Take Your Kids on a Summer Safari at The Wilds

Kids can be part of an adventure that seems a world away at The Wilds in Cumberland. The nearly 10,000-acre conservation park affiliated with the Columbus Zoo offers opportunities for families to interact with rare and endangered animals across a variety of adventures. 

The open-air safari lets kids ride alongside ostriches, camels and zebras. Children 6 and older can take horseback tours through a restored prairie, while those ages 10 and up can rappel across the park on a zip-line tour. 

“We host programs for families of all ages,” says Danny Lough, director of conservation education and engagement. “We have night hikes, stargazing programs, hands-on crafts — everything we do helps kids and their families connect to wildlife and nature.”

Whether you’re looking for a day trip or a unique offering such as The Wilds’ opportunity to stay overnight in a yurt, there’s plenty here for wide-eyed animal lovers, including all-inclusive summer camps for different age groups. 

New for 2026 is a five-day Enrichment Mayhem camp for kids ages 10 and 11. The experience lets campers shadow conservationists to see how they encourage animals to exhibit natural behaviors. Junior explorers (ages 8 and 9) can take part in night hikes and safari tours, while the Safari Squad (ages 9 to 11) goes canoeing and learns archery. Those ages 12 to 14 can attend Adventure Camp, where they build their own shelters or serve as Eco Ambassadors that work with conservation biologists to monitor animal habitats. 

The Wilds’ longest-running camp, Dirty Wild Jobs, has teens 15 through 18 shadowing veterinary procedures and having career talks with staff.

“Our older campers get to spend a whole day with our remote care team, helping fly drones to study and find new baby animals that are hard to find,” Lough says. “That’s just one unique opportunity that’s available to these kids.”

Future campers need to act fast, though, as tickets for upcoming summers start selling in December and tend to go quickly. 14000 International Rd., Cumberland 43732, 740/638-5030, thewilds.org

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