Due to animal care needs, sea lion encounters are temporarily unavailable. Want to be the first to know when this encounter returns? Fill out this form.
Meet a sea lion at Shedd Aquarium! During this 45-minute up-close encounter you will go behind the scenes and interact with Shedd’s California sea lions.
See how intelligent and dynamic sea lions truly are. Witness the incredible relationship Shedd’s animal care team members have with the sea lions while also learning about the challenges these animals face in the wild and the importance of rescue and rehabilitation efforts.
Guests will receive one free digital photo taken by a provided photographer! Additional photos of the experience are available to purchase.
Dates
Check back for future dates!
Time
Sea Lion Encounters begin promptly at 1:45 p.m. Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled encounter time.
Ages
6 years old and up; participants 6 to 17 must be accompanied by a paying adult participant.
For the safety of the animals, no one under the age of 6 may attend the encounter.
Price
Adults (12+): $134.95
Children: $124.95
Members: $108.95
Admission to the aquarium is included with the purchase of a Sea Lion Encounter.
Highlights
Meet Shedd’s sea lions!
Go behind the scenes with animal care team members at Shedd Aquarium.
Participate in a session and learn all about sea lion anatomy, diet and unique behaviors.
Learn about the importance of rescue and rehabilitation and why these animals need our help!
Chat with an animal care specialist and ask all your sea lion questions.
Safety Requirements
Due to the up-close nature of the encounter, please contact us to reschedule if you are sick or experiencing any symptoms for the health and safety of the animals and the caretakers.
Requirements
Minimum age is 6 years old. Guests ages 6-17 must be accompanied by a paying adult, age 18 or older.
Guests will need to understand information and instructions given in English or arrange for a paying translator to participate.
An electronic waiver must be signed by a parent or guardian for any participant 17 years or younger. This waiver will be found in the confirmation email you receive upon purchase.
Please wear comfortable clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty or wet. Be sure to wear rubber-soled shoes; sneakers are recommended. For your safety, please do not wear heels or flip-flops on this encounter.
We recommend that guests with shellfish or seafood allergies avoid participating in this encounter.
Accessibility
We believe there should be no boundaries to your Shedd Aquarium experience. If you have an accommodation request related to a disability, please contact us at [email protected] or 312-692-3355.
Program includes
Crouching and kneeling
Standing for 30 minutes
Parking is available on the Museum Campus in several lots. See more information about parking at Shedd here. Metered parking may also be available on Solidarity Drive up to 10 hours, but only after 8 a.m. Shedd is not responsible for cars ticketed or towed by the City of Chicago. Parking is not permitted on the aquarium's service entrance. Vehicles parked at the service entrance or the bus turnaround may be subject to towing. To learn more about parking on the Museum Campus, visit soldierfieldparking.com.
During this encounter, you may come in contact with shellfish and seafood. For safety, we recommend that guests with shellfish and seafood allergies do not participate.
Those in your party who are not participating in the experience are not permitted to follow along and are not allowed in the behind-the-scenes areas. Please arrange a time and place to meet with your party after your experience.
You may reschedule up to 10 days before your original reservation date; attempting to reschedule in less than 10 days will result in forfeiture of the experience with no exceptions. To reschedule, call 312-692-3355 (Monday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) or email [email protected]. If a participant needs to cancel the encounter and is unable to reschedule, no refund will be made. Please note that all Shedd experiences are nonrefundable.
In the event that Shedd Aquarium needs to reschedule the encounter, the participant will be notified by phone no later than 24 hours before the encounter, and every effort will be made to reschedule the experience. If an alternate date and time is not possible, a full refund will be made to the purchaser.
We believe there should be no boundaries to your Shedd Aquarium experience. If you have an accommodation request related to a disability, please contact us prior to your experience at [email protected] or 312-692-3355.
Email us at [email protected] or call 312-692-3355 with questions. We are unable to take reservations by email.
Refund policy
No refunds. Participants who need to reschedule may do so up to 10 days before their scheduled experience. Otherwise, date and time exchanges cannot be accommodated. For additional details, see our refund and cancellation policy.
Shedd Aquarium prioritizes animal care and wellbeing. Because of this, we reserve the right to modify, cancel and/or reschedule animal encounters at any time. Reasonable accommodations will be made to reschedule guests as effectively as possible.
Pricing
Adults (12+): $134.95
Children: $124.95
Members: $108.95
Admission to the aquarium is included with the purchase of a Sea Lion Encounter.
Entry
Check in at the Member Services Suite in the Atrium up to 15 minutes before your scheduled encounter. Late arrivals may not be able to join the encounter, in which case the experience is forfeited.
Questions?
Email us or call 312-692-3355 with questions. We are unable to take reservations by email.
Accessibility Needs
If you have any accessibility needs, please contact us in advance of your reservation.
Photography
For the safety of the sea lions, pictures will be taken by a provided photographer. One free digital image is included. Opportunities to purchase additional photos are available onsite.
Refund Policy
No refunds. Participants who need to reschedule may do so up to 10 days before their scheduled experience. Otherwise, date and time exchanges cannot be accommodated. For additional details, see our refund and cancellation policy.
