Safari Zoo Camp

Safari Zoo Camp
Date opened 1995
Location Orono, Ontario
Number of animals 254
Number of species 98
Memberships CAZA
Website www.zoocamp.com

Safari Zoo Camp is a residential summer camp program that allows children, teenagers and adults to work with animals at Jungle Cat World, a zoological park that is accredited by the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums.[1]

Camp location

Safari Zoo Camp is located in a spruce forest adjacent to Jungle Cat World in the Municipality of Clarington in historical Orono approximately 45 minutes east of Toronto.

Activities

Campers have the opportunity to try the following activities:[2]

  • ZOOKEEPING: Caring for the animals at the zoo: cleaning, feeding, watering and behavioural enrichment.
  • ANIMAL SHARING: Free, unstructured time with the animals.
  • WILDLIFE SAFARI- OUTREACH PRESENTATIONS: Campers visit local summer camps with some of the animals from the zoo to teach others about wildlife and the environment.
  • WILDLIFE PRESENTATIONS: Classroom lectures that offer up-close study of live animals.
  • NIGHT SAFARI: Exploring the zoo at night to study the nocturnal animals.
  • FALCONRY: Working with Birds of Prey.
  • HIKING: Learning to identify native plants and animals.
  • CAVING: Spelunking at the Warsaw Caves Convervation Area.
  • CANOEING: Exploring the Indian River.
  • OUTDOOR LIVING SKILLS: Wild edibles, medicinal herbs, shelter and fire-making.
  • WALL CLIMBING
  • ARTS AND CRAFTS
  • TREE CLIMBING: Climbing to the top of a 60 high Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), one of the last remnants of a primary forest that extended along the north shore of Lake Ontario.
  • SPORTS: Soccer, Frisbee, Volleyball, Baseball & Basketball.
  • CAMP-FIRES: Story telling and drum-circle.
  • EARTH STEWARDSHIP: Taking part in local projects to improve the condition of the forests, streams, etc.
  • WATER PARK: A visit to Cedar Park Resort.
  • TALENT SHOW
  • MOUNTAIN BIKING
  • RAPPELLING: Teens have the opportunity to try rappelling, either inverted, Aussie or traditional.
  • TRAMPOLINE

Animal Care and Welfare

Jungle Cat World Wildlife Park is one of only 26 facilities across Canada that is fully accredited by the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums. CAZA members are dedicated to the highest standards of animal care. They nurture, protect and care for more than 100,000 animals representing over 2000 species.[3] Often these animals are the last representatives of endangered species. Many of these endangered species survive because of zoo and aquarium captive animal management programs.

CAZA standards deal with every aspect of the zoo and aquarium that affects the wellbeing of the animals- nutrition, enclosures, security, exercise and enrichment, veterinary care, contact with visitors- everything that impacts on the animal. These standards are under continual review as knowledge develops and evolves, and CAZA members are committed to seeking out and implementing the latest developments that are of benefit to both animals and visitors.[4]

Using Animals for Teaching

A senior camper attending the Safari Zoo Camp, with an Amur or Siberian tiger cub (Panthera tigris altaica)

Up-close experiences and personal contact with animals is a powerful educational tool that provides a variety of benefits to zoo and aquarium educators seeking to convey cognitive and emotionally inspiring messages to the public about wildlife and environmental conservation. Advantages of this method of teaching include: lengthened learning periods, increased knowledge acquisition and retention, enhanced environmental attitudes, and the creation of positive perceptions concerning zoo and aquarium animals. However, the use of any program animal comes with a host of responsibilities including the welfare of the animals used (i.e.-physiological and psychological well-being), the safety of the animal handlers and public, and accountability for the message received by the audience.[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Nature". zoocamp.com. Safari Zoo Camp. 2010-03-21. Retrieved 2010-03-21.
  2. ↑ "Activities". zoocamp.com. Safari Zoo Camp. 2010-03-21. Retrieved 2010-03-21.
  3. ↑ "Conservation". caza.ca. CAZA. 2010-03-24. Retrieved 2010-03-24.
  4. ↑ "Standards". caza.ca. CAZA. 2010-03-24. Retrieved 2010-03-24.
  5. ↑ "Program Animals" (PDF). junglecatworld.com. Jungle Cat World. 2010-03-24. Retrieved 2010-03-24.


Coordinates: 43°59′37″N 78°36′28″W / 43.99361°N 78.60778°W / 43.99361; -78.60778


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