Nature Nights

The Indianapolis Zoo is surrounded with wildlife! We invite you to become a Nature Detective while discovering all the Zoo's plant and animal wildlife. This was a new overnight in 2011 and we are excited to invite you to attend this exciting new adventure. Here are some things you will experience while on the Indianapolis Zoo's NEW Nature Night:

▪   Take a night hike in the Desert Dome and learn about a variety of nature’s adaptations.

▪   Visit the Zoo’s new bat exhibit and learn why bats are an important part of an ecosystem.

▪   Explore the Zoo’s Gardens on a sensory walk to discover nature.

▪   Come and join us for this new overnight opportunity!

When are the Nature Nights offered?

The Nature Night program is available on June 18th, July 17th, and August 13th, 2013.  Please check our online calendar to see the open dates for all of our overnight adventures. (The dates shown are the dates of your overnight. The following day would be your Zoo fieldtrip.)

Will it just be my group on the night of the Nature Night?

The maximum number of participants for the evening is 75. If your group is less than 75, there could be another group joining you. However, if we have less than 35 people total for the evening, we might have to cancel the overnight. (Please note that we will know at least 14 days prior to the evening if there must be a cancellation.) If you have any questions, please include them in your email when you request your date.

How much does an Nature Night cost?

The overnight program fee is $45 per child and $25 per all adult chaperone. (Adult chaperones are considered any teacher, parent, or chaperone attending with any child. Your program fees include Zoo and White River Gardens admission, parking fees, all activities, spending the night at the Zoo, and a breakfast buffet. We require a $100 non-refundable deposit within seven days of receiving your contract. The remainder of the payment is due in full thirty (30) days prior to the scheduled overnight date.

Where do groups sleep?

Groups sleep on the floor in the Dolphin Gallery or Oceans. The Dolphin Gallery is the large room that leads into the dome, but no one is allowed to sleep in the dome. The Oceans building houses sharks, penguins, seals, sea lions, sea horses, eels, fish, and jellies. There are bathroom facilities inside the buildings, but there are no showers available. The Zoo reserves the right to change your sleeping area as necessary.

Meerkat photo by Mark Kaser.  Reef fish photo by Don Reynolds Imaging.