Steppin' Out Ponies and Petting Zoo
Groups: Tiny Tots and Kindergarten
On-Campus Special Event
Some experiences are so purely joyful that they need no explanation. A pony. A petting zoo. A group of Tiny Tots and Kindergarteners experiencing both for the first time on their very own campus. Steppin’ Out Ponies and Petting Zoo has been bringing the joy of farm animals to Long Island families for over 35 years and they are Board of Health Certified, insured, and genuinely wonderful with young children. For two hours, our TT and KK campers get pony rides, meet friendly farm animals up close, and experience the kind of morning that parents hear about at the dinner table for weeks afterward.
- Event Dates: Check your campus calendar for scheduling.
- This is an on-campus event. Normal drop-off and pick-up schedules apply.
- Duration: Approximately two hours.
- Spending Money: Not needed. This event is fully included and there is nothing to purchase.
- What to Bring: Comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes are recommended for interacting with farm animals.
- Weather: For our campers and the animals safety this event cannot take place if it rains. On the rare occasion of a rainy day, campus programming will continue as normal.
What Campers Experience
Steppin’ Out Ponies and Petting Zoo transforms the campus into a mini farm for two hours of hands-on animal experiences designed perfectly for our TT and KK age group. Every camper gets a pony ride, guided safely by the Steppin’ Out Ponies team who are experienced, certified, and genuinely wonderful with young children. The petting zoo brings an assortment of friendly farm animals right onto campus including ducks, pigs, alpacas, and the small goats that consistently become the most popular attraction of the entire visit.
CRU staff supervise all campers throughout the event alongside the Steppin’ Out Ponies team, and the entire experience is structured to make sure every camper feels comfortable, safe, and fully supported at every step. For campers who need a moment to warm up to the animals, counselors are right there alongside them. For the campers who are ready to pet everything immediately, there is plenty to go around. The animals are clearly well loved and exceptionally well cared for, and the Steppin’ Out Ponies team brings the same warmth and professionalism to every visit that has made them a Long Island institution for over three decades.
Highlights
- Pony Rides. Every camper gets a pony ride guided safely by the Steppin’ Out Ponies team. For many of our TT and KK campers this will be their very first time on a pony. That moment is everything.
- The Petting Zoo. Ducks, pigs, alpacas, and the small goats that steal the show every single time. The Steppin’ Out Ponies petting zoo brings a genuine variety of friendly, well-cared-for farm animals right onto the CRU campus.
- 35 Years of Long Island Family Trust. Steppin’ Out Ponies and Petting Zoo has been serving Long Island families for over 35 years. They are Board of Health Certified, insured, and their animals are genuinely loved and exceptionally well cared for. This is a team with a track record that speaks for itself.
- Right on Campus. The farm comes to us. No buses, no travel, no packing up and heading out. Two hours of pony rides and farm animal encounters happen right on the campus our campers know and love.
- Built for This Age Group. Everything about the Steppin’ Out Ponies experience is calibrated for young children. The team knows how to work with kids this age, how to introduce animals gently, and how to make sure every camper has a positive and memorable experience regardless of their prior experience with animals.
Why We Love It
We love Steppin’ Out Ponies for the same reason we love every partner we bring to our youngest campers: they take it seriously. The animals are healthy, happy, and handled by professionals who have been doing this for over three decades. The experience they create for young children is genuine, warm, and thoughtfully designed. And the look on a TT camper’s face the first time they reach out and touch a baby goat or sit on a pony is the kind of moment that reminds us exactly why we do this.
Two organizations that have been part of the Long Island family for a combined 65 plus years, doing something simple and joyful and completely irreplaceable for the smallest members of our camp community. That is what Steppin’ Out Ponies day at CRU is. That is why it is on the calendar every summer.
FAQ
Steppin’ Out Ponies is available to Tiny Tots and Kindergarten campers only. It is designed specifically for our youngest CRU campers.
Yes! Steppin’ Out Ponies is included in the standard Camps ‘R’ Us summer program at no additional cost for all Tiny Tots and KinderKamper campers.
Yes. Every Tiny Tots and KinderKamper camper gets a pony ride guided safely by the experienced and certified Steppin’ Out Ponies team. Rides are age-appropriate, fully supervised, and handled by professionals who have been working with young children and animals for over 35 years.
The petting zoo typically includes ducks, pigs, alpacas, and small goats. Animals may vary by visit but the Steppin’ Out Ponies team always brings a wonderful and friendly assortment of farm animals that are perfectly suited for young children.
Yes. Steppin’ Out Ponies and Petting Zoo is Board of Health Certified and insured. Their animals are clearly loved and exceptionally well cared for, and their team is experienced in working safely and gently with young children. CRU staff also supervise all campers throughout the entire event.
That is completely okay and our counselors are prepared for it. Staff will be right alongside every camper throughout the event to support, encourage, and make sure every child feels comfortable at their own pace. There is no pressure to interact with any animal your camper is not ready for.
Comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes are recommended for interacting with farm animals. Please avoid sandals or open-toe footwear on this day.
No. This event is fully included and there is nothing to purchase.
No. CRU is a phone-free and camera-free environment for all campers across every event and every program. All photography is handled exclusively by designated CRU staff who have undergone extensive background checks.
For our campers and the animals safety, Steppin Out Ponies cannot take place if it rains. Campus programming will continue as normal on rain days. Please check your campus calendar and CampMinder for any updates.
Dates vary by campus and are updated regularly throughout the summer. Please check your campus calendar for scheduling.
This EVENT IS Part of Something Bigger
Steppin’ Out Ponies is one of the many special experiences offered as part of the Camps ‘R’ Us summer program, one of Long Island’s most trusted day camp experiences for kids from Tiny Tots through Grade 8. With campuses across Nassau and Suffolk County including Syosset, Farmingdale, Massapequa, Bellmore, Hicksville, East Rockaway, Saint James, Kings Park, Williston Park and more, CRU offers families a screen-free, activity-packed summer built around confidence, friendship, and adventure. All programs are ACA accredited.
Camps ‘R’ Us Special Events – Steppin’ Out Ponies and Petting Zoo
