{"id":108,"date":"2024-05-31T10:51:51","date_gmt":"2024-05-31T15:51:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/decatur-parks.org.staging3.juiceboxint.com\/decatur-zoo\/?page_id=108"},"modified":"2025-01-15T13:22:07","modified_gmt":"2025-01-15T19:22:07","slug":"special-encounters","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/decatur-parks.org\/scovill-zoo\/animals-education\/special-encounters\/","title":{"rendered":"Special Encounters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Extraordinary Experiences at Scovill Zoo!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"t-body\">Have you ever wanted to get up close to some of Scovill Zoo\u2019s animals? Then consider this extraordinary experience for a special occasion, birthday gift, anniversary gift, or just to learn more about some of the animals at Scovill Zoo. Please call 217\/421-7435 for more information or to reserve your Scovill Zoo experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"t-body\">We also have amazing overnight or after-hours experiences for your group! Check out the details at the bottom of the page or give us a call for more information!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Scovill Zoo Penguin Tour (~30 minutes)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/decatur-parks.org\/app\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/06\/2016-penguin-768x512-1.jpg\" alt=\"2016 penguin 768x512\" class=\"wp-image-202\" style=\"width:300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/decatur-parks.org\/app\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/06\/2016-penguin-768x512-1.jpg 768w, https:\/\/decatur-parks.org\/app\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/06\/2016-penguin-768x512-1-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Assist the keeper in prepping fish and feeding the penguins.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Behind-the-scenes look in the penguin building mechanical room, indoor holding area, and nesting area.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tours are offered April-July, and once they have gone through their annual molt, we can usually provide encounters in October before the breeding season begins.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tour is offered for up to 6 people, ages 8 and up. Children under age 10 must be accompanied by an adult (1 adult for every two kids preferred).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cost: <\/strong>$300<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"t-body\"><strong>**<\/strong>For your safety, birds may not be touched unless&nbsp;instructed by the keeper. Penguins can bite!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-callout-box t-body\"><strong>Note:<\/strong> For an additional $200 we can also include a painting session which will end with you getting to take home a piece of art created by one of the zoo\u2019s penguins!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Scovill Zoo Reptile Encounter (~45 minutes)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" src=\"https:\/\/decatur-parks.org\/app\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/06\/galapagos-tortoise-3-300x199-300x199-1.jpg\" alt=\"Galapagos tortoise 3 300x199 300x199\" class=\"wp-image-203\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This encounter is offered for up to 6 individuals-ages 6 and up.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Guests will help make diets and watch a feeding.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Guests will be given the opportunity to see several reptiles up close (for example: Galapagos tortoise, Russian Rat snake, Leopard gecko, European glass lizard, etc.).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cost: <\/strong>$300<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Scovill Zoo Cheetah Experience (~45 minutes)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" src=\"https:\/\/decatur-parks.org\/app\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/06\/Cheetah-Brothers-300x199-300x199-1.jpg\" alt=\"Cheetah Brothers 300x199 300x199\" class=\"wp-image-204\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Walk with a keeper down to the Cheetah exhibit for a private keeper chat<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Watch a feeding and training session with 2 of our 4 cheetahs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Learn what types of enrichment the cheetahs enjoy most.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Experience is offered for up to 4 people, ages 8 and up.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cost: <\/strong>$300<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Scovill Zoo Wolf Experience (~45 minutes)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"518\" src=\"https:\/\/decatur-parks.org\/app\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/06\/Niko-768x518-1.jpeg\" alt=\"Niko 768x518\" class=\"wp-image-205\" style=\"width:300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/decatur-parks.org\/app\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/06\/Niko-768x518-1.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/decatur-parks.org\/app\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/06\/Niko-768x518-1-300x202.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Help make enrichment for the wolves and watch the keepers deliver the enrichment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Watch a training session<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Experience is offered for up to 4 people, ages 8 and up.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cost:<\/strong> $300<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-callout-box t-body\"><strong>Note:<\/strong> For an additional $100 we can also include an exclusive tour inside the wolves\u2019 habitat (with the wolves shifted off-site for safety) to tour their territory and see the different paths and dens they\u2019ve created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Scovill Zoo Ambassador Animal Encounter (~45 minutes)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Interact with some of our amazing animal ambassadors!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>During this experience, you will be able to brush a rabbit, feed a dove, toss fish to a pelican, give a box turtle a bath, and help make a HUGE salad for our 11 exhibit guinea pigs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This encounter is offered for one to six people, ages 5-10<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cost:<\/strong> $150<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"450\" height=\"414\" src=\"https:\/\/decatur-parks.org\/app\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/06\/IMG_1081-e1674663560216.jpg\" alt=\"IMG 1081 e1674663560216\" class=\"wp-image-206\" srcset=\"https:\/\/decatur-parks.org\/app\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/06\/IMG_1081-e1674663560216.jpg 450w, https:\/\/decatur-parks.org\/app\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/06\/IMG_1081-e1674663560216-300x276.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/decatur-parks.org\/app\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/06\/Pelicans-768x1024-1.jpeg\" alt=\"Pelicans 768x1024\" class=\"wp-image-207\" srcset=\"https:\/\/decatur-parks.org\/app\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/06\/Pelicans-768x1024-1.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/decatur-parks.org\/app\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/06\/Pelicans-768x1024-1-225x300.jpeg 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Scovill Zoo Camel Encounter (~30 minutes)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"478\" src=\"https:\/\/decatur-parks.org\/app\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/06\/319060379_681454460158993_590141989343704029_n-e1674663904999-768x478-1.jpg\" alt=\"319060379 681454460158993 590141989343704029 n e1674663904999 768x478\" class=\"wp-image-208\" style=\"width:300px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/decatur-parks.org\/app\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/06\/319060379_681454460158993_590141989343704029_n-e1674663904999-768x478-1.jpg 768w, https:\/\/decatur-parks.org\/app\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/06\/319060379_681454460158993_590141989343704029_n-e1674663904999-768x478-1-300x187.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Meet our two male camels, Jack and Finn!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Guests will be given the opportunity to feed a camel, although cooperation is not guaranteed!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Encounters <strong>not<\/strong> offered October-April due to the camels being in rut.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This encounter is offered for one to six people, ages 8 and up.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cost:<\/strong> $300<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Zoo Snooze &#8211; Group Camp Out<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"t-body\">Gather your group for an amazing overnight with the animals at Scovill Zoo! Your outing will include an evening animal presentation, tour, bonfire, marshmallow roast, and early wake-up tour. Scout groups can complete crafts or badge projects for an additional fee. One adult (aged 18+) may participate free per every 5 students. Minimum of 10 paying participants, and a <strong>maximum<\/strong> of 30 participants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"t-body\"><strong><em>Fee:<\/em><\/strong> $40 per person<br>*Additional $5 per person for a craft activity<br>*Additional $5 per person for dinner included\u2013hotdogs, chips, drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">After Hours S&#8217;mores &amp; Tours<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"t-body\">If your group is not available to sleepover at the zoo, book an evening with us instead! Your outing will include an animal presentation, tour, bonfire with s\u2019mores, and a late night train ride. Scout groups can complete crafts or badge projects for an additional fee. Minimum of 10, and a maximum of 30 participants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"t-body\"><strong>Fee:<\/strong> $30 per person<br>*Additional $5 per person for a craft activity<br>*Additional $5 per person for dinner included\u2013hotdogs over the fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"galleries\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"galleries__images\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"popup\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"image-popup galleries__images-item\" data-gall=\"gallery1\" title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/decatur-parks.org\/app\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/06\/IMG_1542-760x0-c-default.jpg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/decatur-parks.org\/app\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/06\/IMG_1542-350x350-c-default.jpg\" alt=\"IMG 1542\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5 class=\"t-heading-5\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa-light fa-magnifying-glass-plus\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>View Photo<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"popup\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"image-popup galleries__images-item\" data-gall=\"gallery1\" title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/decatur-parks.org\/app\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/06\/IMG_1529-768x576-1-760x0-c-default.jpg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/decatur-parks.org\/app\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/06\/IMG_1529-768x576-1-350x350-c-default.jpg\" alt=\"IMG 1529 768x576\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5 class=\"t-heading-5\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa-light fa-magnifying-glass-plus\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>View Photo<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"popup\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"image-popup galleries__images-item\" data-gall=\"gallery1\" title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/decatur-parks.org\/app\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/06\/IMG_1522-760x0-c-default.jpg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/decatur-parks.org\/app\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2024\/06\/IMG_1522-350x350-c-default.jpg\" alt=\"IMG 1522\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5 class=\"t-heading-5\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa-light fa-magnifying-glass-plus\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>View Photo<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Extraordinary Experiences at Scovill Zoo! Have you ever wanted to get up close to some of Scovill Zoo\u2019s animals? Then consider this extraordinary experience for a special occasion, birthday gift, anniversary gift, or just to learn more about &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":215,"parent":40,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"acf":{"banner_style":"is-style-1","alt_title":"","desc":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/decatur-parks.org\/scovill-zoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/108"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/decatur-parks.org\/scovill-zoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/decatur-parks.org\/scovill-zoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/decatur-parks.org\/scovill-zoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/decatur-parks.org\/scovill-zoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=108"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/decatur-parks.org\/scovill-zoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/108\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":634,"href":"https:\/\/decatur-parks.org\/scovill-zoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/108\/revisions\/634"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/decatur-parks.org\/scovill-zoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/40"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/decatur-parks.org\/scovill-zoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/215"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/decatur-parks.org\/scovill-zoo\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=108"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}