Nocturnal Adventures

If you’re looking for an exciting activity for your scouts, church, school group, or family and you don’t want to mess with camping equipment, we have what you need! Join the Sedgwick County Zoo for a Nocturnal Adventure and spend the night at the Zoo!

Your overnight will include guided tours, an education experience, a fun craft, and an animal encounter. The next morning, the journey concludes with a hike through the Zoo.

All participants should plan to attend the entire event, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. We are unable to accommodate those arriving late or those wishing to leave early. Nocturnal Adventures are held rain or shine. You may choose either a Friday or a Saturday night. We will work with you on date availability. Dates are limited. We require a minimum notice of two weeks between your payment and your overnight to schedule your adventure. Payment in full is due at booking. Please request your date at least three weeks in advance.

What to Expect

All participants will need to bring a sleeping bag or bedroll and a pillow if desired. Please have the members of the group bring only what they can carry comfortably. Wagons are welcome.

Your adventure will begin with an evening hike followed by dinner. Your dinnertime may vary according to your group, the size of your group, and the weather; you should generally expect to eat around 7:00 PM. You are welcome to bring sack dinners. Please keep in mind that the Cargill Learning Center is a nut-free building. You may contact our Beastro Restaurant for pizza, box dinners, or light catering (sandwiches, etc.) two weeks in advance of your overnight. The phone number is 316-266-8252. If you are planning to order dinner for your group from any restaurant, please have it delivered to the Cargill Learning Center at 7:00 PM and give them the mobile phone number of someone in your group in case there are questions about your order. Dinnertime is a scheduled part of your event. If you plan to eat prior to arrival, please let us know. You are welcome to bring snacks and drinks for your overnight.

We will provide an evening snack by the campfire. Expect lights out around 11:00 PM. If you have participants with special needs, please let us know so we can best serve your entire group. You are welcome to enjoy the Zoo on your own after your Nocturnal Adventure. Please let your Educator know if you plan on remaining at the Zoo that day. Reentry to the Zoo must be immediate and your Nocturnal Adventure staff person must accompany you.

Sleeping Areas

Slawson Family Tiger Trek is not available October 1, 2023 through February 1, 2024, due to habitat renovations.

In case of severe weather, groups staying in a sheltered venue will move to the Cargill Learning Center.

Other Important Details

Your group may not be the only one at the Zoo on the night of your adventure. However, your group will receive exclusive programming from the Education staff to ensure that your experience is exciting and unique. Many Sedgwick County Zoo animals have access to their inside and outside areas. Animals may or may not be seen in their public habitats during the time of your Nocturnal Adventure.

The Sedgwick County Zoo is a non-smoking location. No smoking or vaping is allowed on Zoo grounds except in the public parking lot. Please note that doors are locked after the night tour and guests may not enter or exit the building after that time. Guests may not be unaccompanied while in the Zoo.

We ask that you set your mobile phone and other electronic devices to a silent mode and refrain from speaking on mobile phones during your Nocturnal Adventure. We do understand that some phone calls must be answered; in that case, please excuse yourself from the immediate area so as not to disrupt the activities. The Zoo does not have wi-fi or wireless internet access anywhere on the grounds. Electrical outlets in sleeping spaces are very limited.

Guests will be asked to monitor their health at home prior to their Nocturnal Adventure. If you or someone in your household is ill or has possibly been exposed to COVID-19, please do not attend this program. If you feel ill at any time during your program, please let your educator know immediately.

Prices

Nocturnal Adventures are priced as below. There is no member discount. Nocturnal Adventures must be paid in full at booking. We require a minimum notice of two weeks. Some locations fill quickly so we recommend booking your overnight as far in advance as possible. Please choose your date carefully. Prices are listed below. A minimum notice of two weeks for any date change is required. Transfers will be considered on a case by case basis.

Pricing is based on the date of your Nocturnal Adventure.

During the Zoo’s annual Wild Lights event (September 30 – December 4, 2022), you may choose to purchase tickets at the online member rate of $15 to experience this unique Zoo event. This fee is in addition to the per person rate for a Nocturnal Adventure. Groups who choose not to attend Wild Lights will tour other areas of the Zoo until 9 PM when Wild Lights concludes each night. Your entire group will either need to purchase tickets to Wild Lights or not; we cannot accommodate partial group payments.

If you need to cancel, please call the Education Department at least 24 hours before the start of your Nocturnal Adventure, 316-266-8213. Groups who cancel within 24 hours of the overnight start time will be charged a $25 service fee that will be invoiced to your group by the Sedgwick County Zoo Finance Department.