Busch Gardens

Animal lovers entering grades 7 through 12 can feel right at home at Busch Gardens' educational science programs. Operating for more than 20 years, Busch Gardens camps are a mixture of animal adventures and thrilling theme park rides.

To say there's never a dull moment here is an understatement. Campers are housed at Busch Gardens' onsite dormitory, Mzinga Lodge, and also get to spend two nights camping next to animals at SeaWorld. These Florida overnight summer camps last five days (Saturday through Thursday) and are divided into two grade-based groups.

The first group, Tampa Legends of Land & Sea, is designed for rising 7th to 9th graders. During the camp, students watch lions at night, observe dolphins and other sea creatures at SeaWorld, ride roller coasters, and get face-to-face time with a diverse group of animals.

High school students in grades 10 through 12 are invited to the Zoo Fundamentals camp, where they get hands-on experience helping zoo keepers. Some activities include preparing animal meals, practicing training techniques, and learning the basics of wildlife conservation.