Open 9 am - 6 pm
A sea star sits on a bed of fine white sand.

An unforgettable day of learning

From the feel of a sea star’s skin to a glimpse of a bowmouth guitarfish, a day at Shedd can bring classroom learning to life. Navigate the aquatic world of Shedd for an exciting and educational adventure.

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A white faced whistling duck in Amazon Rising peers back at curious visitors looking in through the glass wall of its habitat.

Explore the programs

From being habitat designers to doing a squid dissection, your classroom can expand your curriculum with learning programs on animal behavior, habitats, adaptations, ecosystems, anatomy and water chemistry.

See all the programs


Illinois school groups visit free!

Groups from K-12 Illinois schools certified by the Illinois Board of Education, along with Illinois homeschools, will receive group admission plus the free (aquatic presentation subject to availability). A 4-D Experience can be added for a fee (subject to availability).


An excited young visitor pokes her head out of the window of a visiting school bus pulled into the circle drive.

Planning your field trip

Getting ready for a great day at Shedd with your classroom? Watch our orientation video to see how to make the most of your visit! You can also explore our field trip FAQs and resources. 

Field Trip FAQs