Plan a Visit
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.
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 ($225 members) 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.
Begin your reservation 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 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 12-15 must accompanied by a paying adult
Price: $350 ($325 members) a person for 4 hrs
Fridays and Saturdays
8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. or 1:30–5:30 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. Book your encounter in advance by calling 312-692-3355.
Morning and afternoon encounters take place every day, through Sept. 6. Beginning Sept. 10, penguin encounters will be offered on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Each session is limited to 10 people. 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.
Penguin Encounter
Includes a free 4x6 photo of you and your new penguin friend
Price: $25 a person (does not include aquarium admission)
Penguin Encounter and Admission Package
Pet a penguin and avoid lines! Includes 30-minute penguin encounter, all-access admission with express entry, and tickets to Fantasea and the Happy Feet 4-D Experience
Prices: $56.95 for adults, $49.95 for children
(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.)
HAPPY FEET and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s10)
Behind-the-Scenes Tours
During this 50-minute tour your guide will show you Shedd from the perspective of our animal care staff. You’ll visit the animal healthcare center, where preventive care keeps the collection healthy. Then you’ll go behind the galleries to view the animals from a new angle, learn about breeding programs, see where nutritious meals are prepared for a wide range of tastes, and witness the aquarium at work. Participants must be 55 inches or taller.
May 31 through Sept. 6: Daily at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Sept. 7 through May 30, 2011: Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
General Behind-the-Scenes Tour
Price: $14 a person
Premium Behind-the-Scenes Tour and Admission Package
Includes Total Experience pass (aquarium, Oceanarium, Wild Reef, Fantasea show)
Prices: $41.95 for adults, $34.95 for children
Inquire online or call 312-692-2723.
Please note: Photography and video recording are not permitted behind the scenes.
VIP Fantasea Day at Shedd Aquarium
Let Shedd plan your visit! Start with valet parking and all-admission tickets waiting for you. Then we’ll help you make the most of your time by scheduling a 50-minute behind-the-scenes tour (including the animal hospital), VIP seats for the amazing Fantasea show, a delightful 30-minute penguin encounter, lunch and the Happy Feet 4-D Experience. You’ll still have plenty of time for a self-guided tour of the aquarium to see your favorite animals – and new ones, too! It’s the ultimate day at Shedd!
This program begins in June, but you can make reservations now for your summer vacation VIP Fantasea Day by calling 312-692-3355.
Price: $275 a person ($250 Shedd members)
Participants must be at least 10 years old and 55 inches tall. Children ages 10 to15 must be accompanied by a participating paid adult. Photography and video recording are not permitted during the penguin encounter or anywhere behind the scenes in the aquarium.
HAPPY FEET and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s10)
Right Bite Dinner Series
Indulge in a sustainable seafood dinner while enjoying news and views of Shedd and lively discussions about the natural world. Each restaurant will feature an environmentally friendly menu of appetizers, entrées, wine and desserts created exclusively for this event.
Dinner begins at 6 p.m. Seating is limited, and advance registration is required.
Price: $75 a person per dinner ($65 for members)
Registration is closed. Join our e-mail list for news about upcoming programs.
Overnights
Grab your sleeping bag and pillow and join us for an overnight adventure at Shedd. Before snuggling into your sleeping bag, immerse yourself in the many aquatic environments through special programs, games and hands-on activities. In the morning, enjoy a continental breakfast and visit with the animals once more before your journey comes to an end. These programs are geared for children in kindergarten to 6th grade.
Price: $55 per person (adult or child)
Download the brochure to learn about upcoming dates and registration.
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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.
