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Every day at the Zoo, there’s a special activity that gets you even more up close and personal than our habitats can. Check them out!
Learn about these animals through special talks, training demonstrations, and more.
May 23 – Sept. 7 (weather permitting)
Free
Giraffe feeding time is a tall task! This unique experience allows you to get eye-to-eye with the tallest animals at the Zoo. And, a portion of the proceeds directly supports conservation.
Experience opportunities may be affected by animal appetites, weather conditions, or special events.
May: Weekends
Memorial Day weekend – Labor Day: Daily
September: Weekends
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 2-3:30 p.m.*
*Private Wild Connections Tour, 1-2 p.m.
$5
Kids with kids! Get up close with the friendliest and furriest animals on the Zoo farm. All of our Nigerian dwarf goats are even-tempered and wonderful with children.
Please remember to wash your hands after touching Farm animals.
May 23 – Sept. 7
10 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Free; pellets can be purchased for $0.50 for feeding.
Treat the kids – and yourself – to fun theater at the Zoo! Actors use drama, songs, and puppetry to inspire and empower guests of all ages to care about our natural world. Catch two different free 15-minute shows on the Kohl’s Wild Theater stage this summer. And, find us outside the Summer Exhibit at 11 a.m. or at the Rhino Care Center at 12:40 p.m. for some more fun!
Located in the Northwestern Mutual Family Farm.
& 
May 23 – Sept. 7; closed Mondays except for Memorial Day and Labor Day
Noon and 1:45 p.m.
Free
Level Up! Be a Pollinator Hero!
Bees, butterflies, beetles, and the rare Poweshiek Skipperling — nature’s building blocks — are on a mission to keep our ecosystems thriving. Explore life-sized animatronic pollinators and discover how the Zoo helps protect them through native gardens, honeybee hives, and conservation initiatives.
Located outside, toward Wild Burger.
Presented by
May 23 – October 4
$4 per person, after regular Zoo admission
Watch the Zoo’s veterinary team in action at the Animal Health Center Learning Zone! See real-time animal exams and procedures in the treatment room, while Zoo Pride volunteers in the observation area help answer your questions.
Varies – check the screen in the U.S. Bank Gathering Place for the upcoming schedule
9:45 a.m. (subject to change)
Free
Explore the wild like never before with our VR experiences: Gorilla Trek, The Great Migration, and Shark Dive. These adventures take you up close with mountain gorillas, across the plains with migrating animals, and deep underwater with sharks. Connect with nature, feel the adventure, and be inspired to protect the animals and habitats that need our care.
Choose one of three VR shows:
Gorilla Trek, The Great Migration, or Shark Dive
VR Experiences Now in Multiple Languages!
March – December: Open daily
Peck Welcome Center and Florence Mila Borchert Big Cat Country
$6, with a $1 discount for Zoo Pass members
Each ticket is valid for one show only
Your very own secret safari! Our up-close encounters with a variety of furry, feathered and finned animals let you go nose to whisker with some of our most popular residents. Get the secrets on animal care, adaptations, behaviors and even their favorite foods.
Year-round
Times vary
Tour fees vary
Give your feet a rest and join us on our paid Expedition Shuttle. With convenient stops around the Zoo, your favorite animals are a quick ride away.
May 23 – Sept. 7 (weather permitting)
Private tours booked through Group Sales also accommodated
A real jungle gym! One of the more popular destinations we have, the Zoo Playground is divided into two age-appropriate sections (2-5 years & 6-12 years).
Year-round
Daily, open to close
Free