Behind-the-Scenes Tour: Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House

Tour Expectations

During your tour, zoo staff will guide you through unique behind-the-scenes areas in the building. The program will not involve close proximity to animals or the ability to touch them. When traversing these spaces, we ask participants to respect keeper spaces keeping their hands to themselves and not touching objects or plants unless invited by the tour guide.

Schedule

This tour lasts 60 minutes—approximately 20 minutes in public front-of-scenes spaces and 40 minutes in various behind-the-scenes spaces.

Group

Each tour is limited to eight participants. If there are fewer than eight people in your group, you may be joined by others. All participants must be at least 13 years old. Anyone between the ages of 13 and 17 must be accompanied by a paid adult, with at least one adult for every four participants under the age of 18.

Risk Acknowledgment

Lincoln Park Zoo is committed to providing a safe environment during each tour. While the zoo does its best to minimize the potential for injury, staff cannot completely eliminate all risks. Examples of risks include, but are not limited to, the following: wet floors; objects covering or close to a pathway; or allergic reactions to animals, plants, fish, insects, dust, or substances used at the zoo.

Health Considerations

Lincoln Park Zoo respectfully requires—for the safety of the animals in our care—that if you or anyone in your group feels unwell prior to arriving for a tour, or shows any signs of infectious illness (sore throat, new cough, difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, severe headache, or a fever at or above 100.4 degrees), please do not attend the program.

Accessibility Considerations

This tour involves traveling short distances both outdoors and indoors; being in close proximity to plants, insects, and animal diets; maneuvering in small spaces and along narrow pathways; stepping up and down a set of three stairs; standing for periods of time; and being in humid and hot conditions for 15–20 minutes.

Part of the tour will take place inside in a private canopied pathway which has a unique layout and limited space available. Due to the nature of this space, we can only safely accommodate one standard hospital wheelchair. Service animals are not allowed to ensure their safety and the safety of zoo animals.

If you would like to schedule a modified version of this tour that features content in a more accessible part of the building, please reach out and staff can work with you to reserve a date. Please email zooexperiences@lpzoo.org with questions about accommodations or other considerations.