Zoo camp

Owen and Rion attended Brookfield zoo’s ½ day camp this week. This was Owen’s 3^rd year, but the first time in the older child group. This was Rion’s 1^st year. He’s been waiting, not very patiently, for two years now. He’s never been able to understand why Owen, who typically never wants to go to the zoo, got to go and he didn’t. They both had a wonderful time! It is a great program. The only downside is that they are able to see all of the animals at the zoo, which makes them want to see them when we go. It’s impossible to see everything in an hour, which is about the maximum amount of time I care to stay there. The first year Owen went, he came home so excited. When I asked him why, he said, “Mommy! There are animals in those buildings we walk by at the zoo!” Busted! Next thing you know, they’ll tell them that the zoo really is open in the winter. J - N

Once upon a time, there was a person named Owen and Rion who wasn’t signed up for zoo camp. And then their mommy and daddy signed them up for zoo camp. And then one day one of our teachers was named Miss Brittney and we walked around the zoo. We rode the train. We saw the dolphin show. We went to stingray bay. We saw a bat every day we went over there. We saw the giraffes. Done. I saw the wombats, like all of the animals, the wombats, and the lizards, and the snakes, and the fishies, and all of the other stuff in the bat house. I didn’t see Joyce who’s here elephant, and not Christy. She moved up to heaven already. I was in the butterfly house. We went in the farm though. - Rion

Rion’s favorite thing at zoo camp: The eagle beaver story

I went to zoo camp last week and me and Rion got new zoo camp shirts. We got to color them the first day and then I went to the bat house, to see the lions, to see the tigers, and to see the snow leopards. The second day I saw the dolphin show, and the whole Africa. Then on Wednesday I saw the under-viewing of the dolphin show and did you know that there was a new dolphin. She’s only 4 years old and I don’t remember her name. On Thursday I went to see Australia, and the elephants, hippos, and the rhinos. And, I went on the carousel. Friday, we had our show. My show was called Alligator. Rion’s show was called Farm. And, we saw a lot of animals that day. We saw the swamp. It was really cool. And my best friend named Jack at zoo camp told me to put my hand in this water. So, I put my hand in the water and my hand was wet. So, I had to go to the bathroom to wipe it off. Then, I saw Rion. Then, Rion left and I went in this boat and I watched TV. Then, I walked over and out of the swamp and I didn’t see, oh I forgot, I saw the butterflies on Monday. It was raining three days in a row – Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Then, we did a show and me and some other kids, like Jack, Magnus, and Ryan, John, and Cindy. After the show we went on this obstacle course from the Chicago Fire. Then when we were done we went out of the zoo and we went to the pool. And, I went on a water slide for 8 year olds. And, my mom wouldn’t let me go on this purple water slide. - Owen
Owen’s favorite thing at zoo camp: Seeing the wombat and an aardvark