If “let’s go to the zoo!” has been your child’s favorite request since she was a wee one, head for Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo. Here, kids can go beyond the barrier that separates the spectators from the animals (with, of course, a professional zookeeper supervising) and see all that goes into taking care of their favorite wild thing. The zoo’s Wild Encounters program gives budding zookeepers, veterinarians or animal trainers the chance to see how it’s done.
There are plenty of programs to choose from during the cooler months. Just picture your penguin-obsessed daughter getting the chance to hand-feed the Humboldts in the Poolside with Penguins program at the zoo’s Living Coast exhibit. Or, imagine the stories your creature-loving son will have to tell after spending an hour feeding snakes and helping zookeepers record data on lizards and frogs through the Hanging Out with the Herps adventure. Of course, if you’ve always had a soft spot for creatures of the sea, there’s no harm in steering your child toward Trainer for a Day, where both of you will get to indulge your fantasy of playing caretaker to dolphins, seals and sea lions.
Program space is limited, and advance reservations are a must. For most of the programs, kids must be at least 12 years old to participate without an adult.