Winter arrived early this year and is showing little desire to change her ways. As we head into the Christmas holiday season one of the biggest problems is how to keep the kids busy once the presents have been opened and it is just too cold to send them outside to play. The Roosevelt Park Zoo might just have an answer for those post-Christmas to pre-New Year’s Day. Have you thought about Winter Zoo Camp?

Since the kids are out of school, camp is in. Winter Day Camp is held on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday beginning December 27, with each camp running from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Each camp day will feature different themed activities designed to foster exploration and encourage learning through observation and discovery. Campers will participate in games, activities and crafts, zoo walks (weather permitting), and get to meet one of the zoo’s ambassador animals plus much more.

The camps are designed for children in kindergarten through 5th grade (5-10 years old). Each camp is $60 per child. So, if you are looking for something fun and educational for your kids during this holiday break, consider your Roosevelt Park Zoo.

Depending on the weather, the Zoo will be a little less busy, at least in the construction zones. The contractor that has been installing the mesh for the new leopard exhibit will have headed home for the holidays and a break from the cold. The company is based out of Tucson, AZ, and while it has been difficult for them working is this earlier than normal winter, they have been troopers. Connecting and tying the mesh can be difficult in the best of conditions but trying to do it in heavy gloves just makes the process much slower. One of the men confided in me that before this job, the coldest he’d worked in was 26-degrees. He has learned since being here, 26-degrees has seemed like a lot nicer of a day. I’m sure they will all have tales about the time they spent in Minot.

There is still quite a bit to accomplish on the project, but we are getting closer every day. Besides the mesh, we are still looking at some fencing to complete and then of course the landscaping. Landscaping will take a little longer to complete, but fingers are crossed for an early spring with no surprises like last year. Once the mesh is completed, staff will prepare to move Clover, our female Amur leopard who will turn 13 in March. We will also alert the Amur leopard Species Survival Plan Coordinator to let them know we are ready to receive two more animals that are recommended to breed.

When it is this cold, it does slow down our visitation, but the work continues as the Zoo and its staff endeavor to make the Roosevelt Park Zoo something the entire community can be proud of.