Zoo Snooze Overnights

Welcome to the Alaska Zoo's overnight ZOO SNOOZE program! This is one of our longest running education programs dating back to the 90's.

Zoo Snooze offers a generalized zoo experience with a focus on nocturnal animals, habitats, animal care, constellations and space/sky science including night sky watching as weather allows. Participants sleep in tents in the Gateway Hall, the zoo’s premiere indoor rental space which is heated and provides full access to a kitchen and adjacent bathrooms. Tents for sleeping groups will be approximately 4-6 person tents. Groups go out on night excursions on zoo grounds with staff, seeing animals behind-the-scenes when the zoo is closed. Supper and breakfast is provided. This overnight program is one of the most popular winter programs at the zoo!

2024/2025 Winter Season

Regular Zoo Snooze Dates:

  • September 20th-21st, 2024 - CLOSED

  • September 27th-28th, 2024 - CLOSED

  • October 4th-5th, 2024 - OPEN

  • October 18th-19th, 2024 - FULL

  • November 8th-9th, 2024 - FULL

  • November 15th-16th, 2024 - FULL

  • November 22nd-23rd, 2024 - FULL

  • March 21st-22nd, 2025 - OPEN

Zoo Lights Snooze Dates: All sessions full.

  • January 10th-11th, 2025 - FULL

  • January 17th-18th, 2025 - FULL

  • January 24th-25th, 2025 - FULL

  • February 7th-8th, 2025 - FULL

  • February 21st-22nd, 2025 - FULL

  • February 28th-March 1st, 2025 - FULL

Times: The program starts at 6pm and ends at 9am the next day.

Prices: When you register online, you pay a deposit. Your total amount due will be the deposit plus the balance due when the following prices are applied to your group:

  • Regular Zoo Snooze: $70/child, $20/adult.

  • Zoo Lights Snooze (January, February): $80/child, $25/adult.

  • No refunds for deposits or Zoo Snooze.

How to Pay:

  • Registration is online only.

  • A non-refundable $500 deposit is due online at registration.

  • No refunds for deposits, so please be sure your plans are set before you make a deposit and register. You must have a minimum of 15 kids plus chaperones and 40 people total maximum. If you fall under the minimum, you will need to pay the difference based on the program rates to bring the total up to the minimum number of 15 kids ($1,050 minimum total for Regular Zoo Snooze, $1,200 minimum total for Zoo Lights Snooze) or find another group that wants to register and share the program with you.

  • Just a reminder that your balance due is dependent on your total group size and whether you reserved a regular date or a Zoo Lights date.

    • Total due for Regular Zoo Snooze = $70/child + $20/adult (minus the $500 deposit) with the difference up to $1,050 paid if your numbers fall below 15 kids.

    • Total due for Zoo Lights Zoo Snooze = $80/child + $25/adult (minus the $500 deposit) with the difference up to $1,200 paid if your numbers fall below 15 kids.

  • The balance for your total group will be due before the program. Group leaders arrive 15 minutes prior to the program to make final payment with a zoo educator at the entrance. All other attendees wait in their cars.

  • We do not offer a zoo member discount for this program.

Ages: This program is ideal for scouts and other similar organized groups. We can also schedule Zoo Snooze for school groups! Reservations are for one group per date or several groups if leaders are known to each other previously and from the same organization.

Supervision: Child participants must be school-aged and accompanied at all times by adult group leaders who will remain all night as chaperones, approved and background checked by your organization. Zoo educators will not stay in the building overnight, however a zoo security person will be on grounds. A protocol for communication with off-site zoo educators will be provided. A safety briefing will be given to all chaperones.

Arrival and Pick-up: Groups will arrive 15 minutes before the 6pm program start time. Group leaders will meet a zoo educator at the admissions entrance 15 minutes before the start to pay their remaining balance. During this time, parents and chaperones should remain in their vehicles with children. Once payment is finalized, the entire group will meet in the Gateway Hall to check in and fill out forms. Leaders will be responsible for ensuring that parents of participants pick up promptly at the 9am program ending. Zoo educators will not stay later to supervise children, so group leaders will be required to remain until all children in their group are picked up.

Group Sizes and Ratios: We require 1 adult chaperone per 5 children. Adult chaperones must stay overnight and remain with the children at all times. Adult chaperones should be background checked by your organization. We require a minimum of 15 children plus chaperones to reserve a Zoo Snooze program. If your group is below the minimum, contact us at camp@alaskazoo.org for options or join forces with a group known to you within your organization to do a combined stay. If your group is solo and you do not meet the 15 kids minimum, you will be required to pay the difference up to this total ($1,050 total for Regular Zoo Snooze, $1,200 total for Zoo Lights Snooze). Maximum total group size is 40 individuals.

Food: Your program fees include pizza for supper, a continental breakfast including coffee and tea - all supplied by zoo staff. If you have allergy concerns, notify staff ahead of time. All other snacks and drinks are provided by group leaders. Your group will have access to a full kitchen with a microwave and a coffee pot with carafes (no Keurig). Any messy food or drink items must be kept on the kitchen island within reason to protect the carpet and wood flooring. Groups are welcome to bring larger bowls for sleeping groups to have popcorn.

Things to bring and know for your campers:

  • Full winter gear and footwear for time outdoors in the evening.

  • Sleeping gear (bag, pillow, pad).

  • Flashlight, camera.

  • Water bottle.

  • Toothbrush/paste and any other hygiene items needed.

  • Medications should be controlled by group leaders.

  • A bag large enough to contain smaller items (stuffies, sleeping aids, etc).

  • Your group will sleep in the Gateway Hall which is one large common room, so no noise makers or night lights are allowed. Dim safety lights will be on all night to illuminate the room for those who need to walk to the restrooms adjacent to the hall.

  • Zoo staff will have tents set up before your group arrives to avoid any damage in setting up the tents. If you have additional tents or gear to show children in your group, let zoo staff know what you plan to bring.

  • You are welcome to bring devices approved by your group leader for your children to watch movies in sleeping groups inside their tents. Group leaders and chaperones will be responsible for the devices, for approved content and supervision of what children are watching. The zoo is not responsible for lost or broken electronics or chargers. Please be sure to bring chargers for your devices.

  • Safety and communication protocols will be reviewed with chaperones before staff leave for the night.

Contact Tracy Lavin at camp@alaskazoo.org if you have questions or would like more information. Tracy will reach out to you in advance to ensure that all details and questions are covered in your preparations.