Zoo Snooze Overnights

2025/2026 Zoo Snooze Info Below. Reservations Coming in September!

Welcome to the Alaska Zoo's overnight ZOO SNOOZE. This program is wildly popular among scouts and organized groups, dating back to the early 1990's. Spend the night in the Gateway Hall and take a night tour of the zoo. Program topics include nocturnal animals, habitats, animal care, constellations and space/sky science including night sky watching as weather allows.

Participants sleep in tents indoors with access to a kitchen and adjacent bathrooms. The room has security lights as well as locked doors. The tents will sleep roughly 3-4 girls each. Supper and breakfast are provided. This overnight program is one of the most popular winter programs at the zoo!

There are two options: Regular Zoo Snooze and Zoo Lights Snooze. They are priced differently.

2025 Dates:

  • September 26/27, 6pm-9am (Regular)

  • October 10/11, 6pm-9am (Regular)

  • October 17/18, 6pm-9am (Regular)

  • November 7/8, 6pm-9am (Regular)

  • November 14/15, 6pm-9am (Regular)

  • November 21/22, 6pm-9am (Regular)

2026 Dates:

  • January 16/17, 6pm-9am (Zoo Lights)

  • January 23/24, 6pm-9am (Zoo Lights)

  • January 30/31, 6pm-9am (Zoo Lights)

  • February 6/7, 6pm-9am (Zoo Lights)

  • February 20/21, 6pm-9am (Zoo Lights)

  • February 27/28, 6pm-9am (Zoo Lights)

  • March 20/21, 6pm-9am (Regular)

Prices: When you register online, you pay a $500 deposit which is applied toward your total due on the evening of your program.

  • Regular Zoo Snooze: $70/child, $20/adult.

  • Zoo Lights Snooze (January, February): $80/child, $25/adult.

  • No refunds for deposits or Zoo Snooze.

How to Pay:

  • Pay the $500 deposit online to secure your date.

  • No refunds for deposits, so please be sure your plans are set before you make a deposit.

  • A minimum of 15 kids plus chaperones 1:5 is required. If your group falls below this, you are still required to pay this minimum (totals are $1,050 for regular snooze, $1,200 for lights snooze).

  • 40 people is the maximum group size.

  • You are allowed to share your snooze with another group. The total size of the combined groups must be 40 or fewer.

  • Your final balance due will be dependent on your group size, with the total minus $500 being owed in-person on the program date when you arrive.

  • Group leaders arrive at 5:45pm to make final payment with a zoo educator at the entrance.

  • All other attendees wait in their cars.

  • We do not offer a zoo member discount for this program.

This program is ideal for scouts and other similar organized groups. We can also schedule Zoo Snooze for school groups! Reservations are for one group per date or several groups if leaders are known to each other previously and from the same organization. Group adults must supervise youth at all times, including staying in the Gateway Hall overnight. Ratio of 1:5 must be maintained at all times. Zoo staff do not stay overnight, so a safety briefing will be given to adults before the staff member leaves. A security person does rounds around the zoo at night. The group must stay in the Gateway Hall after staff leaves.

Leaders will be responsible for ensuring that parents pick up promptly at 9am and must remain with all children until pick-ups are complete. Zoo staff will not remain to supervise children.

Zoo Snooze includes pizza for supper, a continental breakfast and tea/coffee provided in the kitchen - all provided by zoo staff. If you have allergy concerns in your group, please inform staff ahead of time. ur program fees include pizza for supper, a continental breakfast including coffee and tea - all supplied by zoo staff. If you have allergy concerns, notify staff ahead of time. You are welcome to bring snack and you will have access to a full kitchen with a microwave and a coffee pot with carafes (no Keurig). Any messy food or drink items must be kept on the kitchen island within reason to protect the carpet and wood flooring. Groups are welcome to bring larger bowls for popcorn.

Things to bring and know for your group:

  • Full winter gear and footwear for time outdoors in the evening.

  • Sleeping gear (bag, pillow, pad).

  • Flashlight, camera.

  • Water bottle.

  • Toothbrush/paste and any other hygiene items needed.

  • Medications should be controlled by group leaders.

  • A bag large enough to contain smaller items (stuffies, sleeping aids, etc).

  • No noise makers or night lights due to group sleeping in a common space.

  • Dim safety lights will be on all night to illuminate the room.

  • Restrooms are adjacent to the Gateway Hall space.

  • Zoo staff have tents to set up. If you have different plans or gear, let us know ahead of time.

  • Group leaders must be responsible for all devices and chargers. The zoo will not replace broken or missing items.

  • Group leaders need to monitor content on devices to ensure that it is appropriate for a group setting.

Contact Tracy Lavin at camp@alaskazoo.org if you have questions or would like more information. Tracy will reach out to you in advance to ensure that all details and questions are covered in your preparations.