• Live From Behind the Scenes Program Information

    Estimated completion time 5 to 10-minutes. All fields marked with * are required.

  • Explore penguins and sharks from behind the scenes - virtually! Expand your classroom's curricula with learning programs on animal behavior, habitats, adaptations, ecosystems and anatomy. Shedd's learning programs are designed to support the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), Common Core Standards and CPS' science curriculum, Amplify Science.  

    Through our Live from Behind the Scenes program, Shedd experts and animals will make a virtual visit to your classroom for a live 50-minute interactive experience. Please note that these programs are designed for K-8 classes and/or age groups. Libraries, summer camp groups, or any groups within the noted grade ranges are welcome to book a reservation.  

    Please review the following guidelines before continuing to submit your request

    • Live from Behind the Scenes programs are $125 for the first 30 students and  $95 for each additional group of 30 students, up to 90 students total. Teachers and adults are free and not included as part of the total participant count. 
    • Either individual student devices or classrooms equipped with a webcam(s) and microphone(s) are required. 
    • To provide the best experience for your students, it is preferred that all students participating in the program together be in the same grade range.   
    • All times are listed in Central/Chicago time.  
    • To learn more before submitting your request, please visit our Virtual Field Trip FAQs

    The virtual Live from Behind the Scenes program
    does not include admission to visit Shedd Aquarium.

    To book an in-person, self-guided visit to Shedd Aquarium without a learning program, please visit https://www.sheddaquarium.org/plan-a-visit/group-visits. 

     

  • Primary Contact Information

    Please provide the primary contact information for your group
  • Will the requestor of this submission be the primary contact on the day of the virtual field trip?*

  • Since the requestor of this form will not be the primary contact or attending on the day of the virtual field trip, please provide the primary contact information of the group leader for the reservation below.

    • Please note that the reservation, official confirmation email and communications will be sent to this primary contact.
  • Format: (000) 000-0000.

  • Group Information

    Tell us about your group
  • Special Program Designation
  • Please tell us about your group to help plan and reserve tickets and programs.*
  • Please select your Illinois school category*

  • Live from Behind the Scenes Program Information

    Please review and select your preferred program below

  • At Shedd Aquarium, we offer the following virtual field trip programs for groups to participate in, based on availability. To review additional program information, please click the hyperlink of the program title. To select your program and view the program calendar, please continue forward on the form.

    Live from Behind the Scenes: Sharks at Shedd (Grades K-8)

    Get up close and personal with some of our most popular Wild Reef residents: sharks! During this virtual field trip, witness how Shedd staff members feed these animals, design an identification tag for different shark species and even calculate how much food our sandbar sharks eat! Explore the Wild Reef habitat from behind the scenes and inside the shark habitat during this exciting program. Pre- and post-trip asynchronous lessons are also provided.

     

    Two penguins standing on top of a rock with water behind then

    Live from Behind the Scenes: Penguins at Shedd (Grades K-8)

    Shedd Aquarium is a long way from the chilly waters of the Southern Hemisphere. So how does Shedd provide a habitat for Magellanic and rockhopper penguins that meets their specific needs? Join us inside the penguin habitat to observe these animals up close and learn some of the surprising ways in which Shedd staffers care for these charismatic birds. Pre- and post-trip asynchronous lessons are also provided.

     

  • Live from Behind the Scenes Calendar

    2026-2027 School Year

  • Sharks at Shedd:

    • Tuesdays or Wednesdays
      • 10:00am - 10:50am

    Penguins at Shedd

    • Tuesdays or Thursdays
      • 10:00am - 10:50am

     

  • Please select the program theme you'd like to register for. This will show you the available dates for that program theme. If you'd like to explore available dates across themes, you should toggle back and forth between themes.*

  • Live from Behind the Scenes: Sharks at Shedd

  • Black tipped wild reef sharks swimming above a variety of coral species.

  • Get up close and personal with some of our most popular Wild Reef residents: sharks! During this synchronous virtual field trip, witness how Shedd staff members feed these animals, design an identifiable tag for different shark species and even calculate how much food our sandbar sharks eat! Explore the Wild Reef habitat from behind the scenes and inside the shark habitat during this exciting program. Pre and post-trip asynchronous lessons are also provided.

    • This 50-minute program is offered on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Chicago/Central Time
    • The cost of the program is $125 for one classroom (~35 students) sized group. Any additional group (up to two) can be added on for $95 per classroom, totaling to three classrooms or 105 students.
    • This program is aligned for students attending or are within the grade levels K - 8.
  • How many classrooms will be attending?*
  • Rows
  • Select your program date*

  • Live from Behind the Scenes: Penguins at Shedd

  • Two Magellanic penguins with the body of a rockhopper penguin in the back right of the image

  • Shedd Aquarium is a long way from the chilly waters of the Southern Hemisphere. So how does Shedd provide a habitat for Magellanic and rockhopper penguins that meets their specific needs? Join us on a synchronous virtual field trip inside the penguin habitat to observe these animals up close and learn some of the surprising ways in which Shedd staffers care for these charismatic birds. Pre and post-trip asynchronous lessons are also provided.

    • This 50-minute program is offered on rotating Thursdays and Fridays at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. Chicago/Central Time
    • The cost of the program is $125 for one classroom (~35 students) sized group. Any additional group (up to two) can be added on for $95 per classroom, totaling to three classrooms or 105 students.
    • This program is aligned for students attending/within the grade levels K-8.
  • How many classrooms will be attending?*
  • Rows
  • Select your program date*

  • Digital Engagement and Accessibility

  • Choose the videoconferencing option you prefer for your program.*
  • Does your district, school, or organization require recording of all virtual learning sessions?*
  • How will your students be engaging with this live Virtual Field Trip?*
  • At Shedd Aquarium, we believe there should be no boundaries during our experiences. Does your group require accommodations or have accessibility needs? (check all that apply) Please note specific needs in the "other" space provided so we can best accommodate the request. If you click any options below, we will ask what instructional supports or accommodations will best address your group's needs, however please feel free to propose your own in “other.” Please be aware we will do the best we can to meet any accommodations identified below. Shedd staff will reach out to you before the program to discuss what accommodations we can support*
  • Specific instructional supports for English Language Learners (Select all that could be beneficial)
  • Specific instructional supports for Physical (Select all that could be beneficial)
  • Specific instructional supports for Sensory (Select all that could be beneficial)
  • Specific instructional supports for Brain-based (Select all that could be beneficial)

  • If you have an accommodation request related to a disability and have any questions, please contact us at Learning@sheddaquarium.org or 312-692-3165. We look forward to assisting you.

  • Please review the following before submiting your request.

    • Requested dates and times are subject to availability based on when your request is submitted
      • Your reservation is not guaranteed until our Group Reservations team approves your request and send you an official confirmation email which will list an order number for reference.
    • All guests are expected and required to adhere to Shedd Aquarium policies, including following the code of conduct
      • Please visit our General Policies page for additional information.
  • What activities have you done at Shedd? (Other than this virtual field trip.)*
  • How did you find out about Shedd's programming? Select all that apply.*
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