After Hours Program Request Form

After Hours Program Request Form

Ever wondered what the Zoo is like after hours? The gates are shut, the lights are down, and everyone has gone home for the day. It’s time to discover the Zoo after dark! It’s time to discover the Zoo after dark! Overnight Adventures put you in the middle of the Zoo after it has closed to the public. Take night hikes, participate in fun, educational activities, get behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, and meet some of our animal ambassadors up close and personal!
The Booking Process
1. Go over the program details and find the program that best fits your group.
2. Make your request through this online request form. Select up to 3 dates your group is available.
  1. If one of your dates is available and you’re ready to book, we will book your program and send a confirmation/invoice.
  2. If your dates are not available or you request more information, a member of the Education team will be in touch.
3. Once your booking is confirmed, a 25% non-refundable deposit is due within two weeks. At this time, we’ll need your best, highest number of participants. You can go down in numbers after this time.
4. Four weeks before your program date, your final numbers and balance are due.
After Hours Program Details
- Dates: You pick. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, or Saturday nights; January-November
- Time: Time: 7:00pm-9:00am the next day.
- Price: see below.
- Note: For groups with participants under 18 years old, we require 1 adult for every 7 minors.
- Audience: All attendees must be at least 5 years of age.
- Your Overnight Adventure includes admission to the Zoo the next day. Breakfast is included (dinner and snack is not).
Pick Your Topic

African Predator Prowl

On the Africa plains, it’s survival of the fittest! Discover the adaptations predators have to hunt and how their prey have evolved to give them a fighting chance. We’ll observe our incredible African predator and prey species, investigating what it takes for these animals to survive. You’ll go behind the scenes to our African animal care staff areas to see how we bring expert care and attention to these extraordinary species. Then after the fun, curl up in our private education classrooms overlooking our rainforest.
- Minimum Participants: 15
- Maximum Participants: 90
- Cost: Overnight Adventure: $55/person ($60/person when booked after 3/31/25)
- Sleeping: Your group will sleep in the Harold C. Schott Education Center’s classrooms surrounded by the Discovery Rainforest, including the Oliver Nicholson Memorial Sloth Habitat. Each classroom sleeps up to 12 people, your group will be separated across the classrooms.
Adventures in Adaptations

Adaptations are the key to life! Join us as we explore how animals find their food, escape predators, find a mate, and overall SURVIVE in all their unique habitats. Throughout the night we’ll explore a few places in the Zoo, participate in fun, educational activities, get a behind-the-scenes sneak peek, and meet some of our animal ambassadors up-close and personal! Then, after the fun, curl up in our private education classrooms overlooking our rainforest.
- Minimum Participants: 15
- Maximum Participants: 90
- Cost: Overnight Adventure: $55/person ($60/person when booked after 3/31/25)
- Sleeping: Your group will sleep in the Harold C. Schott Education Center’s classrooms surrounded by the Discovery Rainforest, including the Oliver Nicholson Memorial Sloth Habitat. Each classroom sleeps up to 12 people, your group will be separated across the classrooms.
Sleep with the Manatees

Florida is full of diverse habitats that are bursting with thousands of animal species, from walking-on-water basilisks to slow-and-steady manatees. We’ll dive headfirst into the astonishing biodiversity of these southern habitats, centering around the lives of our resident manatees who are a part of our rehabilitation program with Florida conservation groups. We’ll get behind the scenes to see how we care for them, and then learn more about the amazing world we live in. When the night ends, you’ll doze off at our Manatee Springs building with manatees floating by your bed.
- Minimum Participants: 15
- Maximum Participants: 60
- Cost: Overnight Adventure: $65/person ($70/person when booked after 3/31/25)
- Sleeping: Your group will sleep in the Manatee Springs Building, in front of the Florida Manatee habitat! You will fall asleep to the Florida manatees, fish, and other wildlife surrounding you. The Manatee Springs Building is one large space, your entire group will sleep together.
Twiga Tented Safari

A truly one-of-a-kind experience, our Twiga Tented Safari will take you across the African grasslands. We’ll traverse through Africa, listening to tales of innovation for living harmoniously with wildlife, such as how a flashlight can shield you against lions, or why a puppy raised with goats can save cheetahs. On our safari, we will get behind the scenes of Hippo Cove and uncover secrets of our world-famous bloat. We’ll finish up our night at our Twiga tents, gathered round a roaring campfire roasting s’mores. This unique adventure ends with a relaxing night in our shared safari tents on cozy cots and waking up to breakfast overlooking Giraffe Ridge.
- Minimum Participants: 1 tent, no minimum participant
- Maximum Participants: 4 tents, 40 people
- Cost: $900/tent ($1000/tent when booked after 3/31/25)
- Sleeping: Your group will sleep in our African Safari tents located in the Twiga Tented Camp. Each tent sleeps up to 10 people on comfortable cot bunk beds.
Additional Policies

Payment Policy
- A 25% non-refundable deposit is required. This deposit is due no later than two weeks after you have booked your program date. This deposit will be applied to your total program fee. Your best, highest estimate of participants numbers is due at this time.
- After your deposit is paid, your participant numbers may not increase.
- Finalized participant numbers (including chaperones and teachers) and the rest of your program fee is due no later than four weeks prior to your program date.
- Minimum payment for African Predator Prowl, Adventures in Adaptations, and Sleep with the Manatees is for 15 participants. Minimum payment for Twiga Tented Safari is 1 tent.
- Accepted payments include check, credit/debit card, or purchase order. If you are paying with a PO, we require a copy of the PO; numbers only will not be accepted.
- Please call our Education Registrars at 513-559-7730 to finalize details and provide the rest of your program fee.
- Checks can be made out to: Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Please put your order number in the memo line of your payment.
  - Mail: Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, ATTN: Education Department, After Hours Programs, 3400 Vine Street, Cincinnati Ohio 45220
Reschedule Policy
- If you need to reschedule, your group may reschedule up to two weeks prior to your program date.
  - At least 4 weeks in advance of your program date incurs no fees.
  - Between 14-28 days before your program date, $200 rescheduling fee.
  - Less than 14 days before your program, is considered a cancellation and will follow the cancellation policy.
Cancellation Policy
- All deposits are non-refundable after two weeks of booking your program.
- 14 days or more before your program date any payments minus the deposit will be refunded.
- Less than 14 days deposit and all other payments are forfeited.

Contact Information
Full Name*

First NameLast Name
Phone Number*
include area code
Cell Phone Number of Group Leader on Day of Program
include area code
E-mail*
example@example.com
Organization/Group Name*
Full group name, ie Girl Scout Troop 12345
Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
I would like to:*

be contacted with more information about after-hours programs.go ahead and book my program if any of my dates are available.
Group Type*
If Group Type "Other", please describe below.
How did you hear about After Hours Programs?*

After Hours Program Information
I am interested in the following programs.*

Africa Predator ProwlAdventures in AdaptationsSleep with the ManateesTwiga Tented Safari* Overnight Adventure Only (avail 4/2-10/18/2025)
Preferred Date(s)
Dates close on the 1st of the preceding month (ie April closes March 1, May closes April 1, June closes May 1). Please note that not all preferred dates are always available. Flexibility is appreciated!

If your group is only available a Sunday-Tuesday, please email us to see if we can accomodate.

The following dates/programs are sold out:

Sleep with the Manatees: July 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 11, 12, 16, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26. August 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 20, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30. September 3, 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27 All of October. November 1, 7, 8, 14. No programs after November 15.

All Programs: March 12, 14, 19. April 2, 30. May 8, 31. June 20, 28. July 1,2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 16, 19. August 7, 9, 14, 20, 27, 28, 29. September 3, 6, 19. October 1, 2, 8, 9, 31. November 1, 14. No programs after November 15.
1st Choice Date*

MonthDayYear
2nd Choice Date*

MonthDayYear
3rd Choice Date*

MonthDayYear

Group Participant Information
Please fill out the following information to the best of your ability. Approximating group size and needs is necessary for registration.
- Our chaperone to student/child ratio is 1:7. Participants must be 5 years or older
- Minimum Group Size: African Predator Prowl: 15; Adventures in Adaptations: 15; Sleep with the Manatees: 15; Twiga Tented Safari: 1 tent (up to 10 people).
- Maximum Group Size: African Predator Prowl: 90; Adventures in Adaptations: 90; Sleep with the Manatees: 60; Twiga Tented Safari: 4 tents (up to 40 people).

Number of Attendees (best highest estimate)*

	Estimated Number
Children Kindergarten-2nd (5yr-8 years)
Children 3rd-5th (~9-11 years)
Children 6th-8th (~12-14 years)
Children 9th-12th (~15-18 years)
Adults
Total Attendees

How will participants be arriving?*

	Estimated Number
Bus, staying overnight
Bus, leaving after drop off
Cars, staying overnight
Cars, dropping off

Are there any special needs or allergies in your group we should be aware of?

After Hours Policies
The Booking Process
1. Go over the program details and find the program that best fits your group.
2. Make your request through this online request form. Select up to 3 dates your group is available.
  1. If one of your dates is available and you’re ready to book, we will book your program and send a confirmation/invoice.
  2. If your dates are not available or you request more information, a member of the Education team will be in touch.
3. Once your booking is confirmed, a 25% non-refundable deposit is due within two weeks. At this time, we’ll need your best, highest number of participants. You can go down in numbers after this time.
4. Four weeks before your program date, your final numbers and balance are due.
Additional Policies

Payment Policy
- A 25% non-refundable deposit is required. This deposit is due no later than two weeks after you have booked your program date. This deposit will be applied to your total program fee. Your best, highest estimate of participants numbers is due at this time.
- After your deposit is paid, your participant numbers may not increase.
- Four weeks before your program date, your final numbers (including chaperones and teachers) and balance are due.
  - Minimum payment for African Predator Prowl, Adventures in Adaptations, and Sleep with the Manatees is for 15 participants. Minimum payment for Twiga Tented Safari is 1 tent.
- Accepted payments include check, credit/debit card, or purchase order. If you are paying with a PO, we require a copy of the PO; numbers only will not be accepted.
- Please call our Education Registrars at 513-559-7730 to finalize details and provide the rest of your program fee.
- Checks can be made out to: Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Please put your order number in the memo line of your payment.
  - Mail: Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, ATTN: Education Department, After Hours Programs, 3400 Vine Street, Cincinnati Ohio 45220
Reschedule Policy
- If you need to reschedule, your group may reschedule up to two weeks prior to your program date.
- At least 4 weeks in advance of your program date incurs no fees.
- Between 14-28 days before your program date, $200 rescheduling fee.
- Less than 14 days before your program, is considered a cancellation and will follow the cancellation policy.
Cancellation Policy
- All deposits are non-refundable after two weeks of booking your program.
- 14 days or more before your program date any payments minus the deposit will be refunded.
- Less than 14 days deposit and all other payments are forfeited.

Any Questions?
If you have any specific questions, please add them here and we will get in touch.
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After Hours Program Request Form

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After Hours Program Information

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After Hours Policies

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