[Columbia, SC] - Kids are invited to take a walk on the wild side at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden’s popular spring and summer camp programs. Whether it’s a three day adventure in the Botanical Garden or a week of wild activities throughout the Zoo, Riverbanks is sure to please campers this spring and summer.

ZOOm! Into Spring, a specialty camp that focuses on Riverbanks’ Botanical Garden, will run two separate weeks, April 2-4 and 9-11. Kids ages 6 to 10 can celebrate the spring season with hands-on activities, animal encounters, behind-the-scenes tours, arts and crafts, games and an Easter egg hunt in the Garden! Camp runs from 9am to 3pm and costs $100 for Riverbanks Society members and $130 for the general public. Space is limited, so parents are encouraged to register now by going online to www.riverbanks.org or by calling to request an application by mail.

Summer camp, including KinderCamp for 4- to 5-year-olds, Wild Weeks for 6- to 11-year-olds, and Adventure Camp for 12- to 15-year-olds, begins June 4. Parents can choose from eight one-week sessions, four of which are in June, with four more weeks beginning after the July 4th holiday. Registration begins March 5.

KinderCamp is the best camp around for the young animal lovers out there! Each day kindercampers will explore an exciting animal theme ranging from birds and fish to reptiles and mammals. Children will enjoy hands-on activities, zoo walkabouts, scavenger hunts, crafts and games.

Wild Weeks campers will learn about the fascinating wildlife at Riverbanks and beyond through unique curriculums set up specifically for their age group. Campers ages 6 to 7 will focus on “Animal Olympians.” In this program, campers will learn all about animal athletes and the skills that help them compete in the everyday “game” of survival. “Creature Feature” is for children ages 8 to 9 and explores different vertebrate and invertebrate groups. Campers will learn how to identify different animal groups based on appearance. Kids ages 10 to 11 can discover the “Weird and Wild” this summer through a program that focuses on animals that look, act, eat, move and live in weird and wild ways on our planet.

Adventure Camp is a diverse camp for 12- to 15-year-olds that explores different avenues of nature and the environment. Throughout the week programs will focus on exhibit design, animal enrichment and animal husbandry at the Zoo. Campers will travel to various areas in Columbia to partake in wild adventures each day.

KinderCamp begins at 8:30 am each day and ends at noon. Wild Weeks and Adventure Camp both run from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm. KinderCamp is $100 for Riverbanks Society members and $150 for the general public. Wild Weeks is $160 for Society members and $210 for the general public, and Adventure Camp is $230 for Society members and $280 for the general public.

An extended stay and play option is available for both ZOOm! Into Spring and the Summer Camp 2007 program for an additional $40. This will allow campers to play at the Zoo until 5:15 pm. Early drop-offs begin at 8:20 am.

Parents can register their children for all three summer programs as well as ZOOm! Into Spring online at www.riverbanks.org or by mail. The same program is repeated throughout the summer, so campers should only sign up for one week. For more information on any of Riverbanks’ camp programs or to request a registration form, call (803) 779-8717, x1113.