For two weekends at the San Diego Zoo, father gets the night off — with the kids. Dad can forget the hassle of hauling gear and provisions to the woods or desert to just enjoy the camping facilities provided by the zoo, including tents. The dates are June 12 to 13 and June 18 to 19. It’s part of the zoo’s busy and diverse summer programs with plant tours, an artist camp and other family-geared activity. The camp-out for the dads will include a buffet dinner and breakfast while the nighttime atmosphere will accentuate the jungle-like sounds of the wild. Included, too, is a night hike to see what animals are up to when the sun goes down. There will be special viewing of California condors, New Guinea singing dogs and a chance to meet a wolf. Reservations are required and the event does fill up fast. • The zoo’s professional artists and art teachers will try to inspire creativity for beginners. Five-day sessions include group and individual art instruction with animal models up close. This month these sessions are scheduled for June 14 to 18 and June 21 to 25. • On the third Friday of each month visitors can visit a world-class botanical garden. There are approximately 700,000 plants on the grounds that create the lush, peaceful landscape. • The orchid greenhouse, home to more than 3,000 orchid plants from more than 800 species, varieties, and cultivators, will be open June 6 to visitors during Orchid Odyssey. The greenhouse is located on the path just west of the African Kopje’s meerkats. • An animal enrichment discussion by zoo keepers will be conducted June 19 and 20. They’ll explain special activities for the animals, Enrichment for the animals is accomplished by adding to an animal’s environment or changing that environment to satisfy an animal’s physical and psychological needs. For information and reservations to zoo programs, call (619) 718-3000 or (800) 407-9534.