover amazing prehistoric plants and animals from the fossil record. We’ll meet some of their living relatives as we explore the Zoo and Conservatory and make comparisons on how these creatures have changed over time! (If you are interested in extended care click HERE)
Animal Care & Exhibit Design – 5th – 6th grade – Full Day
The wellbeing of Como’s animals is extremely important. Learn about the valuable work zookeepers do every day including diet prep, animal training, enrichment, and veterinary care. Explore what goes into building a new exhibit for an animal and all the things that need to be considered. Join Como’s exhibit design team to design your own animal exhibit! (If you are interested in extended care click HERE)
August 26th-30th
Nature Playtime – PreK/K – Half Day
Explore through the trees, collect rocks, and gaze at the clouds on an outdoor adventure! During our journey, we will learn about the natural world through hiking, playing, and observing our surroundings. We will get curious about plants and animals to make discoveries! Learn how to “Leave No Trace” and about all the amazing things nature has to offer. (If you are interested in extended care click HERE)
Como Detectives – 1st-2nd grade – Full Day
Sharpen your sleuthing skills and unravel Como puzzles, riddles, and mysteries in this exciting camp! We’ll be using our powers of observation to solve curious questions about animals and plants at Como and around the park. (If you are interested in extended care click HERE)
Como Olympics – 3rd-4th grade – Full Day
If the Olympics were held for animals and plants, what would the events be and who would take home the gold? Join Team Como as we look at some record-breaking plants and animals. Are you as strong as a Victorian Water Lily? Can you jump as far as a snow leopard? Or hold your breath as long as a seal? Get ready to carry the torch to world record-setting fun! (If you are interested in extended care click HERE)