Zoo Experience

Wild Encounter Program

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Add a Behind-the-Scenes Experience to your visit today!

Experience a special connection with some of your favorite animals! Swing into their natural habitats or go behind the scenes to witness the specialized care they receive. Discover fascinating details about their behavior and diet to gain insight into their lives at the Washington Park Zoo. These memorable encounters not only enhance your understanding but also help support the well-being of our animals and conservation efforts for their wild counterparts!

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• These prices are for the program ONLY and do not include admission into the zoo.  All participants will need to complete the EDUCATION PROGRAM PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT form before the program.

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Keeper’s Choice -   $35 per person

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Meet three amazing ambassador animals! Who will the keeper choose?

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About This Encounter

• This program meets at the Zoo Education Center

• 20 mins

• All participants must be age 3 and over. Children aged 17 and younger must be accompanied by a paid adult. For Children under 12, no more than 4 children to 1 adult.

• Per-Person Ticketed Program: This program is indoors. We are limiting the number of program participants.

• We cannot guarantee which animals you will meet during this encounter. Selection is at the keeper’s discretion - and is always subject to change – but may include species such as ferrets, turtles, armadillos, alligators, and birds.            

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Reptile Connection   - $35 per person

 

Our Reptile Ambassadors get the spotlight during this special up-close experience. Scales, shells, and more! It’s all possible during this Wild Encounter. Meet some of the most fascinating scaled species, and spend time with the keepers who care for them.

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About This Encounter

• 20 min

• Learn about our animals and how we care for them from the experts

• All participants must be age 3 and over. Children aged 17 and younger must be accompanied by a paid adult.

• We cannot guarantee which specific animals you will meet on an encounter. Selection is at the keeper’s discretion and is always subject to change.

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Bird Connection   -$35 per person

 

If your favorite animals are feathered, this is the Wild Encounter for you and your flock. Parrots, chickens, owls, and more. Chat with the keepers who take care of these birds at the zoo. They range in size, shape, and species, and each meet-and-greet is an amazing opportunity.

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About This Encounter

• 20 min

• Learn about our animals and how we care for them from the experts

• All participants must be age 5 and over. A paid adult must accompany children aged 17 and younger.

• We cannot guarantee which animals you will meet on an encounter. Selection is at the keeper’s discretion and is always subject to change, but may include species such as parrot, goose, duck, raptor, and chicken.

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                                    Email For More Information​

• Groups visiting the zoo - Fee does not include admission

• Cost: $60 per group of up to 20 guests                                                   $80 per group of up to 40 guests

• Length: About 15-20 minutes

• Program:

• If you want a quick introduction to the zoo, this is for you! Enjoy an educational hands-on experience with 2 - 3 of our education animal ambassadors. We can't guarantee species availability, but we will try to accommodate your lesson topics. 

• All programs must be scheduled at least 2 weeks in advance, and reservations are restricted by staff availability.

• If you want a quick introduction to the zoo, this is for you! Enjoy an educational hands-on experience with 2 - 3 of our education animal ambassadors. We can't guarantee species availability, but we will try to accommodate your lesson topics. 

• All programs must be scheduled at least 2 weeks in advance, and reservations are restricted by staff availability.

               

                                   Download Request Form

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​Looking for the VIP treatment at your next zoo visit? Book an exclusive zoo tour or experience with your family and friends, and get the most out of your zoo visit. 

 

From May until the end of September, the Zoo schedules a limited number of VIP tours that take visitors behind-the-scenes with some of the Zoo’s most popular animals. We limit the number of people participating in these tours to allow everyone time to talk to the keepers and, in some cases, to feed the animals.

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Our VIP tours are designed to be exciting, fun, and educational, while also ensuring the safety of our visitors and animals. The Zoo’s Animal Division has established guidelines that are specific to each tour. These guidelines limit the number of people who may participate in a given tour and specify the minimum age for a child to participate.

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 We can accommodate up to 25 people per experience

• Cost: $50 per person - fee does not include admission

• Length: Approximately 60 mins

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Program:

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• You'll have the opportunity to get up close with a few of our ambassador animals in a special meet and greet. 

•  Speak with the Education staff about our animals and the critical role they play as ambassadors for their wild counterparts. Touching and feeding may or may not be allowed, depending on the animal and its comfort level.

• Please note that due to health and safety restrictions, some areas of the zoo are not open to visitors. 

• Tours must be scheduled at least 3 weeks in advance, and reservations are restricted by staff availability.

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                                 Email For More Information

• All tours are walking tours. No transportation is provided.

• Please dress for the weather and the visit.

• Closed-toe shoes are required for all tours.

• Due to the unpredictability of animals, tour experiences may vary.

• All guests should be aware of Zoo services and policies and must abide by staff instructions at all times.

• Each experience has requirements listed in the tour description.

• For safety reasons, children under 18 must be accompanied by a paid adult.  

• While all of our public spaces and guest amenities are fully accessible, some of the behind-the-scenes areas visited through our tour program may not be. If there are any physical, cognitive, or behavioral needs within your group, please notify us at booking so our staff can be prepared to make any reasonable accommodations.

• In compliance with best practices for zoo animal welfare and the quarantine protocols outlined by federal regulations and the accreditation standards, service animals are not permitted in our behind-the-scenes animal areas.

•  No refunds or rescheduling opportunities will be given for no-call/no-shows.

• Photos and videos are not permitted in the animal building. Zoo staff will identify tour areas where photos and video are permitted.

• The Washington Park Zoo reserves the right to cancel any tour due to unforeseen animal health, weather, or staffing issues. In case of such an event, the Zoo will contact you to reschedule your tour.

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                                       Email For More Information