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School Program Policies

A Shedd researcher holds a turtle found during a survey of amphibians in southern Illinois.

Learn with Animals Travel Time Policy

To be eligible for this program, and for the health and safety of animals, your school must be located within an hour drive from Shedd Aquarium. If travel conditions have become such that the commute time from Shedd is longer than 1 hour, teachers can choose to reschedule the planned program or modify it to be without a live animal participant.

If Chicago Public Schools are closed due to weather, all scheduled programs will be cancelled - regardless of school district affiliation. To find if CPS has canceled classes, please check the CPS Press Release Page and/or Chicago Area School Emergency Closings Center.

Nature Field Trips Inclement Weather Policy

Safety is the first priority for our program staff and participants. Nature Field Trips can proceed in inclement conditions if participants are well-prepared with proper clothing, the school contact agrees the conditions are ok for programming and conditions do not fall within cancellation guidelines. 

Cancelation guidelines account for air quality concerns, low and high temperatures, excessive wind and precipitation. If weather creates conditions that are unsafe or our staff cannot reach the program location, Shedd will reach out to cancel the program 24 hours in advance, if possible. Teachers can choose if they’d like an In-School Program to be facilitated in lieu of the cancelled Nature Field Trip.

If Chicago Public Schools are closed due to weather, all scheduled programs will be cancelled - regardless of school district affiliation. To find if CPS has canceled classes, please check the CPS Press Release Page and/or Chicago Area School Emergency Closings Center.