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Extraordinary Experiences
Are you looking for a Shedd experience that’s a little more special, more personal, more in-depth? Whether it’s a guided tour behind the scenes or a fabulous sustainable seafood dinner, we’ve got experiences you’ll never forget.
Extraordinary Experiences Club
Join the club and do it all—the tour, the belugas and penguins, and the training sessions—and enjoy a 25 percent discount on the total retail value of the four extraordinary experiences.
When you join the Extraordinary Experiences Club, you’ll receive
• A behind-the-scenes tour for you and a guest; all-day admission to all of Shedd’s exhibits; admission to the 4-D Experience; and VIP seating for our aquatic show
• A penguin encounter for you and a guest; all-day admission; 4-D Experience; and VIP seating for the show
• A beluga encounter for you and all-day admission, plus 25 percent off the regular program price for a friend
• Trainer for a Day session for you and all-day admission, plus 25 percent off the regular program price for a friend
Please note: Club registrants must participate in all four experiences within one year of purchase date. Several programs have minimum age and height requirements; see individual listings on this page for details. Experiences are subject to availability. Not redeemable for cash. Not valid toward previous purchase. Void if copied or transferred.
For more information and to join call 312-692-3224.
Beluga Encounter
Meet the belugas where they live, in Shedd’s newest extraordinary experience! Your beluga encounter begins as Shedd’s animal experts lead you through an informative orientation about training and animal care, the beluga you’ll meet and the best way to have a safe and fun experience. Then you’ll pull on waders to enter the fully accessible Grainger Beluga Encounter Habitat. Standing side by side with a trainer on an underwater ledge, you’ll be face to face with a whale! You’ll touch the beluga’s skin, try a few training techniques and enjoy some surprises. At the conclusion, you’ll receive a framed photo to remember this experience – as if you could ever forget it!
$250 a person
Members: $225 a person
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays
Morning and afternoon sessions are available.
Participants must be at least 10 years old and 60 inches tall. Children ages 10-15 must be accompanied by a participating paid adult. No photography or video recording.
Check out photos and videos of the experience. Send your family and friends a beluga encounter e-card.
Inquire online or call 312-692-2730.
Trainer for a Day
Pull on a pair of our tall rubber boots and go behind the scenes to experience what it’s like to be a marine mammal trainer. You’ll assist a trainer with daily routines and experience several training and feeding sessions. From the Abbott Oceanarium kitchen, where meals for five dozen animals are prepared every day, to reserve areas, to poolside in a habitat, you’ll see what it takes to care for the belugas, dolphins, sea otters, sea lions and penguins. This behind-the-scenes opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Ages 12 and older. Children ages 12 to 15 must be accompanied by a paying adult.
$350 a person for 4 hours
Members: $325 a person for 4 hours
Fridays and Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.
No photography or video recording. Inquire online or call 312-692-3224.
Penguin Encounter
Imagine the thrill of having a penguin waddle up to meet you! During Shedd’s new 30-minute penguin encounter, you’ll be introduced to one of our outgoing penguins and even get to touch its sleek, slick feathers. A trainer will also tell you fascinating facts about Shedd’s penguin population.
Penguin encounters are offered on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Each session is limited to 10 people, so book your encounter in advance by calling 312-692-3355.
Children must be at least 4 years old, and kids 4 to 11 must be accompanied by a paying guardian. For the well-being of the birds, one chaperone is required for each 4- to 6-year-old.
Prices: $59.95 for adults, $50.95 for children
Save $1 when you book the package in advance by phone. Discounts are available for members or guests who already have aquarium tickets.
Includes 30-minute penguin encounter, a 4x6 photo of you and your new penguin friend, all-access admission with express entry, tickets to the aquatic show and admission to the special exhibit, Jellies.
(Please note that this is not a feeding program. Photography and video are not permitted during the encounter or anywhere behind the scenes of the aquarium.)
Behind-the-Scenes Tours
See Shedd from the perspective of our animal care staff during a 50-minute guided behind-the-scenes tour. At the animal healthcare center, you’ll see how preventive care keeps the animals healthy. Then you’ll go behind the galleries to view the animals from a new angle, learn about breeding programs, see nutritious meals prepared for a wide range of tastes and witness Shedd Aquarium at work. Participants must be 55 inches or taller.
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
General Behind-the-Scenes Tour
Price: $18 a person
Behind-the-Scenes Tour and Admission Package
Includes a behind-the-scenes tour, express entry and admission to all exhibits, a ticket to the aquatic show and admission to the special exhibit, Jellies.
Prices: $47.95 for adults, $38.95 for children
Save $1 when you book the package in advance by phone.
Behind-the-Scenes Tour, Admission and 4-D Experience Package
Includes everything above, plus admission to the the Happy Feet 4-D Experience.
Prices: $51.95 for adults, $42.95 for children
Save $1 when you book the package in advance by phone.
Inquire online or call 312-692-2723.
Please note: Photography and video recording are not permitted behind the scenes.
Asleep with the Fishes Group Overnights
Grab your pajamas and sleeping bag, and join us for a nighttime aquatic adventure with your favorite Shedd animals. Before snuggling into your sleeping bag, immerse yourself in the underwater world with special experiences, games and hands-on activities. Rise with the sun, enjoy a continental breakfast and check out how your aquatic friends start the day. These programs are geared for young people ages 6 to 12.
Spring 2012 Dates
Jan. 20, Feb. 10, Feb. 24 (SOLD OUT), March 9 (SOLD OUT) and March 23
Friday, 6:30 p.m. – Saturday, 8:30 a.m.
$65 per child or adult ($60 for Shedd members). Membership must be noted on your reservation form to receive the discount. Discounts will not be applied after the reservation is made. Your fee includes admission to the aquarium, Oceanarium and Wild Reef, animal presentations, activities, dinner, bedtime snack and continental breakfast.
Group overnights are designed for community-based groups with young people ages 6 to 12. We cannot accommodate school groups.
Due to space constraints, for 2012 we have a new air mattress policy with fee attached. This fee will be due at time of registration. Good alternatives to air mattresses include inflatable pool mats or camping pads.
Would you like to register? Download our group overnight registration form.
Download our roster template to send in with your registration information.
Have a question about group overnights? Check the group overnight FAQ page.
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Programs and classes
We offer programs and classes to make everybody in your family happy. Learn about programs for families, adults and kids.
