The N.C. Zoo's Wild Veterinary Science Camps introduce young people to the fascinating work undertaken by Zoo Veterinarians. 

The N.C. Zoo's own veterinarians, staff and residents teach the camp sessions and students attending N.C. State University School of Veterinary Medicine serve as counselors.

This year we are offering four Wild Veterinary Science Camps. Two of the camps are one-day camps for 12 - 15 year olds. The other two camps are three-day camps for 16 to 18 year olds. Camp sessions engage campers in learning situations that explore different aspects of veterinary medicine, including bandaging paws, conducting an animal exam and reading X rays and using an endoscope.

One-Day Camp for Students, Ages 12 - 14	Overnight Camps for Students, Ages 15 -18
Girls Only - Saturday, April 19     Hours: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (Camp is full)	Girls Only - July 16 - July 18    Hours: 10 a.m. Friday  - 4 p.m. Sunday
Coeducational Camp  - Sat., May 15 Hours: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (A few slots remain for boys.)	Boys Only - July 30 - Aug. 1    Hours: 10 a.m. Friday  - 4 p.m. Sunday

To download brochures, flyers, and draft schedules for our camps and to acquire the link for our online applications, click here.

Before you begin filling out our online application form, you will need to ask a veterinarian, a science teacher or a principal if he or she would be willing to recommend your daughter or son for this camp.  The application form asks for the name, employment address and phone number of the person recommending a camper.

Questions you may have about the N.C. Zoo’s Wild Veterinary Camp

Who Should Attend these Camps?

These camps are suited for youngsters who are serious about pursuing a career in science, especially in veterinary medicine or biology. Applying youngsters should have a B or higher average in their school work, but we will accept students with a C average if they ended the 2008-2009 school year with at least a B average in  their science classes.

Why are the camps always held on weekends?

Camp classes are scheduled on Saturdays and Sundays to allow campers access to the Fredric Moir Hanes Veterinary Center’s Surgical Suite, Radiology and Laboratory facilities. During the week, the staff schedules these spaces for routine veterinary care of the Zoo’s animal collection.

No one is permitted to enter the Veterinary Hospital’s surgical suite unless they are properly suited and scrubbed, and this suite must be sterilized after each use. The time involved in preparing the area necessitates that the camps be held on the weekends so that the suite will be ready to care for the Zoo’s animals during the work week.

How are campers selected for each session?

School students between the ages of 12 and 18 may apply for the camps. The size of each session is limited to 20 campers. If only 20 applications are received, every applicant will be admitted. If we receive more than 20 applications for a session, we will hold a blind lottery on February 18, 2010 to select our campers.
The first 20 names drawn in each of the four lotteries will be given a space in the camp. The remainder of the names will be drawn, too, and placed on a waiting list in the order that we pick them. Campers will be notified of their status by e-mail and/or telephone on the day of the drawing.

Once a camper confirms that she or he will attend, we will submit the deposit payment (check or credit card) that must accompany every application form. Full payment for camp is expected two months  before a session begins. 
If any openings are not filled, we will go down the waiting list to offer these places to other youngsters.

3. Who is eligible for Veterinary Camp Scholarships?

 A limited number of scholarships are available for campers.

Children from families enrolled in North Carolina’s Work First Family Assistance Program

Children in foster care

Children who have a parent serving in Iraq or Afghanistan

Children who have a parent who has already served in Iraq or Afghanistan

Children from families receiving emergency assistance from the Department of Social Services

Children from families with household incomes below $20,000 a year.

To apply for a scholarship, download this form, fill it out and return it with the requested documentation to N.C. Zoo Society; 4403 Zoo Parkway; Asheboro, NC 27205   Attention: Jayne Owen Parker, Ph.D.

Depending on campers' situations, scholarships will cover 50 to 97 percent of camp tuition.

4. Who will look after the campers when they are not in classes?

During camp classes, campers will be supervised by staff and volunteers from the N.C. Zoo and Zoo Society.

In the evenings and overnight, campers will be supervised by counselors who will be sleeping in the Center, too. Counselors will be students attending the N.C. State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

5. Are there items that my camper is not permitted to bring to camp?

The following items will not be permitted in camp:

Cameras, Cell Phones, Smart Phones or PDA devices, Computers, Hand-held computer games, iPods or similar devices.

6. If my child cannot have a cell phone, how do I contact him/her in an emergency?

Parents and guardians will be given cell phone numbers of staff to call if needed.

If you have questions or comments about the camps, please contact jparker@nczoo.com .

Last modified 02/19/2010 09:14am.