About this Event
During Summer School, children discover amazing animals and cultures from around the world and connect with nature. All of this learning happens through a range of fun activities such as zoo trails, games, arts and crafts, animal handling, building enrichment devices and much, much more!
This year the theme is Summer School: Islands & Outposts, celebrating stories, culture and conservation of our animals from islands and isolated populations.
Our age groups for 2025 will be P2/3, P4-6, P7/S1 and S2-4. Please make sure you double check that you are booking the correct age group for your child based on their school year in August 2026. Any incorrectly booked places must be refunded.
The programme runs from Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 3.30pm. Early drop off is available for free from 8.30am and After-School Club is available to book for £45 for the week - this runs until 5.30pm and you can collect earlier if preferred.
When you book on to one of the available weeks in July, the date on your ticket will correspond with the Monday and means you are booked in for the full week! This is a repeating programme so each week is identical - please only book on once.
1: 29 June - 3 July
2: 6 July - 10 July
3: 13 July - 17 July
4: 20 July - 24 July
5: 27 July - 31 July (for P2/3, P4-6 and P7/S1 groups only)
FAQs
Are the age brackets compulsory?
The age brackets are compulsory, as the programme content will be specifically aimed at each age group. You must book the age bracket that your child will be starting in August 2026. Please ensure that you do not book children in the incorrect age bracket.
Due to the compulsory age brackets, any spaces booked in the incorrect age bracket will be refunded.
What if I miss out on a space?
Our summer programmes are popular and can sell out very quickly. If you miss out, please follow our Eventbrite page to keep an eye out for futher opportunities to learn at RZSS!
Is After-School Club available?
Spaces on After-School Club will be available each week. You can book your space for £45 for the week while you are booking your main tickets. After-School Club runs from 3.30pm to 5.30pm each day. It will include children from each age group at Summer School. Please make sure you are comfortable with this before booking on to After-School Club.
To access After-School Club tickets, simply scroll to the bottom of the options when choosing which age group you would like to book - you will find the After-School Club tickets there as an add-on. If booking multiple children on to After-School Club, you must book one space for each child.
You must only book your child a space on After-School Club for a week they are attending Summer School or Summer CAT. Any spaces booked for children not attending RZSS summer programmes on the week booked will be refunded.
How do I fill out the Health & Emergency form?
After you book your Summer School or Summer CAT tickets, your Eventbrite confirmation email will contain a link to fill out an online Health & Emergency form. This will provide us with essential information for ensuring your children are in the best of care during their week with us. It must be completed before your place can be fully confirmed.
Is it possible to use childcare vouchers?
It is not possible to use childcare vouchers for Summer School or Summer CAT.
What time is drop-off and pick-up?
The Summer CAT and Summer School day begins at 9.00am, but early drop off is available for free from 8.30am. The Summer CAT and Summer School day finishes at 3.30pm. You can book After School Club for an additional £35 for the week and this continues until 5.30pm each day.
What about snacks and lunch?
Each child needs to bring their own packed lunch (labelled if possible). They can bring another snack for the morning break time. Cups of water are available at break and lunch and your child should bring a named water bottle for activities throughout the day.
Will photos be taken during summer programmes?
Photos and videos will be taken during summer programmes at the zoo for promotional and marketing use and to share with parents and family. If you have booked a place on a summer programme and do not wish for your child(ren) to be included in any photos or videos, please get in touch via email to [email protected].
What about clothing?
Your child will get their own T-shirt to keep that they need to wear each day. They should also wear weather-appropriate clothing that they don’t mind getting active in, including painting and a range of other activities outside! It's also possible to buy an additional T-shirt, a cap or a hoodie - the additional merch will be available to purchase until 1st May 2026. Clothing can only be purchased if you also book a Summer School or Summer CAT place.
What if I cannot attend the week I have booked?
Refunds are available up to 30 days before the programme starts. If you find out you are unable to attend fewer than 30 days before your booked week, please get in touch with us at [email protected].
Is there a waiting list?
It is not possible for us to operate a waiting list for Summer School. If tickets are sold out, we recommend checking back every so often in case places have appeared through cancellations!
What happens if I buy merchandise?
We will give out any additional uniform and merchandise purchased on the first day when children arrive at Summer School.
Can my child attend multiple weeks?
We ask that parents don't book their child on to multiple weeks of Summer School as the programme is repeated throughout all four weeks and will be identical. If multiple weeks are booked, we will ask that you choose which you would like to keep and will refund any other weeks.
My child requires one to one support, is that possible?
We are unable to provide one to one support for participants at Summer School.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Edinburgh Zoo, 13, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
GBP 7.00 to GBP 225.00
