Mom saw an email with a Busch Gardens Camp for 4-H youth. It was hosted by Missouri 4-H but they allowed Florida youth to join their camp. E and I were the only two Florida youth. I was in the Zoo Apprentice program and E in the Jr. Apprentice program. My group got work tasks daily of working in various animal habitats. I worked with the tigers, reptiles, and rhinos areas. We had to clean habitats and stop some rather large animal droppings.
Each day we had a morning of work and then the afternoon and evening was fun in the park. We were able to go right to the front of the lines so got to ride all the rides in the parks. After dinner we would go back shower and have cabin games and discussions about our days work.
One day we got to take a trip to Sea World and had all the same luxuries there.
This was an excellent camp and taught me a lot about animal husbandry and what it takes to care for these exotic animals. We traveled in style in the Busch Gardens trucks. The food was great since we basically went to the park restaurants and had a waiver to get what we wanted at each meal.
We even got to spend News Years Eve at the park and watch the fireworks from the lodge parking area. I am sad to leave but know that this experience will forever help guide me on my journey of life.
My bunk 
common room 
more common room 
learning about our schedule 
seeing hippos 
giraffes 
cobras curse 
cheetah hunt 
feeding the giraffe because I was a “tall” 
ready for work 
ice skating show 
Kumba 
Sheekrah 
tigris 
work boots 
early bus 
fancy transportatioon 
seaward fun 
orcas 
maku 
penguins 
atlantis 
the crew 
kraken 
animal shows 
work rotation 
crew photo 
final ride to the lodge 
goodbye camp!
