Our Wild Encounters are ideal for small groups of people, unless otherwise noted. Children must be accompanied by an adult, except in Zookeeper Adventure programs. All prices listed are in addition to Zoo admission fees. A variety of program sessions are available for purchase now!
Click the buttons below to reserve a program session or contact us today to inquire about other dates. Zoo Members receive a 12% discount that will apply automatically to your cart when you are logged into the payment system. For FAQs and info about using your Membership Discount, visit our Memberships Page.
*Please Note*
age restrictions described below are firm for each program. Children that are younger than the minimum age listed below will not be able to participate in the program. This is for the safety of both the animals and guests. Thanks for understanding!
Creature Encounter
- All ages welcome!
- Designed especially for groups with children ages 5 and under
- $55 for up to 6 people aged 2 and above; OR $85 for up to 10 people aged 2 and above
- Children under the age of 2 do not count towards the number and are welcome to participate!
- Approximately 30 minutes in length
- You’ll meet up to three different live animals in our private classroom, along with ‘biofacts,’ like fur, feathers, and skull replicas, to learn all about these zoo animals. Kids and adults alike will be able to touch the animals and get up-close and personal with them
- About a week before your program date, we will email you a list of program options to choose from so you can let us know which types of animals you’d like to meet most!
- A variety of animals have the ability to participate in Creature Encounters. These are animals like turtles and tortoises, lizards, guinea pigs, snakes, rabbits, frogs, spiders, armadillos, and more.
- Must be reserved at least 72 hours prior to your visit using the link below
Snow Leopard VIP Experience
- All ages welcome!
- $60 for up to 6 people; children under the age of 2 do not count towards the capacity number and are allowed into the Den as long as they are held by an adult. Strollers are not permitted inside. Every group of up to 6 must include at least one adult
- Approximately twenty minutes in length
- Step inside the Lee & Kathy Anderson Snow Leopard Den to learn about how we care for our cats! Please note that there are no interactions with the cats during this program and cats are not guaranteed to be inside the Den
- Available daily at 10:00 a.m.
- Can be reserved up until 40 minutes prior to program start time. Tickets for this experience are also available at the door up until 30 minutes prior to event start time (when not sold out in advance).
Aldabra Tortoise VIP Experience
- All ages welcome
- $60 for up to 6 people; children under the age of 2 do not count towards the capacity number and are allowed into the Den as long as they are held by an adult. Strollers are not permitted inside. Every group of up to 6 must include at least one adult
- Approximately twenty minutes in length
- Meet our giant tortoises! Go inside of the Aldabra tortoise habitat to learn more about how we care for the tortoises at the NEW Zoo and meet Al & Tootie! Take photos and videos while you’re face to face with our gentle giants
- Can be reserved up until 40 minutes prior to program start time. Tickets for this experience are also available at the door up until 30 minutes prior to program start time (when not sold out in advance).
Giraffe Behind-the-Scenes Encounter
- Participants must be aged 8 or above
- $100 for up to 6 people; or $160 for up to 10 people
- Approximately thirty minutes in length
- Meet our giraffe herd! Go behind-the-scenes to learn more about how we care for the giraffes at the NEW Zoo, and enjoy a private giraffe feeding experience! Take photos and videos while you’re face to face with our gentle giants
- Must be reserved at least 72 hours prior to your visit using the link below
African Penguin Encounter
- Participants must be aged 6 or above
- $150 for up to 6 people; OR $250 for up to 10 people
- Approximately thirty minutes in length
- Learn all about penguins, with a focus on African penguins! Take photos and interact with the bird. Learn about how we care for the penguins at the Zoo, and how we are working to save endangered penguins from extinction – and how you can help, too! Touching of the penguin is not guaranteed, but if the penguin is comfortable with your group and allows touching, we do incorporate it whenever possible
- Must be reserved at least 72 hours prior to your visit using the link below
Penguin Painting Encounter
- Participants must be aged 8 and above
- $200 for up to 6 guests, or $300 for up to 10 guests
- Approximately 30-40 minutes in length
- Learn all about penguins, with a focus on African penguins! Take photos and interact with the bird. Learn about how we care for the penguins at the Zoo, and how we are working to save endangered penguins from extinction – and how you can help, too!
- Your African penguin friend will create a painting just for you! You choose the paint colors your penguin artist will use during the program.
- Includes your choice of following painting sizes:
- One (1) large Canvas Paintings
- Two (2) medium Canvas Paintings
- Three (3) small Canvas Paintings
- Additional canvas paintings of any size can be added for just $5 each, up to five paintings total
- Sizes may vary based on what our suppliers have in stock, but on average, the larges are typically around 9×12 inches, the mediums are 8×10, and the smalls are 5×7
- Must be reserved at least 72 hours prior to your visit using the link below OR you can reserve any available African Penguin Encounter session (see above) and email us to upgrade to a Painting Encounter
Zookeeper Adventure
- $160 for 1 participant, 2 hours program length
- Participant must be at least 8 years old to participate (adults are also welcome!)
- Includes admission to the Zoo for the day for the participant
- This program is designed for one person, especially for those interested in the life of a zookeeper! Anyone aged 8 and up can participate in this adventure that will involve a variety of “zookeeper activities,” from preparing meals and feeding animals, to cleaning habitats and interacting with animals. Participants are sure to experience an unforgettable day!
- Can be scheduled on weekdays or weekends, during morning hours, according to Educator availability. Zookeeper Adventures typically begin at either 8am or 8:30am and they are available year-round
- Zookeeper Adventures make great gifts!! We can create a certificate for you to give to the recipient, and the recipient (or his/her parents/chaperones) can call us to schedule the program at a later date.
- Zookeeper Adventures are booked by pre-reservation only, typically from 1 to 3 months in advance. Contact us today for more information.
Perfect Proposal Package
- If you are interested in proposing to that special animal-lover in your life and want to do it in a unique way, look no further! There’s no need to stress over creating a special experience – we are here to help. Our Educators will work with you to design an experience that is perfect for you and your partner. A variety of critters can be incorporated into these program; just contact us to discuss the options. Our experienced team members will even ensure your plans are kept secret until just the right moment.
- Length of program, pricing, and details vary, based on you and your partner’s interests. Prices start at $250. Contact us for details and options
Insider’s Encounter
- Join Zoo experts behind-the-scenes at the NEW Zoo for an Insider’s Encounter. You’ll learn all about the wild ways zoo staff care for animals while hearing stories and enjoying experiences you can’t get anywhere else. Every Insider’s Encounter includes behind-the-scenes tours and meeting live animals!
- Designed for groups, best for ages 10 and above
- Click to learn more about Insider’s Encounters
Gift Certificates
Wild Encounters make fantastic gifts! We can create a certificate that you can give as a gift, and your recipient will have a full year to schedule their program with us. Gift Certificate purchases include a customized gift message, as well as instructions on how to claim the program. You can choose a PDF version to print yourself OR choose to have the Zoo print the gift materials and mail them to you or directly to your gift recipient. Contact us today for more information.
Request a Gift CertificateCancellation Policies
- We believe in giving our animals choices, and cannot guarantee that animals will present themselves to be touched or fed. If an animal chooses not to participate, or does not present itself to be fed or touched, you will not receive a refund.
- Cancellations made more than 72 hours before the start of your program will forfeit 50% of the program fee.
- To reschedule, you must contact us more than 24 hours before the start time of your program. If you contact us more than 24 hours in advance, you will be given the opportunity to reschedule once for no fee. However, if you contact us within 24 hours before the start of the program, there will be a 30% fee assessed to reschedule. Reschedules are subject to availability.
- No-shows on the day of a program will result in the cancellation of your program with no refund or opportunity to reschedule.
- Arriving more than 15 minutes late will result in cancellation of your program with no refund or opportunity to reschedule.
- If a program needs to be cancelled by the zoo due to extreme weather or unforeseen circumstances, we will contact you to reschedule or provide a refund.
- All cancellations or reschedule requests must be made via email to our Education Department.
Member Discount FAQs
For FAQs and info about using your Membership Discount, visit our Memberships Page.