Zookeeper Camp by Crocodile Encounter

Zookeeper Camp by Crocodile Encounter Perfect for future zookeepers and animal lovers! 🐊🦎🐢

Zookeeper Camp is a hands-on wildlife adventure where campers learn animal care, conservation, habitats, and enrichment through up-close encounters with reptiles, birds, mammals, and more.

🐊📚 The zookeeper wrote a book! 🌿🐢https://a.co/d/05d6HkIuI’m excited to introduce Matt and the Mystery of the Swamp, the ...
08/11/2026

🐊📚 The zookeeper wrote a book! 🌿🐢

https://a.co/d/05d6HkIu

I’m excited to introduce Matt and the Mystery of the Swamp, the first book in my Young Naturalist Adventures series!

This book brings together so many things I love wildlife, science, education, and getting kids excited about the natural world. Follow Matt as he explores the swamp, encounters some incredible animals, and learns that the more we understand wildlife, the more we can appreciate and protect it. 🌎💚

And the adventure doesn’t end when the story does! At the back of the book, young naturalists will find a field guide featuring the animals encountered throughout Matt’s adventure, along with hands-on science experiments and activities that encourage kids to keep exploring, observing, and learning about the natural world around them. 🔬🌱🐸

It’s a story, a field guide, and a little bit of science class all rolled into one, made for young animal lovers, explorers, and future zookeepers!

Because when kids learn to understand wildlife, they can learn to love it and ultimately want to protect it. 💚

Hopefully, this is just the beginning of Matt’s adventures and animal discoveries. 👀🐊🌿

Matt and the Mystery of the Swamp
Written by Matthew R. Freelon, M.Ed.

We’re excited to announce our Winter Zookeeper Camp is back!A special holiday week filled with animals, hands-on learnin...
07/04/2026

We’re excited to announce our Winter Zookeeper Camp is back!
A special holiday week filled with animals, hands-on learning, and adventure.

As Week 3 of Zookeeper Camp comes to a close, I just want to take a moment to say thank you to all of the parents who tr...
06/19/2026

As Week 3 of Zookeeper Camp comes to a close, I just want to take a moment to say thank you to all of the parents who trusted me with your campers this week.

Sharing my passion for animals, wildlife, conservation, and the outdoors is something I truly love, and being able to watch these campers learn, explore, ask questions, and make memories has been an absolute joy. From feeding animals and handling reptiles to exploring nature and discovering wildlife in the field, we’ve had an amazing week full of experiences that I hope will stay with them for years to come.

I would also like to give a special thank you to Two Peas Creations for creating our amazing camp shirts. The campers looked fantastic, and the shirts helped make this year’s camp even more special.

Another huge thank you goes to DiIorio Farms for generously donating delicious watermelon and fresh produce for both our animals and campers. Their support added so much to our camp experience, and contributions like theirs help create the memorable moments that make Zookeeper Camp so special.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be a small part of your camper’s summer. It means more than you know.

If you ever have any questions, concerns, or feedback, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I am always happy to help.

I hope everyone has a fun, safe, and memorable summer. Thank you again for making Week 3 such a success. It has truly been a blast!

🐊🦎🐢

🦎🐊 Zookeeper Camp Week 3, Day 4: Brazos Bend Adventure! 🌿🐢🌸Today was a first for Zookeeper Camp! Instead of spending the...
06/18/2026

🦎🐊 Zookeeper Camp
Week 3, Day 4: Brazos Bend Adventure! 🌿🐢🌸

Today was a first for Zookeeper Camp! Instead of spending the day at the facility, I decided to take our campers to Brazos Bend State Park for a day of exploration, and it could not have gone better.

The campers became junior naturalists for the day, learning how to observe nature like real field biologists. Along the trails we discovered turtles, insects, wetland plants, and beautiful blooming lotus flowers. Every stop turned into a teachable moment as we discussed habitats, ecosystems, food webs, adaptations, and the importance of protecting our natural spaces.

One of the highlights of the trip was completing activities that earned the campers their Junior Naturalist badge! They worked hard, asked great questions, and showed a genuine curiosity about the world around them.

As an educator, days like today remind me that some of the best learning happens outside the classroom. Nature provides endless opportunities to spark curiosity, encourage critical thinking, and help young people build a connection with the environment around them.

I was a little nervous about taking camp off-site for the first time, but the campers represented Zookeeper Camp exceptionally well, and I couldn’t be prouder of them.

📸 Here are a few highlights from our day exploring the wetlands, discovering wildlife, and becoming Junior Naturalists!

🐊🌿🐢

🦎🐊 Zookeeper Camp – Week 3, Day 3: Rain, Wildlife, and Adventure! 🐢🐍🌧️Today started with some extremely stormy weather, ...
06/17/2026

🦎🐊 Zookeeper Camp – Week 3, Day 3: Rain, Wildlife, and Adventure! 🐢🐍🌧️

Today started with some extremely stormy weather, and with the heavy rain only two dedicated campers were able to make it out. Even so, they embraced the adventure and made the most of every minute!

The rain gave us a chance to experience nature in a whole new way. We waded through standing water, explored the grounds, and discovered wildlife that only seems to come alive during wet weather. One of the highlights was finding a killdeer family with three babies. Campers learned about the incredible distraction display used by the mother bird, who pretended to have a broken wing in an effort to draw our attention away from her chicks. We also met a bullfrog and discussed the important role amphibians play in wetland ecosystems.

Of course, no day at Zookeeper Camp would be complete without hands-on animal experiences! Campers fed alligators, handled several snakes, and helped provide enrichment treats to some of our animals. The giant tortoise was especially happy to enjoy fresh watermelon.

A huge thank you once again to DiIorio Farms in Hempstead, Texas, for generously donating the delicious watermelons that have become a favorite treat for both campers and animals this week!

Despite the rain, muddy boots, and flooded paths, today’s campers proved that a little weather can’t stop a true zookeeper. Sometimes the best wildlife encounters happen when the skies open up! 🌧️🐊🐍🐸

📸 Check out today’s photos featuring alligator feeding, snake handling, watermelon treats, a spirited game of UNO, and some of the amazing wildlife we encountered along the way!

🐊🦎🐢🌧️

🦎🐍 Zookeeper Camp Week 3 Day 2: Rain, Reptiles, and Enrichment! 🌧️🐊The rain may have been falling most of the day, but o...
06/16/2026

🦎🐍 Zookeeper Camp Week 3 Day 2: Rain, Reptiles, and Enrichment! 🌧️🐊

The rain may have been falling most of the day, but our campers didn’t let a little wet weather slow them down!

Today’s focus continued to be animal enrichment, and our campers got hands on creating special treats for some of our animal residents. Using bell peppers and a custom diet mixture, they made stuffed bell peppers designed to encourage natural foraging behaviors and provide mental stimulation. Some of our animals were big fans, while our emus made it very clear that peppers were not their favorite snack! 😂

Campers also spent time learning how zookeepers safely work with reptiles. They were trained on the proper use of a snake hook, learned reptile handling safety, and helped feed several of our snakes and lizards. It was exciting to watch their confidence grow as they worked with these amazing animals.

We also had the opportunity to meet one of my personal favorites, an albino Western diamondback rattlesnake. Campers were able to safely observe this beautiful snake from a distance while learning about venomous reptiles, their role in the ecosystem, and why respect and education are so important when it comes to wildlife.

One of the most memorable moments of the day came from nature itself. While observing one of our Nile crocodiles, campers witnessed it capture and eat a banded watersnake. It wasn’t part of our lesson plan, but it turned into an incredible discussion about predator prey relationships and how wildlife behaves in its natural environment. Sometimes the best lessons are the ones nature provides for us!

Despite the rain, muddy shoes, and occasional puddles, our campers stayed engaged and enthusiastic all day long. From making enrichment items and feeding reptiles to observing wildlife behavior firsthand, today was packed with unforgettable experiences.

📸 Check out some of today’s highlights below!

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🦎🐊 Zookeeper Camp – Week 3, Day 1: Animal Enrichment Camp! 🐢🐍What a great way to kick off Week 3 of Zookeeper Camp!Today...
06/16/2026

🦎🐊 Zookeeper Camp – Week 3, Day 1: Animal Enrichment Camp! 🐢🐍

What a great way to kick off Week 3 of Zookeeper Camp!

Today was our introduction day, where campers got a behind-the-scenes tour of the facility and met many of our amazing animal ambassadors. We spent time learning about the different species that call Crocodile Encounter home and discussed what animal enrichment is and why it’s so important for the health and well-being of animals in human care.

Throughout the day, campers explored exhibits, got familiar with camp routines, started building connections with each other, and began thinking like real zookeepers. The excitement was contagious as they met reptiles, learned fun facts, and got their first glimpse into the work that goes into caring for wildlife every day.

If today was any indication, this is going to be an incredible week full of learning, creativity, and hands-on experiences. Stay tuned as our campers begin creating enrichment activities and helping improve the lives of the animals in our care!

📸 Check out some of today’s highlights below!

These were left from week 2… do they belong to anyone?
06/16/2026

These were left from week 2… do they belong to anyone?

Address

23231 County Road 48
Angleton, TX
77515

Telephone

+19799224602

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