Overnight

• Cot, air mattress, or sleeping pad (participants sleep on the floor)
• Sleeping bag
• Pillow
• Pajamas
• Change of clothes
• Basic toiletries
• Walking shoes
• Water bottle
• Camera - optional

• 7:00pm - arrival and gear drop-off
• 7:15pm - intro activity
• 8:00pm - themed activity and craft
• 9:00pm - night hike
• 10:00pm - movie and/or campfire and snack
• 7:00am - light breakfast and pack-up
• 8:00am - morning activity
• 9:00am - dismiss into zoo on your own

Arrival and Dismissal:

• All guests must eat dinner prior to arrival.
• Zoo Snoozes start promptly at 7:00 p.m. unless arrangements have been made otherwise in advance. Doors will open at 7:00pm and guests will not have access to the building prior to that time.
• The program ends at 9:00am. If parents are picking up children the following morning, the group contact must arrange for all individuals being picked up as Zoo staff are no longer responsible for the group after 9:00am.
• The group will be dismissed into the Zoo prior to the Zoo opening to the public (from March-November only). Participants are expected to follow below expectations. Should a group member violate these expectations, they will be escorted from the Zoo and the group will not be able to return in the future. Animal and guest safety is of the utmost importance.

• Participants may not cross any public barriers, taunt animals, or attempt contact
• Participants may not feed the animals unless expressly facilitated by a Sunset employee
• Participants may not bring additional guests into the Zoo after the program. Ex: an unpaid adult may not go into the Zoo with their paid for child after the program. They must purchase a ticket when the Zoo opens.

Program Location: 

The overnight program will take place in the Nature Exploration Center (NEC) with on grounds Zoo tours in the evening and morning. Groups will sleep inside the NEC in a designated classroom.

Please park in the Zoo’s main lot and look for the “Zoo Snooze” sign located outside of the Zoo’s main entrance. If your group is arriving in multiple vehicles, please ensure everyone arrives by 7:00pm.

Safety and Supervision:

For the safety and security of your group, gates will be secured for the duration of your group’s Zoo Snooze. If parents are not staying with their child, we highly recommend your group designate a chaperone that can provide parents with personal cell phone number to contact in case of emergency.

Prohibited Items and Actions—For an exhaustive list, please visit: Rules & Regulations : 

• Smoking, including the use of e-cigarettes and vapes.
• Foul language or lewd conversations that can be overheard by Zoo guests.
• Consumption of alcohol, except during pre-approved Zoo-sponsored events.
• Offensive clothing, including garments with explicit, political, or discriminatory language/imagery.
• Balloons, glitter, and other nonbiodegradable single use décor.
• Animals other than registered service animals. Please notify the Zoo ahead of your program if a participant will need to bring a service animal on Zoo grounds.
• Drones unless pre-arranged with Zoo management.

All overnight participants will be sleeping indoors. Air mattresses and/or cots are allowed, however, space can become restrictive depending on group size. Thus, Sunset Zoo suggests air mattresses/cots be limited to adults or sleep multiple individuals when possible.

What’s Provided: 

• Zoo Staff
• Themed Programming
• Basic Necessities (sleeping location, space for activities, bathroom facilities, water, etc.)
• Evening Snack
• Breakfast Snack
• Zoo Admission the Following Day (arrangements will be made for inclement weather)

Program End: Sunset Zoo staff and trained volunteers will lead groups to the main entrance/exit at 9:00 a.m. the following morning. If children are being dropped off and picked up by their parents/guardians, please remind all to arrive at Sunset Zoo’s main parking lot by 9:00 a.m. Adult chaperones are required to remain with all youth participants until picked up after the program. Staff and trained volunteers are unable to provide extended supervision of children due to other duties following your group’s Overnight Safari. During summer hours, groups may opt to remain at Sunset Zoo to visit exhibits after the 9:00 a.m. end time. Please note that children must be supervised at all times while at Sunset Zoo.