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Oglebay Good Zoo Kicks Off Summer Programs

WHEELING -- With names like Muddy Grubby, Creatures' Features, Play with the Animals and Wild Work, just to name a few, the Oglebay Good Zoo Summer Education Program kicked off its summer season Monday with the first of 11 weekly camps Monday.

The program allows children ages 4 through 8th grade to experience wildlife, nature, science and the outdoors through exciting experiments and activities with the zoo's live animal ambassadors during weekly camps through mid-August, according to Courtney Snyder, senior program keeper for the zoo.

"It's a great productive thing for the kids to do in the summer," she said during her lunch break with a large group of kids at the zoo. "We're getting out in nature and exploring."

Snyder said the program teaches the children to appreciate wildlife and nature.

"They love it," she said. "They love the creativity. They love the excuse to get dirty."

Snyder said the program provides the children a good opportunity to explore their environment safely. In addition to enjoying a nearly 30-minute train ride through the zoo, this week's "Muddy Grubby" program — geared toward children ages 4 through first grade -- allows the children to participate in fun and educational activities while hiking through the woods with their camp counselors. Snyder said that, in addition to learning about things like animal habitats, children will also have the opportunity to learn about zookeepers and meet the zoo's animal ambassadors.

"This week focuses on different habitats," Snyder said. "So today is a forest habitat. This morning we went on a scavenger hunt and we used the items we found in the woods to make a little animal habitat.

"This afternoon we are going to go back out into the woods and make mud monsters on the trees -- little faces made out of mud," she added.

The kids also will have the opportunity to participate in a "Jungle Jump" agility course and hands-on activities with some of the zoo's ambassador animals.

"(The animals) are small mammals and reptiles," she said. "So the animals are easy to handle."

An opossum, skunk or snake might be just a few of the small animals or reptiles the campers get to see up-close.

According to its website, the Oglebay Good Zoo is taking extra precautions to ensure a safe and fun experience for all participants during their summer education programs, as it adheres to state and local safety guidelines. All participants and staff are required to wear a face mask for the duration of the program, except while eating or swimming.

This week's camp and several others are already filled to capacity with a maximum of 20 children for each age group, yet Synder said openings remain for future camps. The Good Zoo provides online registration. For more information please call the Good Zoo Education Department at 304-243-4068 or the zoo office at 304-243-4100.