What animals will the participant get to work with?
The experience will include lots of different tasks and animals so it’s guaranteed to be a fun packed morning.
Participants will get to muck out on the Children’s Farm, do enrichment feeds for the meerkats, feed a giraffe, feed the Lemurs, go behind the scenes in our Reptile House, plus lots more.
The programme may be altered on any given day due to animal welfare or health issues or a change to the zoo’s collection, but we will ensure that if this is the case then the activity will be replaced with another similar task.
What animals do the participants get to go in with?
Participants will get to go in with some animals, where appropriate. Participants will still get a behind-the-scenes or feeding experience with the animals that they don’t get direct contact with.
Do the participants need to be strong to do the tasks?
Some of the work is quite physical, but anyone of reasonable fitness should be able to cope. The experience has been specially designed for 7–16 year olds. There is a lot of walking involved throughout the morning.
What if the participant doesn’t want to do one of the specific tasks?
No one will be forced to do anything they do not wish to, although most find that taking part in the full range of activities is the best way to get the most from the experience.
What time can the participant and accompanying adult enter the zoo before the experience?
The experience will start no later than 9.10 am so we ask that participants and accompanying adult arrive promptly at 9.00 am. They will have to come into the Park via the exit gate/ drive and they will meet the activity leader outside the Gift Shop next to the car park. The experience will finish at 3.00 pm. They will not be able to access the Park before the experience, but they can explore the Park after the experience. Any other family members or friends that arrive with the participants will have to remain in the Car Park until the Park opens at 10am.
How many people will be taking part at the same time?
There will be a maximum of four participants taking part in the experience, so there will be plenty of opportunities for all to get involved.
Will there be someone qualified with the participants?
Yes, our experienced education team will be with them at all times to explain and supervise the activities.
Is it dangerous?
Working with any animal always carries a degree of risk, but the participants will be fully briefed on what they should and should not do in any situation and they will be fully supervised at all times. We will take all necessary precautions and as long as participants do as they are instructed by the activity leader, then there should not be any particular danger in the activities.
What happens if the weather is bad?
The weather should not affect the experience, although the itinerary may be changed if conditions are unsuitable for any aspect of the day. Besides, keepers work in all weather conditions. The experience would only be cancelled and rearranged due to the Park closing in the case of bad snow or high winds.
What should the participants wear?
They should wear comfortable, hard wearing clothes suitable for wearing outdoors in sometimes mucky conditions. Sturdy, flat shoes or boots should be worn that are suitable for wearing in mud.
Will they have a uniform?
All participants will be issued with special keeper vests that they can wear over their clothes for the day. In addition, disposable gloves will be given for the more mucky jobs.
Are refreshments included?
Lunch is included for the child participant in the form of a cold packed lunch which has to be pre-ordered before the experience date. Children and accompanying parents are also free to bring their own food/ snacks/ drinks if desired.
What’s included in the price?
Price includes: Fun packed 7 hour experience, including various up-close animal encounters, free entry into the Park for an accompanying adult and participant for the entire day, cold packed lunch for the participant, a goody bag and certificate.
Can the participant bring a guest?
An adult must accompany the participant during the experience, but we ask that they to do not attempt to partake in the experience at anytime. Any additional spectators will not be able to attend the briefing and cannot access the Park until 10am and will have to pay normal admission costs. Most of the experience will be on-show to the public so any additional spectators should be able to view most of the experience.
Will I be able to take photographs?
We recommend that the accompanying adult or participant brings a camera to capture some memories of the experience. However, the participant will also be able to carry around a camera if they wish, but it should be able to fit comfortably in a secure pocket.
How often will the sessions be running?
Experiences run on some weekends during school term time and weekdays during school holidays with one experience per day. Dates are very limited and have to be booked through the website.
What should I expect to be sent in the post?
Once you book directly onto a date, then you will be sent a confirmation letter with an experience ticket attached, sample itinerary, terms and conditions, map of the Park and health and safety forms and a lunch order form, that will need returning before the experience (with a freepost envelope to do so).
Any other questions?
If you have a question which is not covered in this list, please email helen@cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk and we will respond as soon as we can. Please call 01993 823006 if you have any urgent queries.
Please read before making your booking.
Health and Safety
Keeper for a day experience participants must be aged 17 or over and Junior participants must be aged between 7 and 16 years old.
Whilst every effort is made to accommodate those with a disability or learning difficulty, or if the person in question suffers from an immune suppressant illness, due to practicalities and health and safety this cannot always be achieved. Please contact us immediately so we can discuss this. A specially adapted schedule may have to be arranged due to access restrictions.
All participants must complete a health questionnaire as soon as it is received and return it to the Park no less than 4 weeks before the experience. A self-addressed envelope is provided for returning your completed form. Participants are also advised to familiarise themselves with the Park’s Health and Safety guidelines (a health and safety briefing will be held at the start of the day).
Participants must abide by the instructions given to them by members of Cotswold Wildlife Park staff at all times. We reserve the right to ask any participant to leave the site should they behave in an inappropriate or unsafe manner.
We cannot be held responsible for the weather conditions. Much of the day will be outside and could be muddy! Please bring warm and waterproof clothing and footwear for bad weather days and remember hats and sunscreen in nice weather. We reserve the right to cancel an experience due to exceptional weather, namely snow, and an alternative date will be arranged.
We reserve the right to cancel your experience if you arrive more than 10 minutes after your start time, unless you have contacted us in advance.
Booking and Cancellation
Full payment must be made at the time of booking.
Due to the popularity of the keeper experiences, once booked, the date cannot be changed or rearranged. If you are no longer able to attend the experience, you will be offered a refund as outlined below.
Cancellations made more than thirty days prior to the experience will be refunded the full amount paid for the experience. Cancellations made fourteen to thirty days prior to the event will incur a 50% cancellation fee (50% of the original purchase price will be refunded).
If an experience is cancelled less than fourteen days before it is due to take place, no refund will be given. Cotswold Wildlife Park will consider full refunds in exceptional circumstances, such as illness, injury or bereavement. Work commitments, holidays or other events are not considered exceptional circumstances.
Cotswold Wildlife Park cannot guarantee the availability of all animals and exhibits mentioned in our literature and reserve the right to amend the itinerary wherever appropriate.
One complimentary ticket for a member of family or a friend is provided; any other guests must pay the normal admission price. Guests will not be able to take part in any of the keeper for the day activities and will only have access to the Park from 10am.
