# Zoo Mini Camp Days — Turtle Back Zoo (Election Day & NJEA Break) > Event for families in the New York–Newark–Jersey City area (NY / NJ). Times are Eastern Time. - When: Tue, Nov 3 (+2 more dates) · 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM - Where: Essex County Turtle Back Zoo — Berson Family Center, 560 Northfield Avenue, West Orange, NJ 07052 - Ages: Ages 5 to 10 (registration split 5–7 and 8–10) - Price: $100/day - Organizer: Essex County Turtle Back Zoo (Zoological Society of New Jersey) - Official page: https://my.hornblower.com/assets/scripts/ectbz/search.html - Last checked: Tue, Oct 27 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 2, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-01), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/new-york/activities/zoo-mini-camp-days-turtle-back-zoo-election-day-and-njea-break--listing-57d4e403311592f4bb1656aa ## About Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange runs one-day mini camps on New Jersey school holidays, and the November 2026 dates fall on Election Day (Tuesday, November 3) and the NJEA convention break (Thursday and Friday, November 5–6). Campers aged 5 to 10 spend 9 am to 4 pm with zoo educators, split into a 5–7 and an 8–10 group, rotating through games, short lessons, zoo walks, up-close animal presentations, behind-the-scenes visits, crafts and hands-on science demonstrations, and they go home with a take-home activity. Groups go outside in rain, snow or shine when it is safe, so dress children for the weather. Families pack a snack, lunch and a refillable water bottle; the zoo aims for a tree-nut-free environment. Each day costs $100 and can be booked singly or as several days, with separate registration links for the two age groups. There is no extended care, and campers must be signed in and out by an authorized adult showing a physical government-issued photo ID. ## Similar picks in New York - [NJEA Mini Camp: Our Marvelous Moon — Reeves-Reed Arboretum](https://grassyknees.com/new-york/activities/njea-mini-camp-our-marvelous-moon-reeves-reed-arboretum--listing-ee2a0acbd825804e83ec514f) — Thu, Nov 5 · 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM · Reeves-Reed Arboretum, Summit · Ages 5–10 · From $65 · checked Oct 27. Reeves-Reed Arboretum in Summit offers an afternoon NJEA mini camp for children ages 5 to 10 on Thursday, November 5, 2026, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. Campers explore the many ways… - [NJEA Mini Camp: Animal Hideaways!](https://grassyknees.com/new-york/activities/njea-mini-camp-animal-hideaways--listing-7933deec94a6e87807daed5b) — Fri, Nov 6 · 9:00 AM · Reeves-Reed Arboretum, Summit · Ages 5–10 · checked Oct 30. A school-break mini camp at Reeves-Reed Arboretum all about animal homes. Children explore how mammals, fish, insects and birds each have a unique habitat, and learn where their… - [Break at the Brook — NJEA Break Day Camp at Flat Rock Brook](https://grassyknees.com/new-york/activities/break-at-the-brook-njea-break-day-camp-at-flat-rock-brook--listing-ba35ac74ff9416d5b4659961) — Thu, Nov 5 · 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM · Flat Rock Brook Nature Center, Englewood · From $125 · checked Oct 30. A one-day immersive nature camp during the NJ school break: hike the forest once home to the Lenape and learn their culture through storytelling and art. Pre-registration only. - [Sloth Social — Turtle Back Zoo (Ages 6+)](https://grassyknees.com/new-york/activities/sloth-social-turtle-back-zoo-ages-6--listing-4322872385d830e9cd7a2d3b) — Sat, Nov 7 · 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM · Essex County Turtle Back Zoo, West Orange · Ages 6+ · From $65 · checked Oct 30. An hour-long education program to meet the zoo's sloths and their keepers. Meet at the Berson Family Center between 9:50 and 10 am; guests do not enter exhibits or touch animals. - [Behind the Scenes at the Giraffe Barn — Turtle Back Zoo (Ages 6+)](https://grassyknees.com/new-york/activities/behind-the-scenes-at-the-giraffe-barn-turtle-back-zoo-ages-6--listing-fdce074e9148721046c8cf37) — Sat, Nov 7 (+3 more dates) · 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM · Essex County Turtle Back Zoo, West Orange · Ages 6+ · From $65 · checked Oct 30. A 30-minute keeper-led look inside the giraffe barn with conservation talk. Meet the guide at the Amphitheater in front of the Reptile House; the building has stairs. Every… - [Hudson Valley Wildlife at the Ardsley Public Library (for families)](https://grassyknees.com/new-york/activities/hudson-valley-wildlife-at-the-ardsley-public-library-for-families--listing-79eccfaa674abfc2a54d32d4) — Tue, Nov 3 · 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM · Ardsley Public Library · checked Oct 16. What’s living in your backyard? This engaging, hands-on program introduces participants to wildlife found in the Hudson Hills and Highlands region. Using live animals, mounts… ## More for families - [Things to do with kids in West Orange, NJ](https://grassyknees.com/new-york/towns/west-orange-nj) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/new-york/towns/west-orange-nj.md) - [Things to do with kids in Essex County, NJ](https://grassyknees.com/new-york/counties/essex-county-nj) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/new-york/counties/essex-county-nj.md) - [This weekend in New York](https://grassyknees.com/new-york/this-weekend) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/new-york/this-weekend.md) - [Things to do with kids in New York](https://grassyknees.com/new-york) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/new-york.md)