Camp Overnight At Cleveland Metroparks Zoo And Enjoy An Outback Experience

By Amanda Majewski

Cleveland, OH - For the first time ever, families, scout troops and school groups can explore Cleveland Metroparks Zoo’s Australian Adventure at night. The new “Outback After Dark” overnight program runs on Friday and Saturday nights in April and May, then again in September and October.

Group registrations may be made at clemetzoo.com or by calling (216) 635-3391. Space is limited.

Outback After Dark allows campers to experience a night in the life of an Australian sheep rancher and learn about culture and wildlife in the land down under.  The one-night program, which runs from Friday evening to Saturday morning or Saturday evening to Sunday morning, costs $38 per camper.  
 
Aimed at those ages six and older, Outback After Dark will allow campers to get close to a number of Australian animals, including sheep, donkeys, a miniature horse, rabbits, snakes, a bearded dragon, frogs, a blue-tongued skink, a sugar glider, birds, goats and “Foster,” the young Parma wallaby. 
 
Overnight campers also will take a “night hike” through the Australian Adventure exhibit areas, visit a mini-planetarium to see the stars of the southern hemisphere and sleep in the Reinberger Homestead, which is modeled after an authentic Australian ranch house.  In the morning, campers will enjoy a light breakfast and meet one of the Zoo’s animal keepers.
 
“Outback After Dark will give people a feeling of what it’s like to live in a far-away place that most of us will never get to visit,” said Steve Schultz, an Education Specialist and coordinator of the Zoo’s overnight programs.  “The Zoo is a completely different experience at night, and people are going to have fun and learn a lot at the same time.”
 
Check-in for Outback After Dark is 6:45 p.m., and programming concludes at 11 a.m. the following day.  Campers may spend the rest of the day at the Zoo for no additional charge.
 
To learn more, visit clemetzoo.com or call (216) 661-6500.