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“A Zoo for All” Zoo Camp During a tour of Brookfield Zoo’s Animal Hospital and laboratories, children use
PROGRAMS What does it mean when a children’s camp
calls itself “inclusive”? What resources, policies,
and practices does it have in place? In the past, parents who
wanted answers to these questions had to do their own
research. Fortunately, they can now consult the findings of a new
accreditation program.
The National Inclusion Project (NIP) recently partnered with the
Center for Social Development and Education at the University of
Massachusetts Boston to create an accreditation program—with
input from CZS staff and other institutions. NIP is a nonprofit
organization that promotes the inclusion of children regardless of
ability in activities.
In the summer of 2018 NIP representatives observed Zoo Camp
at Brookfield Zoo and several other children’s camp programs in the
United States. This led to the creation of the Standards for Inclusive through the National Inclusion Project and health and safety
Recreation Programs in the spring of 2019. These standards include
requirements for:
• Programming
• Staffing
• Accessibility of facilities and transportation
• Accommodations that allow all campers to participate together
Programs must meet all of the requirements to be accredited.
microscopes to examine pathology samples. In conjunction with the National Inclusion
Project, Zoo Camp at Brookfield Zoo makes the inclusion of children with disabilities the
expectation, not the exception.
CZS’s Zoo Camp is proud to be one of the first programs in
the country to receive this accreditation. Our Zoo Camp gives
campers of all abilities opportunities to have fun together while
learning about animals, conservation, and nature.
Our Zoo Camp is also accredited by the American Camp
Association, the only accreditation organization for camps in
North America. The organization partners with the American
Red Cross and the American Academy of Pediatrics to ensure
that camp policies and procedures adhere to strict health and
safety guidelines.
In spring 2020 Brookfield Zoo will be the only zoo camp
program in North America that meets inclusion standards
standards through the American Camp Association. We ensure
that Brookfield Zoo fulfills our mission of being a “Zoo for All.”
For more information about:
• Standards for Inclusive Recreation Programs,
visit inclusionproject.org/standards
• American Camp Association, visit acacamps.org
• Current Zoo Camp offerings, visit CZS.org/camp
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