Big Trip 2023 – Atlanta Zoo Nightcrawlers

Good Morning Pack Families! We are closing in on our 2023 Big Trip Adventure to the Atlanta Zoo NightCrawlers as well as the Fernbank Science Center and Planetarium!

For families attending the Fernbank Science Center event, admission to the center is free and your fee covers admission to the Planetarium show! We will be watching “Asteroid: Mission Extreme” @ 2pm in the Plantetarium theatre. We are requesting all families be at the science center by 1pm in order to have enough time to get tickets distributed to those that purchased tickets to this event.

Address: 156 Heaton Park Drive, Atlanta GA 30307

From here, our check in time at the Atlanta Zoo is by 5:45PM sharp! Please arrive slightly beforehand and makes sure you have eaten prior to attending! I am attaching a list of restaurants along the way to the zoo in case you need suggestions to grab dinner before arriving. There will be a light snack served during the program and very light breakfast the next morning! If you think you or your children will get hungry, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages may be brought for the evening.

Big Trip NightCrawlers @ the Atlanta Zoo: Time of arrival by no later than 5:45PM!

Address: 800 Cherokee Avenue SE, Atlanta GA 30315

Schedule: (subject to change)
6:00-6:30 Arrival
6:30-10:00PM Activities
11:00PM Lights Out
7:00AM Wake-up and Pack-up
8:00AM Breakfast
8:45AM Activities
9:30AM Finished – Enjoy the zoo or head home!

Parking at Atlanta Zoo:

Please park in the Cherokee Avenue parking lot. Overnight parking is $6 per vehicle.

What to Bring to Atlanta Zoo:

– Sleeping bag and pillow
– Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, washcloth, etc.)
– Pajamas
– Weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable closed toe shoes! (there will be lots of walking)

What NOT to Bring to Atlanta Zoo:

– Air mattresses are discouraged unless they are Twin Sized
– Children may not have flashlights (adults may as long as they are not used during indoor programs times)
– Alcohol is prohibited during the NightCrawler program. Smoking is prohibited during the NightCrawler program.

Accommodations:

– Groups will share an indoor, co-ed sleeping location with other families, please try to keep families separated by a spacing from each other.
– Each facility is a short well-lit walk to restrooms and is climate controlled with limited power outlets. There are no shower facilities available.

Restaurants on the way from Fernbank to Zoo Atlanta:

Shake Shack Old Fourth Ward
670 DeKalb Ave. NE. Suite 103 Atlanta, GA 30312

Fox Brothers Barbecue
1238 DeKalb Ave. NE.Atlanta, GA 30307

Willy’s Mexicana Grill
1230 Caroline St. NE. Atlanta, GA 30307

Hattie B’s Hot Chicken
299 Moreland Ave. NE.Atlanta, GA 30307

Nina and Raffi‘s Pizza
661 Auburn Ave. NE. Suite 220Atlanta, GA 30312

Planet Bombay
619 Edgewood Ave. Suite 102Atlanta, GA 30312

Daddy D’s BBQ Joint
264 Memorial Dr. SE.Atlanta, GA 30312

Tin Lizzy’s Cantina
415 Memorial Dr. SE.Atlanta, GA 30312

Fire Pit Pizza Tavern
519 Memorial Dr. SE.Atlanta, GA 30312

Grant Central Pizza and Pasta
451 Cherokee Ave. SE.Atlanta, GA 30312

Date: February 25th – February 26th

Time: Fernbank Science Center TBD, Nightcrawler Zoo Sleepover 6:00PM-9:30AM

Cost: Nightcrawler Zoo Sleepover $89 per scout and $89 per adult, Fernbank Science Center $5 per scout and $10 per adult

Slots: 44 Adult, 45 Kids (Limit is ONE adult PER scout)

Daytime Activity: Fernbank Science Center and Planetarium

It’s that time of the year!  Our Big Trip is approaching and we are headed to a Nightcrawler Sleep Over at the Atlanta Zoo on February 25th 2023.  This event is the night before the Blue and Gold banquet, which will take place on February 26th back in John’s Creek.

At this time we are requesting sign-ups from those who are planning on attending.  This will be a popular event with limited space, therefore it is a first come, first serve sign-up.  In addition, due to our increased pack size over the last year, most places are unable to accept our entire pack family (scouts, parents, grandparents, siblings, etc) therefore, we are limiting sign-ups to One parent/guardian PER scout.  This means, if you have 1 scout, you get one adult and if you have 2 scouts, you get 2 adults and so on.  We also cannot accommodate other family or non-scout siblings at this time due to limited space.  Should we have more space as the date approaches and open slots, we will assess at that time what to do with the extra slots.

Timing will be 6:00PM (February 25th) – 9:30AM (February 26th).  The cost is $89 per scout and $89 per adult attending the Nightcrawler portion and $5 per scout and $10 per adult attending Fernbank Science Center.  If for some reason your schedule should change and you must back-out, please contact the pack to free up your slots and you can receive a refund up until January 15th, 2023.  After this date you will either need to find someone who was unable to attend to fill your slots or you will forfeit your payment.

Timing for the Nightcrawlers will be 6:00PM sharp on February 25th until 9:30AM on February 26th.  Timing of the Fernbank Science Center is TBD for the initial meet-up at this time as we currently do not have the planetarium schedule for 2023 yet (however, it will likely be before lunchtime).  More information will be made available via email regarding the scheduling.

Keep in mind, you may choose to only come to the Atlanta Zoo Nightcrawler event if you so wish and not attend the Fernbank Science Center.  All parties are responsible for having dinner prior to coming to the zoo as no dinner is provided at the location.  A light breakfast will be served at the zoo the morning of the departure.

Please remember, this is not an event you may send just your scout to, a parent/guardian must be present with the scout.

***If you’re child sold popcorn in abundance of covering their dues and has scout credit to use, you may choose to use these funds via the coupon code you were emailed or save them and use them for other activities such as the spring campout, etc.*** 

Finally, as stated above, more information will be forthcoming regarding Big Trip 2023 in email as the date approaches!  For now, please sign-up if you are attending and save the date!  If you have questions regarding Big Trip, please contact our coordinator of the trip, Samantha Chiu via email: sammychiu720@gmail.com