Wild Dreams Overnight
Starting at $75 l 14 Hours l Ages 5 - 11 and their adult chaperones
Snooze Among the Sharks & Rays! For Families, Youth Groups and Scout Troops, for children ages 5 - 11 and adult chaperones
Rates
Adult (Ages 18+): $75 plus tax and booking fee
Child (Ages 5-11): $75 plus tax and booking fee
Chaperone (Ages 18+): Free
All participants must be 5 years old, babies and toddlers are not able to attend this program
Please Note: Groups with 5 or more children will receive 1 free chaperone with every 5 paid children.
- When booking a group, such as a scout troop or youth group, all people must be under one reservation and payment.
Duration
14 Hours
- Program start: 7:00PM
- Program end 9:00AM
About
Bring your sleeping bag and snooze among the sharks and rays! Have an exciting night at the Downtown Aquarium to explore the exhibits, learn about the animals and their habitats, make a craft, play games and much more. T-shirt & breakfast included.
Evening themes differ by date and include:
Midnight Snack
Do you have milk and cookies at midnight? Tour the Aquarium exhibits and discover what the animals at the aquarium eat! Explore wild and wacky feeding adaptations, learn about predators and prey, and discover a brand new use for Jell-O!
Mission: Survival
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to discover the secret techniques animals use to conceal and protect themselves from predators. You might find yourself camouflaged in a coral reef or amongst the tentacles of a jelly, so be prepared!
Rainforest Safari
Prepare for a jungle journey as you discover the plants and animals of the rain forest. On safari, you’ll trek through our rain forest habitats to learn about the fish, birds and mammals that live there. Make a craft to take home then sleep with the sharks, if you dare.
Powerful Predators
Lionfish, tigers and barracudas, oh my! Come join the Downtown Aquarium for an overnight look at predators, their prey and what makes them unique. Stalk around the exhibits, you may end up face to face with some of the world’s best hunters!
Brownie /Junior Girl Scouts - Wonders of Water & Animal Habitats
Walk on the Wild and Wet side at the Downtown Aquarium. Brownies will learn more about water while working on parts of the Wonders of Water journey. Juniors will be able to learn more about wild animals and habitats to work towards their Animal Habitats badge, as part of the aMUSE journey.
Cub Scouts Into the Wild
Spend the night being scientists. We will take a close look at animal and plant diversity. Track down some wild animals and learn about who eats who in the wild world. Over the course of the night we will be doing activities that help you earn your In to the Wild badges.
Where Do We Sleep and When is Bedtime? We assign sleeping areas for comfort, space, and safety reasons. Please be aware that bedtime is usually around 10:30PM. All of the aquarium lighting, including that in the exhibits, is on a computerized timing system that simulates regular day and night cycles for the optimum health of the animals. We do not have the ability to turn the lights on and off manually. The evening is a special one, with lots of activities, so if you have little ones an afternoon nap before the event is strongly encouraged.
What to Expect
We have a fun-filled and very active evening planned for you, exploring the exhibits in the aquarium. There is something to do from 7:00PM until 9:00AM the following morning (with some sleeping in between, of course)! There will be games, crafts, exhibit time, presentations and other activities – fun for everyone!
What to Bring
- A sleeping bag, pillow, and floor mat, or camping pad for each person. The floors of the aquarium exhibits are hard concrete and will not be very comfortable without a pad of some kind. You will be sleeping around living habitats, so be aware that encounters with “extra” wildlife can happen. Due to space constraints, please be considerate of other participants and refrain from bringing air mattresses.
- Personal toiletries such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, washcloth, sleeping mask etc.
- You might consider layers of clothing, both during the activities and for sleeping. It is sometimes cool in the building in the evening but can get warm after we turn in for bed.
- Wear comfortable clothes and close-toed shoes.
- Please pack your belongings in a bag and label it with your name.
What Not to Bring
- Please do not bring gum, food, snacks or beverages. We will provide a snack and a hot breakfast. Let us know of any food allergies on the reservation form.
- Please do not use electrical or battery-operated devices such as hairdryers, radios, DVD players, laser pointers, or video games. Cell phones are discouraged, except for emergency use. Electrical plugs in the exhibits are not to be used. If charging a device is needed, the plugs in the classroom are provided.
- Please do not bring nonessential items like jewelry and valuables. Downtown Aquarium is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
- Please do not bring air mattresses. A small one person sized simple air pad is fine. Space is very limited and we do not have access to electrical outlets for the air pumps.
Food
The overnight program includes a light evening snack and a hot breakfast. Outside food and beverages are not allowed. Food allergies and diet restrictions should be noted on the reservation form. If you wish to make accommodations for people with special dietary needs, or have questions please call our education program representatives at 303-561-4444. Even though the restaurant and bar are open during a portion of our night, program participants are not permitted to order alcoholic beverages or food during our programs.
Appropriate Behavior
To make your program educationally rewarding and enjoyable, we request that you review the following guidelines prior to your visit. Adult participants are responsible for the behavior of the children accompanying them. Stay with the program instructor at all times, whether inside or outside the building. Cooperate with the program instructor and follow guidelines that they give. Please be considerate of other participants and guests. Downtown Aquarium is home to many animals. Please do not tap on exhibit windows, put hands or other objects in the water, feed anything to the animals, or handle any animal without permission from aquarium staff. No outside food or drink is allowed in the building. The food we provide is to be eaten in designated areas only – it is not allowed near the exhibits. Please pick up after yourself - help us keep the classrooms, exhibits and restrooms clean.
Special Needs
If a participant has any special needs, allergies, or health concerns, please note this on the reservation form. Program participants must be able to administer their own medication (i.e. inhalers, epi-pens) if needed, as aquarium staff and volunteers are not permitted to administer medication. If the program participant has severe disabilities, you must arrange for the participant to be accompanied by an adult caregiver and contact the Education Department prior to the program date. There will be no additional charge for adults attending with disabled participants. If you have any additional concerns or questions please contact one of our Education program sales and service representatives at the above number.
Emergency Contact Information
The Security Office is located in the Administration Office on the first floor of the aquarium, just around the corner from the Ballroom Entrance. Security staff will be present and are trained in First Aid and CPR. If someone needs to contact you in an emergency, they can call the Security Office at (303) 561-4529. They will need to indicate that they need to contact a participant in the Education program you are attending.
Liability
Downtown Aquarium, its staff, and volunteers are not liable for injury, property loss or damage that occurs during the course of the program. All guests under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an adult when not participating in programs; we are not responsible for children unattended by a parent or guardian.