GULF SHORES, Ala. — Animal shows, water slides, interesting guest speakers and even creating “Monkey Munch” snacks for the monkeys. This is just part of the fun expected this week as the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo hosts Zoo Camp 2009.

With a half day camp for preschool children and a full day camp for kids five through 11, more than 130 kids are making summer break even more special, thanks to the zoo and a group of volunteer teachers and student counselors.

“We are in our 19th year, and we are able to keep it going thanks to a group of certified teachers who give up one week of their summer break to come here and volunteer to help us,” said Patti Hall, zoo director.

Campers in both age groups will explore animal life at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo, meet the animal care-takers, and even greet some of the animal residents personally. 

But the camp is not just about the animals. The children also participate in age-specific games, arts and crafts projects and special zoo-related events. There is a lot of hands-on educational and fun activities carried out in a safe and educational environment.

Zoo Camp director Lisa Murphy, who started out seven years ago as a teacher, loves what she does and is proud of what the camp provides.

Even though she directs the camp on a volunteer basis, her work begins long before the one week in June.

“I usually start in late February just trying to get an idea of what I am going to do and get all my ducks in a row,” Murphy said. “I go ahead and send out flyers to get my counselors and teachers lined up, and we have open enrollment that begins on May 1.”

Some of the teens who work the camp as counselors come from as far away as Mississippi and Huntsville, Ala. to take part in the camp, and Zoo Camp is always looking for local environmental or animal related businesses who would like to be speakers during the camp.

“We use certified teachers at each of our stations,” Murphy said. “They come from Foley High School, Orange Beach Elementary, Gulf Shores High School. They typically pick a subject, submit a lesson plan to me, do the research, and teach the kids. They often pick subjects that they want to learn about and then in turn, they teach the kids.”

This year the camp has nine local certified teachers and two helpers.

One of the big hits this year is the environmental kitchen being taught by Rebel Hill, a teacher at Foley High School.

Made from pizza boxes, aluminum foil and plastic wrap, Hill will teach the campers how to create a solar oven.

“On Friday, we are going to actually cook hot dogs in the solar ovens and will also be making sun tea,” Murphy said.

Another new event this year will be camp journals that students will write in each day, making comments about their experience at Zoo Camp and what they learned.

Deborah Kilzer, also a teacher at Foley High School, is helping the students make “Monkey Munch” treats.

“We have brown paper bags that the kids colored on and then we packed it with peanuts, popcorn, Cheerio’s, and some dried fruit. It is all rolled up and will be tossed into the monkey cages throughout the week,” Kilzer explained.

Although the campers pay a small fee to attend the camp each year, Murphy was quick to point out that the only way the zoo can continue to provide the camp is through the sponsorships of local businesses.

“These sponsors give us money, they donate paper towels, napkins, cups, pizza boxes, juice packs for treats, snacks and t-shirts. We are so thankful for our sponsors and hope that more businesses can help out in the future,” Murphy said.