Sunny Weekend Alert
The Zoo anticipates high attendance on sunny weekends. Parking is limited, so arrive early, carpool, and check our site / social pages often for more updates!
Zoo Trekker
Become a Zoo Trekker Today - Free
Zoo Trekker is a fun new way to experience the North Carolina Zoo. This activity guide will have you exploring the Zoo, observing animals and plants, solving puzzles, and sharing what you learn with others.
What you need to know:
- Guests of all ages are welcome to participate in Zoo Trekker.
- The activity guide is designed for 6-12 years old. Quests include a mix in difficulty. Younger audiences will need help to complete the activities.
- Pick-up the Zoo Trekker guide as you start your visit. Guides available at the Zoo Trekker kiosks in Akiba Market or just on the other side of the North America bridge across from Cypress Swamp.
- Take the Zoo Trekker Pledge.
- The guides are also available in Spanish.
How do you earn the free souvenir pin:
- Complete 6 or more quests in the guide.
- Get each completed quest stamped at an Investigation Station, Kidzone or the two Zoo Trekker kiosks at the entrances.
- Each person will need to complete their own guide to earn a pin.
- Pins are available at the Zoo Trekker kiosks (open until 5:00 p.m.), Investigation Stations, and Kidzone (both open until 4:00 p.m.).
- Pins can be earned in 1 visit or multiple visits (don't forget to bring your Zoo Trekker guide back with you).
Zoo Trekker Pledge
I/We, _______________ Pledge to share what I/we learn about wildlife and wild places and to try my/our best to inspire others through my/our actions.
Earn Your Zoo Trekker Souvenir Pin Today!
Still Not Sure Zoo Trekker is for You? See Our Sample Quests.
Still Not Sure Zoo Trekker is for You? See Our Sample Quests.
Checkout two sample quests.
If I didn't pick-up a Zoo Trekker Guide at the entrances do I have to go back to an entrance to participate?
If I didn't pick-up a Zoo Trekker Guide at the entrances do I have to go back to an entrance to participate?
No Zoo Trekker guides can be picked up at any Investigation Station and Kidzone as well as the entrances.
Investigation Station schedules change daily but locations are:
- Underwater viewing polar bear
- Cypress Swamp near alligator overlook
- Streamside near bobcat
- Red wolf
- In front of desert
- Lower chimpanzee overlook
- Lion middle overlook
- North elephant overlook
- Zebra, Ostrich, Giraffe middle overlook (down the hill from the giraffe feeding deck)
Kidzone is located next to the North America tram stop.
Is Zoo Trekker available for groups?
Is Zoo Trekker available for groups?
Groups 20+
We are asking that large groups (20+) including school field trips to not pick-up the Zoo Trekker guides. We are more than happy to share PDF files that can be printed and completed during your visit of grade appropriate Zoo Trekker quests that meet your learning objectives during your field trip. Please contact schoolprograms@nczoo.org.
We are working on a brand new Zoo app with activities that align to the North Carolina Standard Course of Study which will be a better tool for school fieldtrips. The app should be available in 2024. Teachers if you are interested in participating in testing please contact nczooapp@gmail.com.
Groups Under 20
Smaller groups (19 or less) are welcome to participate, but only if you are serious about completing multiple quests during your visit(s).
What do I have to do to earn the free souvenir pin?
What do I have to do to earn the free souvenir pin?
Complete any 6 quests in the Zoo Trekker guide. May be completed in 1 visit or over multiple visits. Please note we give 1 pin per booklet, so if more than one person in your group wants to earn a pin please make sure you pick-up a book for each party member.
Where can I pick-up a Zoo Trekker guide?
Where can I pick-up a Zoo Trekker guide?
Zoo Trekker guides are available at the following locations:
- North America Zoo Trekker kiosk - located across from the the entrance to Cypress Swamp (open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily)
- Africa Zoo Trekker kiosk - located in Akiba Market (open April - October 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)
- Investigation Stations - spread throughout the Zoo (open 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
- Kidzone - located after the North America tram stop (open 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
Where do I get my activities stamped and/or turn-in completed activities in for my free souvenir pin?
Where do I get my activities stamped and/or turn-in completed activities in for my free souvenir pin?
Zoo Trekker activities can be stamped completed and pins picked-up at the following locations:
- North America Zoo Trekker kiosk - located across from the the entrance to Cypress Swamp (open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily)
- Africa Zoo Trekker kiosk - located in Akiba Market (open April - October 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)
- Investigation Stations - spread throughout the Zoo (open 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
- Kidzone - located after the North America tram stop (open 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)