It’s no secret that incongruity is the basis of a good deal of humor—and creativity. Putting things together which normally don’t rub shoulders with each other is a surefire way to spark new relationships and sometimes unleash startling, surprising and enjoyable results.
Take overnight camping in museums, for example. That’s been a mainstay of family adventure outings for years. I remember when my wife and daughters camped out with friends in one of Chicago’s museums. Now, zoos are taking a page out of museums’ camping book.
Overnight programs at zoos have been around for a while, especially abroad. But they’ve gained popularity in the United States recently. And if the enthusiastic response from fledgling zoo campers has any impact on program planners, they’re bound to keep growing.
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C. calls their overnight program Snore and Roar. The renowned San Diego Zoo puts more emphasis on the roar part, calling their sleepover Roar and Snore.
But whatever these all-nighters are named, bleared-eye campers of all ages are calling them Grrrreat. Check out other examples at the North Carolina Zoological Society in Asheboro, NC, the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and the Phoenix Zoo. To locate programs close to you, check with zoos in your area to see if they have such programs. If they don’t, suggest they consider starting one.
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