POCATELLO – The third day-camp at the Pocatello Zoo was a crash course in geology and paleontology for kids.
During Fossil Camp kids learned how fossil were created and about the animals that inhabited the earth at that time.
Curator of Education Cory Coffman said 15 kids, ages five to 11, signed up for the half-day camp which ends Thursday. Coffman said the kids made replicas of fossils and learned more about conditions that existed to form them.
To demonstrate the process, snacks included gummy worms in orange Jell-O to simulate how a fossil might form in a piece of amber.
“They learned about what it meant to be a paleontologist and about the animals that lived a long time ago,” Coffman said.
Coffman said the zoo’s camp season ends later this month with Oregon Trail Camp at the zoo. The full-day camp starts July 29. The camp is for kids seven to 12-years-old and runs for five days from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Coffman said. “We’ll take local field trips and we’re going to the Pocatello Aquatic Center.”
Pre-registration is required and the cost is $140 per child. Kids can register at the zoo, or online at zoo.pocatello.us and at the Pocatello Community Recreation Center located at 144 Wilson Avenue.
Coffman said snacks are provided during the camp and kids can bring their lunch or purchase a meal plan for an additional $20.
Day camps at the Pocatello Zoo kicked off last month with Wild About Art – the kids completed a number of art projects that related to nature and animals during the three-day event. During Enrichment Camp children learned about animals at the zoo and crafted items for the animals.
“They found out what the animals liked to eat and made piñatas for them,” Coffman said.
The zoo’s next big event, Ice Cream Zoofari, is set for Aug.10 at the zoo – the all you can eat ice cream social starts 5 pm.
Tickets can be purchased at the gate – admission is $4 for kids three to 11 and $6 for kids 12 and older – admission gets Zoofari-goers a trip through several ice cream stations throughout the zoo.
“It’s a big family-fun, community event,” Coffman said.
Coffman said money raised from Ice Cream Zoofari will help fund a new entrance with a restroom at the Pocatello Zoo.