Animal Encounters and Programs

Animal Encounters and Programs includes Animal Encounters for ages 12 and up. The program also offers a Flighted Falcon + Friend Encounter, a Skunk Painting Encounter, a Penguin Feeding Encounter, a Penguin Encounter, a Sloth Encounter, and an Owl Encounter. Animal Encounters include General Admission, and the Flighted Falcon + Friend Encounter is offered daily except Tuesdays at 12:30 pm.

Programs

• Animal Encounters — Ages 12 and up · Meet sloths, owls, penguins and more with a National Aviary expert. Includes General Admission.
• Flighted Falcon + Friend Encounter — Ages 12 and up · Daily, except Tuesdays at 12:30 pm · Includes General Admission. Members: $66.60 per person; Non-Members: $74 per person.
• Skunk Painting Encounter — Meet one of the National Aviary’s new Animal Ambassadors: a Striped Skunk. Hand-feed a juvenile skunk and take home a pawprint portrait.
• Penguin Feeding Encounter — From March 15 - November 15, suit up alongside an Aviary expert and hand-feed the Penguin Point colony during mealtime.
• Penguin Encounter — Meet an African Penguin up close.
• Sloth Encounter — Hang out with a Linnaeus’s Two-toed Sloth.
• Owl Encounter — Hold an owl on your gloved hand while an Aviary expert teaches you about their adaptations.

At a glance

• Ages: 12–18 years old

About the provider

• Penguin Feeding Encounter — From March 15 - November 15, suit up alongside an Aviary expert and hand-feed our Penguin Point colony during mealtime.

All National Aviary Animal Encounters include General Admission; National Aviary Members receive a discount. Children 17 and under must have release forms signed by a parent or legal guardian. Children under 16 must be accompanied by another encounter participant over 18. Animal Encounters are non-refundable. Requests to reschedule must be made a minimum of 7 days in advance, based upon availability. Same-day registration is based on limited program availability and cannot be guaranteed. Animals may choose not to participate on any given day; if so, the experience will be rescheduled.

Last updated October 24, 2026.