During the winter months, students have the opportunity to see animals who thrive in the cold weather, like the polar bear.
By: Mike Koury | Royal Oak Review | Published November 26, 2024
ROYAL OAK — Safari Slumbers provides children in grades 2-8 a unique opportunity to spend the night in the Detroit Zoo and learn about the animals like never before.
Safari Slumbers is a year-round activity offering participants guided tours with special information about the lives of the nocturnal animals in the facility, and it ends the night roasting marshmallows by the fire.
Overnights at the zoo have been an activity for many years according to Bethany Wilson, senior education specialist, but the program went through a makeover in 2022 following a short hiatus because of COVID-19.
“Groups come and get a private experience for just them and their group with our education staff at the zoo, which is so cool,” she said.
Groups can choose their adventure experience out of three options: Amazing Adaptations, Predator Prowl, and Conservation Quest.
Amazing Adaptations is recommended for grades 2-5 and focuses on the “secrets of nocturnal survival,” according to detroitzoo.org. Groups work on a science project for the conservation of bats and see nocturnal animals like aardvarks, bats and beavers.
Predator Prowl is recommended for grades 3-6 and includes experiences seeing the nocturnal predators at the zoo. Groups will dissect owl pellets and learn the secrets of the “silent nocturnal hunters,” according to the DZS website.
Conservation Quest is recommended for grades 6-8 and includes a quest through the zoo filled with problem-solving and puzzles. The group will go through a timed, high-stakes race to uncover clues to save endangered species.
Although these options have recommendations on grades, Wilson said that the adventure experiences can be chosen and modified to fit any group.
Sarah Shutlers, fourth grade teacher from Glen Lake Community Schools, told the Detroit Zoo that the experience she had with her class at Safari Slumbers was over the top.
“The predator prowl program was wonderful. The kids loved dissecting the owl pellets and working to identify what they found. What a cool, engaging, activity,” she said. “The docent-led hikes in the evening and in the mornings were incredible. What a gift for our students to have this opportunity!”
Wilson said that during the fall and winter months, students get the rare opportunity to experience different kinds of animals that are out during the colder months.
“Honestly, the fall and winter are the best times to be here. Your experience is going to be different every single season you come to the zoo,” Wilson said. “Some of our animals love the wintertime, and so you may be more likely to see our residents, like the polar bears, in the winter.”
Wilson hopes that, through the Safari Slumbers experience, students will walk away with new perspectives and empathy for the animals that will help motivate further conservation efforts.
“I think one of the most important things that we do here is help to build that curiosity and wonder surrounding animals,” she said. “I hope they walk away excited to learn something new after they leave, but also feel empowered to make a difference in the world around them.”
Pizza, salad and refreshments are provided as well as complimentary s’mores. The zoo will also give a complimentary framed souvenir photo of the group. Overnight accommodations and breakfast is provided.
In the morning, students go on a morning hike and have admission to the zoo for the remainder of the day.
Tickets are available at detroitzoo.org/events/safari-slumbers. Prices are $125 for tri-county residents, $150 for those who are not tri-county residents. One chaperone per every 10 children is free. There is a minimum of 20 participants, and a maximum of 90. Children must be at least 6 years old or in the first grade to attend.