NC Zoo Creates New Camps for Special-Needs Children

The North Carolina Zoo will host a day camp for children with special needs.The newest program at the North Carolina Zoo is Camp KidZu. These are day programs specifically designed  for children with high functioning autism or Asperger's Syndrome. Daniel Banks, the zoo's school program coordinator, says the camps will help these children thrive. “We have the giraffe feeding deck that they can actually walk up and feed the giraffes. We have another camp that focuses on polar bears and seals," says Banks. "We have tried to pick some of our more exciting animals to actually focus the camps on.”

Camp KidZu opens June 10th and runs through June 26th. Campers should be entering grades one through six. They also need to complete a comprehensive health form to register. The average cost of most of the camps is $30. Each is limited to ten children and parents can accompany their children at the camps.  Children need to bring their own lunch, snacks and drinks. The zoo is celebrating 40 years of operating in Asheboro.