Get closer to our penguins than you ever imagined. Go behind the scenes with a biologist to explore the South Atlantic exhibit and food-prep kitchen, watch a penguin create its own painting, or spend a full day living the life of a keeper.
Go behind the scenes with our biologist for your own Private Penguin Encounter to meet a penguin! During this 45-minute session, you'll start in front of the exhibit then the food prep kitchen, and then to the back of the exhibit while discussing penguin biology, conservation, training, enrichment and care with a penguin joining your group. The encounter includes a piece of Penguin Art and Aquarium Pyramid admission. Reservations are required, either online or in person.
Available Monday & Thursday-Sunday: $475 for groups up to 4 people
Encounter available at 2 pm
Please Note: This behind-the-scenes experience requires access to staff-only areas and is not wheelchair accessible.
Go behind the scenes with our biologist and meet a penguin! In this 45-minute session, you'll start in front of the exhibit then the food prep kitchen and to the back of the exhibit while discussing penguin biology, conservation, training, enrichment and care. You'll even witness a penguin creating a painting as part of the animal's enrichment activity.
Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis to be purchased at least 20 minutes prior to the scheduled time. Kids 3 and under are free with purchase of a regular priced ticket.
Each public encounter has 10 tickets available, with ticket sales closing 15 minutes prior to the event. The encounter is approximately 45 minutes in duration. The keeper will meet guests at the South Atlantic exhibit at 1 pm for entry.
Experience life as a keeper for a day at the South Atlantic and North Pacific exhibits in this 4-hour, behind-the-scenes adventure.
You'll assist biologists cleaning the penguin exhibit, preparing their diet, and observing training sessions - plus meet a seal, feed the penguins, create a piece of penguin art to take home, and enjoy lunch with your biologist.
Maximum 3 participants, ages 16+. Comfortable clothes and closed-toed shoes required.
Reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance by calling 409-683-4193 or emailing mreynolds@moodygardens.org.
Meet one of the rainforest's most charismatic and endangered residents up close. Step behind the scenes at the Rainforest Pyramid to learn how our biologists care for these playful, intelligent animals, and take home a one-of-a-kind painting made by an otter. Choose a private session or join a small group.
Go behind the scenes with our biologist to learn about otter biology, conservation and how these amazing animals are cared for in their private interior exhibit area in this 45 minute experience - guests will also receive a painting made by an otter!
Private encounters are available Fridays at 11:00am. Guests will meet our biologist next to the Ranger Station, located at the entrance of the Rainforest Pyramid. Children ages 6 and under are not permitted, and those under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
Go behind the scenes with our biologist to learn about otter biology, conservation and how these amazing animals are cared for in their private interior exhibit area in this 45 minute experience. This ticket includes admission to the Public Otter Encounter for one person. Each Public Encounter has 4 tickets available with ticket sales closing 15 minutes prior to the event. A General Admission ticket purchase is required.
Public encounters are available Saturdays and Sundays at 11:00am. Guests will meet our biologist next to the Ranger Station, located at the entrance of the Rainforest Pyramid. Children ages 6 and under are not permitted, and those under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
Roll up your sleeves and get hands-on inside the Aquarium Pyramid. From the glowing jelly lab to the mangrove tank and the sharks of the Caribbean reef, these guided experiences put you right beside the biologists as they feed, train, and care for the animals. It's the most immersive way to see how the aquarium really works.
Tour the jelly gallery, moon-jelly propagation and the new jelly lab with a Cnidarian biologist to learn how these animals are cared for and propagated.
Public Jelly Lab Tours will be held on Saturdays and Sundays only. They will begin at 1 pm and last 45 minutes.
$75 per person, up to 6 people.
*Aquarium Pyramid admission ticket is required (sold separately)
This immersive experience invites guests to explore the mesmerizing mangrove tank in the Aquarium Pyramid. Accompanied by a biologist, visitors will gain insights into the unique natural history of stingrays while having the chance to feed and interact with these fascinating creatures.
Feed the Stingrays will be held on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. They will begin at 10 am and last 45 minutes.
$75 per person, up to 4 people. Must be 6 years old or older to attend.
*Please note that shellfish and fish may be used as feed, so guests with allergies should exercise caution. Children over the age of six are welcome to participate.
* Aquarium Pyramid admission ticket is required (sold separately) *
This extraordinary experience offers guests the opportunity to witness the feeding and training of our sharks, as well as the chance to feed some of the largest fishes in the Caribbean tank. Accompanied by our dedicated biologists, visitors will learn about the care, feeding, and maintenance of these magnificent creatures.
Caribbean Feeding will be offered on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. They will begin at 11 am.
$100 per person, up to 4 people.
Must be 6 years old or older to attend.