An exciting milestone for Ewaso Lions’ Lion Kids Camp

One of the most exciting aspects of conservation is investing in the next generation. Through the Mabel Dorn Reeder Conservation Endowment Fund, Zoo Atlanta is proud to support three Lion Kids Camps this year in partnership with Ewaso Lions, helping to provide young people in Kenya with opportunities to connect with wildlife and conservation.

 

We are so honored to support this project and to share that Lion Kids Camp is celebrating an exciting milestone: the opening of its newly upgraded facilities in Samburu National Reserve.

Since 2013, Lion Kids Camp has inspired children through hands-on conservation education and immersive experiences in nature. Over the years, the program continued to grow, welcoming more young people and fostering curiosity, confidence, and a passion for protecting wildlife. However, the camp’s infrastructure struggled to keep pace. Aging tents, limited utilities, and temporary structures made it increasingly difficult to expand and deepen the program’s impact.

 

Today, that is no longer the case!

 

What was once a collection of temporary facilities has been transformed into a permanent learning space designed to support both education and wellbeing. The upgraded camp features new learning and dining areas, improved accommodation, enhanced kitchen facilities, solar power, and other improvements that will provide a stronger foundation for future campers.

The transformation is about far more than buildings. It represents an investment in young people and their potential to become future conservation leaders.

 

Before the camp officially welcomed children back, community members gathered for a traditional Samburu blessing, celebrating not only a new facility but a shared commitment to conservation, education, and opportunity. The project itself was also deeply rooted in the local community, with nearly 200 community members contributing to its construction.

While our support through the Mabel Dorn Reeder Conservation Endowment Fund grant helps fund camp experiences for participating youth, it is inspiring to see the broader partnerships and investments that have created such an incredible home for the program. The newly upgraded camp will provide an even more impactful environment for the children who attend this year’s sessions.

 

Lion Kids Camp now reaches hundreds of children each year, creating opportunities for young people to learn about wildlife, build leadership skills, and develop a lifelong connection to conservation. The physical transformation of the camp is complete, but the real work, the work of inspiring future conservation leaders, is just beginning. 

(Photo courtesy of Ewaso Lions)

 

Taylor I.
Carnivore Keeper