Teen Learning Lab FAQs

We are unable to provide supervision for youth not in high school.

The Teen Learning Lab has mentors from almost every career field at Shedd Aquarium, including exhibit design, animal care, animal training, husbandry, technology, marketing and many others. Mentors bring projects to the Teen Learning Lab when they need your help or ideas. Working alongside a mentor, you can gain an inside look into new career fields and get hands-on experience with their projects.

If you would like to bring a group to the lab, please email [email protected] and tell us more about your group and what your needs are.

A hackerspace/makerspace is “a community-operated workspace where people with common interests, often in computers, technology, science, digital art, or electronic art, can meet, socialize and/or collaborate.”

Yes, please bring your school ID with you.

The Teen Learning Lab is free.

Aside from Shedd staff, no. We ask that this space be used as it was intended: for teens only!

The Teen Learning Lab is a space driven by your interests. Teen Learning Lab mentors can work with you to develop almost any project you’d like to start, including school or science fair projects. Due to aquarium policies and the limited use of some resources, some projects may not be possible in the Teen Learning Lab.

Our community projects are teen-driven group projects that meet regularly in the Teen Learning Lab. Any high school teen is welcome to join us for our community projects.

Teen Orientations are open to anyone who is considered a high school student. This includes teens who are in high school-equivalent homeschool environments. For more information about this requirement, please contact [email protected].

The safety of students during Teen Orientations is a top priority. Two adult staff members are always present, and security staffers are also on site. Email [email protected] for all safety questions.

You can get involved in the Teen Learning Lab just by coming during any of our open hours. There is no registration required.

Teens in high school.

When you arrive at Shedd Aquarium, please enter at the Accessible Entrance and ask any nearby staff to direct you to the Teen Learning Lab.

If you are new to the Teen Learning Lab, we suggest you attend one of our orientations.